Saturday Hot August nights!

I took these pictures this weekend at the NHRA Hot August Nights event at the Albuquerque drag way. Being a huge drag racing fan, I can't think of a better way to spend my weekend than experiencing the unique aromas of tire smoke and racing gas. Featured at this particular drag race were Nostalgia Altereds, Rods, and the famous Texas Bandit Wheel Stander! whoo! Pictured on my left here is a Fiat Altered dragster. If you are new to this kind of racing madness, the Fuel Altered is equiped with an apex predator blown Hemi and crazily runs a quarter mile in a mid to low 7 seconds. At least here at our raceway. Around the country there are Fuel Altereds that run in the low 6's and even in the break into the 5 second barrier. The main contribution to the character of the Fuel Altered is the incredible amount of power in a short 75-100 inch wheel base. This along with the toaster like aerodynamics lead for a very unpredictable, life flashing before your very eyes type run. 6 second times=200+mph=6-700hp. You do the math.

This shadowy image below is actually a 10th anniversary edition Mustang Cobra. Code name ...Terminator! Performance wise they are equipped with all the same applications as a std 03 cobra. The only difference is the 10th anniversary wheels and the bad ass red on black leather interior.

The odd looking piece of ingenuity below is the Texas Bandit Wheel Stander! The motor is mounted on the back of the truck and the wheelie bars are set on a higher setting that allows the Bandit to maintain a Wheelie stand for a longer period of time (like a whole quarter mile). The first run was pretty anticlimactic whereas all the show was the Bandit parading up and down the strip with flames rising up out of the headers about a good 7-8 feet in the air. Pretty impressive at first, then after about 5 minutes of driving back and forth he accidentally placed himself among the jr. dragster status of the event. When he did finally make a successful full wheelie run down the quarter, he did it in like a 10 .4 second time! Redemption!

68 or69 Cheville can't tell from the photo I ran to the Terminator parked behind. You'll find all kinds of sweet rides at the drags...Its basically a time to bring out the joy you keep in your garage and drive with a purpose to meet all the other gear heads at one place to immerse themselves in high octane, full throttle mayhem!

I'm not sure but I think this a 68 or 69 Cadillac. One thing I am sure about is that this beast ran in the 10's. It seemed like it took forever for it to drive past you but once it did, it was gone! I would have to say besides the burnt orange 41 willies, this is one of my favorite cars to see run and win at the drags here in Albuquerque.