Pinks All Out Lowes ZMax Dragway Concord NC

[LongIsland63SS409]

My son and I attended the Pinks All Out Show at the new Lowes ZMax Dragway in Concord NC this weekend.

The facility is first class built for the racer and fans. :2215:

http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/dragway/

The dragstrip has two full 1/4 mile tracks side by side. Four cars can race at the same time. The entire racing surface is made from concrete.

The show was awesome. :3gears:

Will try to post some pictures this week.


Mike

[betcha618]

looks like a sick track. how come in the pics it looks like they've only run on one track and not the one on the right?? were they running on both when you were there?

[LongIsland63SS409]

The pictures in the link I believe are from the Inaugural NHRA Carolina Nationals that was held in Sept. 2008.

The track was still "green". It is actually less than a year old. They have a tractor that pulls a large rubber mat that lays rubber down on the track to prepare the racing surface.

At the Pinks All Out they were running side by side until the finals.What was cool was when there was a breakdown instead of waiting for the cleanup they switched lanes. The action never stopped. :3gears:

There were over 32,000 fans in attendance more than any other Pinks show. They were going to pick 32 cars instead of the regular 16 to race for the $10,000. Rich C who was tied into the PA system announced that there would be a problem with naming 32 cars.......the crowd went nuts when he announced that he changed the format and selected 64 cars!

The 64 cars ran four at a time to get down to the final 16.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riXzU15yLcE&feature=related

Since my first big drag racing event at E-Town for the Summer Nationals in July of 1981 I would have to say this was one of the best drag racing events I have ever attended.

From my hotel window you saw the Lowes Motor Speedway Oval. The dragway is across the street from the oval. Next to the dragway is a golf course then the hotel. At the end of the track shut down area there is a brand new housing complex. :smile:

You would not know that we are in a recession with the type of development that is going on in that area because of the tracks. New hotels are going up as well as road construction and shopping.

Suffolk County is missing the boat bigtime. :confused: They need to get on a plane and see the development, jobs and revenue that this type of facility creates.

I will post pictures as soon as I can. My computer program stopped working.

Mike

[mikelbeck]

THAT IS FRIGGIN COOL!

I've seen 4 lane racing from back in the 60s, I always thought that was pretty awesome. When I saw that the zMax track had 4 lanes I had hoped that we'd see something like this.

[LongIsland63SS409]

Got my computer working.

Picture from Lowes Zmax Dragstrip.

Photo is under the pit side grandstand. Great place to get out of the sun, get food, restroom, medical and access your seat.

More pictures to come.


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f42/LongIsland63SS409/DSC00878.jpg

Mike

[cowbay]

That is an awesome track there. Having two tracks side by side is so simple that it is smart. I went to Pinks at Etown last year and I have to say it is a well run event. Had a great time especially since it was a bad year with my wife with cancer and in the beginning of chemo at the time.

[Art]

That's interesting. The "under the grandstand area" looks just like it could be at NHIS in Loudon/Concord New Hampshire.

[Tmac]

Unbelieveable setup.Yeah I'm jealous.That would never happen here unless we took over.When NYN was opened they use to run four cars at a time but we called them mommy mobiles no dividers.The underside of the stands were a little different then LID,I bet their burgers suck,or is it Long Island that sucks!!I could live with that in my yard,at least it would drown the wife out a couple days a week.

[LongIsland63SS409]

Tmac:

Owner of Lowes Bruton Smith wants to build something in the NYC Metro area.

Interesting article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/sports/othersports/02nascar.html

Mike

[Art]

Yah Bruton does have a way of getting things done doesn't he? Calls to him have not been returned I believe, check with Supershafts.

[LongIsland63SS409]

North Carolina Zmax Dragstrip episode will air August 6th on the Speed Channel 8PM.

Mike

[mikelbeck]

North Carolina Zmax Dragstrip episode will air August 6th on the Speed Channel 8PM.

Mike

Awesome. I saw the promos for it, can't wait to see some 4 lane racing!

[FANTASY FACTORY]

Yah Bruton does have a way of getting things done doesn't he? Calls to him have not been returned I believe, check with Supershafts.

Bruton has already purchased a large portion of Staten Island, traffic seems to be the problem there. like we dont already know!

[LongIsland63SS409]

Awesome. I saw the promos for it, can't wait to see some 4 lane racing!

http://screeningroom.gawker.com/?id=3079422

Turn up the volume :2215:

I found out on another website the final all out winner was originally from Long Island!!!

Mike

[LongIsland63SS409]

Bump thread as a reminder.

Email I received from Zmax Dragstrip:


Thank you for coming out to watch history be made at zMAX Dragway in April as four-wide drag racing hit the strip for PINKS All Out, and for making that event such a huge success. The episode filmed at zMAX Dragway will air Thursday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. ET on SPEED. Please check your local TV listings for details. In Thursday's episode, viewers will also be treated to some "never-before-seen" overhead shots from the "FlyCam," a high-wire camera that spanned the length of the quarter mile. Also, don't forget to tune in next Wednesday, Aug. 12 to PINKS All Outtakes that will air at 8:30 p.m. ET.

PINKS All Out - Season Three
Thursday, Aug. 6 zMAX Dragway @ Concord 8:00 p.m. (ET)

PINKS All Outtakes - Season Three
Wednesday, Aug. 12 zMAX Dragway @ Concord 8:30 p.m. (ET)


Mike

[82GT]

TIVO set

[LongIsland63SS409]

Carolina Nationals at Zmax over the weekend.

Bruton Smith knows how to throw a party :)

Turn up the volume.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRt6oUGz8sQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaE770hoEYI


Mike

[LIer in Texas]

Let an old timer remind you: National Speedway in Center Moriches has 4 lane racing back in the 60s. Not all that exciting (only street classes as I recall). Ran 4 lane time trials myself and did not like it very much - the lanes were close with no barriers between lanes like the ZMax.

BTW: the area under the stands looks almost similar to the Texas Motorplex in Ennis.

Sorry to hear that they closed Westhampton. I raced there a lot in the 60s and 70s.





National Speedway: Note the 2 sets of trees and no barriers between lanes.
382

Harry Wilfer (aka Harry The Bear)

[LongIsland63SS409]

Let an old timer remind you: National Speedway in Center Moriches has 4 lane racing back in the 60s. Not all that exciting (only street classes as I recall). Ran 4 lane time trials myself and did not like it very much - the lanes were close with no barriers between lanes like the ZMax.

BTW: the area under the stands looks almost similar to the Texas Motorplex in Ennis.

Sorry to hear that they closed Westhampton. I raced there a lot in the 60s and 70s.





National Speedway: Note the 2 sets of trees and no barriers between lanes.
382

Harry Wilfer (aka Harry The Bear)

Harry,

Welcome to the zoo!

I always heard that National raced four cars at one time and your picture proves it with the two trees.

I never got a chance to go to National. It closed in 1980 the year I graduated from high school. I remember talking about it and we all figured it was closed! :(

I raced at the Hamptons in the 80's. Miss that place alot. Had great times there.

If you have anymore pictures that you want to share please do so.

You might might to check out a video of drag racing on Long Island 63-69. Footage of Islip, Hamptons and National.

http://beeonvideo.homestead.com/LongIsland.html

Mike

[Tmac]

As I recall they were called the mommy mobiles back then.