SAND DRAG RACES

Mar 22/10

We golfed at the Las Barrancas course in the Foothills and it was a lovely course with blooming ocotillos and cactus between the fairways.  It was crazy windy when we started and it blew so hard, that some putts actually rolled off the greens.  And we thought Kamloops was windy!!  It died down after 7 holes and it was very pleasant for the rest of the round.

OCOTILLO IN BLOOM 

PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS IN BLOOM

Yesterday, we went about 15 miles east of here on I-8 to the Dome Valley Raceway which is out in the middle of produce fields.  They were hosting professional sand drag races for 3 days and we just had to see what it was like.  They race on a sand track for a distance of 300 feet and there were quite a few different classes of vehicles:  ATV style, Jeep Wrangler style and the regular long-nosed dragsters.  They all have the big scoop treads on their tires and kick up a tremendous amount of sand when they take off.

The most spectacular ones were the 8000 horsepower top fuel dragsters that did the 300 ft distance in less than 3 seconds, reaching speeds of 140 mph (225 km/h).  These are the fastest accelerating cars on the planet.  On the ¼ mile paved tracks they reach speeds of 530 km/h in 4.5 seconds.  What a blast!!  When they roared past, you didn’t just hear them, but you could feel the vibrations through the air.

It was well worth the trip and we’d like to see regular drags if we get the chance on this trip.