Drag strips are a place where you can drive your car at top speeds, and they’re also events where people come to watch cars race. These places have been around since the 1950s when they were first used by people who wanted to test their cars’ speed. Since then, drag strips have been used for other purposes, such as for training police officers or racing against other drivers.
A drag strip is a racing facility that allows vehicles to drive on a straight track, usually asphalt or concrete. The two types of drag racing are bracket racing and heads-up racing.
Bracket racing is a competition where all racers run against one another in the same class (such as standard), but win or lose by beating other drivers within their own specific class. In heads-up racing, each driver races against only one other driver at a time.
Drag racing has been a popular sport for decades, but it’s not as common as it used to be. That’s because drag strips aren’t cheap to build, especially if you want to do the job right. And unless you have some serious cash lying around, building a strip can seem like an impossible dream. However, there are ways to make building your own track affordable without sacrificing quality or safety. So let’s look at how much it costs to build a drag strip and what steps you need to take in order to get started.
Drag racing is a form of motorsport that involves two or more drivers competing against each other to cover a set speed or distance in the shortest period of time. The term “drag racing” normally refers to a type of competition, rather than an actual geographic location, and can be applied to any type of motorized contest on a straight strip either paved or not (e.g., asphalt, concrete). Drag races are held all over the world at specially-designed race tracks or even city streets, generally on public property and with some form of oversight; however, illegal drag racing may occur on private property without police interference as long as it does not cause a breach of peace.
Drag racing was originally popular in the western United States before spreading around North America and overseas. Today it is one of the most common forms of motorsport in the United States and Canada with professional competitions such as NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series being broadcast live on television.
Construction
- Drag strips are usually constructed on abandoned airstrips, which makes them relatively affordable.
- The track surface is made of a mixture of asphalt and concrete. The surface needs to be at least 3 inches thick and should be around 1,000 feet long.
The key to a successful drag strip is making sure that the surface is level. If it isn’t, then your car will not reach its top speed.
The starting line should be marked with some sort of tape or chalk, and the finish line can be marked with cones or flags. Some tracks will have a timing system that allows you to see how fast your run was, but it’s not necessary for the first time out.
Insurance
Insurance is required by law, and you’ll want to get it before you start construction. Insurance costs vary widely depending on the location of your drag strip, but it’s important to know that insurance will be your biggest expense for building a drag strip.
Typically, insurance companies will require proof of liability coverage in case there’s an accident involving a driver at your track. You can also get other types of coverage such as property damage (for accidents not involving drivers), personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage (MedPay). While these might seem unnecessary since you don’t have any employees or spectators yet, they’re still necessary so that when accidents do happen at some point in time they won’t cause financial ruin for yourself or others who may be involved in them
How long does it take to Build A Drag Strip?
If you’re considering the construction of a drag strip, the first thing you need to know is that it will take more time than any other type of race track. The reason for this is because there are many different parts and processes involved in building a drag strip.
There are three main factors that affect how long it takes to build a drag strip: size, materials used, and how much work you do yourself. The larger your track is going to be, the longer it will take because there’s more ground to cover with surfacing material (like asphalt). It also takes longer if you use expensive materials such as concrete instead of asphalt because those types of surfaces require special equipment and machinery which usually need an experienced operator who knows what they’re doing; therefore increasing labor costs by about 50% over regular asphalt surfaces. Finally, if all these steps aren’t done professionally on-site then we estimate this could add another week or two at least depending on the complexity/skill level required etc.
The track surface
The surface of your drag strip is the most expensive component, but it also depends on the length of your track. For instance, a 1-mile long concrete surface will cost approximately $80 per square foot to install, and $80,000 for a 1-mile strip. The same type of track in asphalt would be twice as expensive at $150 per square foot, $150,000 for one mile. It’s important to consider that these costs do not include labor or maintenance over time.
The type of material used also influences its price tag: concrete is about two times more costly than asphalt and has higher maintenance requirements than asphalt does due to its tendency toward cracking over time (especially when exposed to excessive moisture). However, it does provide drivers with better traction thanks to its flexibility under stress caused by heavy vehicles speeding down it; so if you’re looking for something that can withstand high speeds without costing too much money upfront or having any major issues down the road then concrete might be your best bet.
Lighting and controls
The lighting and control systems are very important. They’re required by law and necessary for safety, the operation of the track, and for spectators to be able to see what’s going on at night.
Timing system
A timing system is necessary for a drag racing track because it records the time it takes for a car to reach the finish line. A timing system consists of computers and sensors that are used to record this information. The computer then calculates the time difference between when the starting light turns green and when your car reaches its final destination (the finish line).
Concrete pads
Concrete pads are the foundation of any drag strip. They are the primary safety zone for vehicles and spectators, as well as a place to stage cars before they take off. These pads must be built to withstand tremendous amounts of force, making them quite expensive.
Concrete pads are usually made up of three layers: compacted backfill (to provide stability), aggregate base course (to protect against erosion), and an upper-wearing surface layer that improves traction with a bit of texture so tires don’t slip too easily in wet conditions. The total cost depends on what you choose for the topmost layer but should start at around $100 per square foot for simple concrete or asphalt surfaces with no special features such as grooves or seams; it could increase significantly if you go all out with fancy graphics or colored tarmac like at airports where airplanes taxi onto runways beyond which there’s nothing but grass fields surrounding them
Grandstands and guardrails
Grandstands are not just for racing fans. They can also be used as bleachers at concerts, festivals, and other events. The cost of renting or purchasing grandstands will depend on the size of your event, according to Bruce Razin of USA Track & Field magazine. You might have them custom-built by a contractor or buy them from a manufacturer such as Woodland Construction or Spectator Services Inc., which will save you money. Prices for custom-built grandstands range from $400 per seat and up; manufactured ones typically cost less than $150 per seat (including delivery). Grandstands made from wood cost about twice as much as those made from concrete or steel
Striping and signs
It’s not just about safety. Striping is important for keeping racers from crashing into each other. Signs are also important because they tell drivers where to enter and exit the track, which can be especially important if you build your strip in a remote location.
Cost to Build A Drag Strip
The cost of building a drag strip depends on the size of the track. The typical length is 1/8 mile, but many tracks are longer than that. A one-eighth-mile track costs approximately $50,000. If you want to build a quarter-mile track, then you should budget at least $250,000 for construction costs alone. Adding on equipment and other expenses raises those numbers considerably higher, but it’s still not as expensive as some people think.
There are lots of factors that determine how much it will cost to build a drag strip: how much land do you have available? What kind of soil is there? What kind of infrastructure already exists nearby (roads)? How long would it take for your neighbors to notice if something went wrong with their houses or property values because they live so close by? These questions all factor into whether or not building an NHRA-approved racing course on the private property makes sense for your situation.
Building a drag strip is an expensive endeavor, but it can be done for less than $500,000 if corners are cut carefully.
Building a drag strip is an expensive endeavor, but it can be done for less than $500,000 if corners are cut carefully.
The first step in building a drag strip is acquiring land on which to build it, and this can be a tricky process depending on where you live and the zoning laws in your area. If you’re lucky enough to have a family with lots of land available nearby, then that’s one less thing to worry about. However, if not…it might be worth considering buying some land in another state and moving there temporarily until construction has finished (if possible). Once you’ve decided where exactly you want to put your track down, then all that’s left is deciding what kind of surface material will make up its surface. There are pros and cons associated with each option: concrete vs asphalt or clay; and whether or not the pavement should be covered by rubber traction mats (to minimize wear and tear on vehicles)
When the time comes for you to build your own drag strip, there are a few things that you should consider first. The first is whether or not this is something that will bring value to your life. If not then don’t do it. Next make sure that it’s something that makes sense financially, because as we all know too well these days money can be tight. Lastly, consider how much time and effort will be required on your part during this process; if this sounds like something that would take up too much then maybe look into other options instead (such as buying one already built).
