Benton drag strip
- Thread starter et7333
- Start date
Motorhead
www.workmonster.com
If you mean Benton, ILLINOIS, it opened as an 1/8th mile(it may still be?) in 1972. Interesting fact: It did not have a christmas tree, at least in 1972. Instead, it had 2 large "clocks", about 3 feet in diameter, set up beside each lane. You staged normally, with the clock hand stationary at 12:00. When the starter activated the clock, the hand would start rapidly sweeping clockwise and when it reached 12:00 again, that was "green". The entire sweep took maybe a half second. When you left, the hand would continue past 12:00 until your front tires rolled out of the stage beam, so you could see your reaction time right away. If you went red, you could see that too. Once you figured out your rollout and reaction time in sweep distance, you could pick your spot on the clock to leave from, and nail the start just about every time. If my cousin(who lived very close to it) can be believed(a stretch!), the track closed early that first season due to some vandals dumping a barrel of crude oil all over the track. These days,we pass by the track when going to the Nashville Fairgrounds, and the place is usually packed!
Now, if you mean Benton, MISSOURI... I am clueless!
Now, if you mean Benton, MISSOURI... I am clueless!
