Why 1/8th Mile Racing is Better Than 1/4 Mile

[@joeanderson444]

As a spectator, I like the 1/4 mile racing because it is interesting to see one car break a 5 sec 1/8th, but barely run a 7, then see another run a 5.10 sec 1/8th and get a mid to high 7s. I think the 1/4 mile racing as a spectator is fun to watch with the 1500 HP + cars! Watching guys talk about which rear end gear to use, top end boost, and not running out of gear is fun to watch and the 1/4 mile gives me a chance to see some of it. Just my 2 cents!

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

As a driver, I agree!!!

[@focused313]

I like 1/4 because it allows faster cars to correct for bad launches. I've seen some guys tree the other lane almost a car's length , but get passed 3 seconds later.. I love it.

[@silversonic99]

so you like it because it takes less skill? ok

[@akgnag4601]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmnXl2d4bpWFjtE I've always been fascinated by this "FWD vs RWD comparison" ;d Hope you enjoy it as well ;d

[@406MenaceRacecar]

I was 0.3 seconds slower at the tree and a ZL1 caught my all motor 406 at the 1/4 mile by a COAT OF PAINT! A supercharged car with 10 gears versus an old chevy s10 wasn't looking good until that last 1/2 of the track when his 124mph out did my 117mph

[@jcsmith3806]

@@silversonic99 is your car stick shift? If it isn't you can't talk about skill.

[@CrippleNickel555]

That's the very reason I've raced 1/8 mile for years now,great great video & you explained it the best I've ever saw it explained..

[@Mutt69m]

I like 1/8th mi. as to me, that's more like the length of a street race we use to do back in the 70's - 60's. Also like you pointed out, much easier on parts and a little more safer,(if a street race could ever be safe,). another thing I've noticed at a 1/8th mi. track, you tend to get a few more runs in then you do in 1/4mi. tracks...

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

IVe seen lots of cars get blown away off the line and after an 1/8th mile they catch up and win. which is fun to watch. all depends where you build your rpm range.

[@406MenaceRacecar]

I have torque so i was GONE GONE GONE gapping him to the 1/8... but what you said happened in this race kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp6ld5xpqsR9aZY

[@theoiv]

Great explanation video with all valid points but, i still like to watch 1/4 mile racing.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

1/4 mile FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@timsharpe3498]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty Make it a 1/2 mile and your old jalopy might even break 100 mph.

[@mclarenjohnf1]

Talk about putting it in layman's terms that everyone can understand as well as telling us why it is better to do the 1/8th.

[@motorcityracing7319]

Love mi 1/4 mile Lapeer Dragway is getting all redone new owner

[@nashvilleoutlaw]

I'd prefer 1/4 simply because I don't care for the super fast purpose built cars where the car pulls up to the line, driver pushes a couple buttons and the race is over. I also don't watch much racing. I'm happy with a fairly quick spair/daily driver to flog and have fun at the track. 79 El camino N/A 9.1 compression 434 running 87 octane mated to a MANUAL wide ratio 3 speed with overdrive. Not the fastest thing around but cruises 2000rpm at 80 on the interstate.

[@deniaL202]

Can't forget that the back half is good for FWD cars and stick cars. If we only raced 1/8, we'd see less and less diverse combinations of cars racing each other. I.E No more honda's chasing supercharged mustangs at 170mph. A chase is a race and people love watching a good race.

[@henrysodari9835]

In the streets you kinda do 1/8 mile racing

[@RealSteelStreet]

Of course, because with the power of current street/strip cars you’d be WAY too fast to remain safe on the street! 100-125mph is plenty fast 😳

[@oscarderrick]

When you drew the starting line.. you held your marker like a joint...I noticed that..🤣🤣🤣

[@darylparker2609]

1/4 mile all day long 1/8 is a waste of time.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

This!!!

[@RealSteelStreet]

If you can’t cut good lights or run over 100mph in the 1/8th 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mrhura2830]

For bracket racing id easily do 1/4 mile again it was a lot better

[@timothyvaher2421]

Thanks for the physics' math and interpretation! Yes 1/8 mile is plenty fast! Wear increases exponentially after the 1/8 mile. Mainly Safety and Cost.

[@timsharpe3498]

Here's my two cents worth. My only drag racing experience has always been 1/4 mile BUT I think 1/8 mile makes way more sense. Think about it. In the mid 50s when drag racing was catching on, a hot streel legal car was going about 85-90 in a 1/4 mile. Fast forward to 2021 and you can buy a factory stock vehicle capable of hitting 100 MPH in the 1/8 mile and 125 in the 1/4.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

So blame that on the sport and/or drivers? Next thing you'd know, we'll be down to 1/16th mile, because OMG, SPEED!!! Man up!! You've only gotta maybe a year or two left of this sport before it's all over with anyway, so you better enjoy it while you can!!

[@timsharpe3498]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty I didn't blame anyone or anything. You sound like you're living under a rock.

[@xlr8r3VA]

Great explanation but, I think you over simplified it. If you are racing 1/4 mile and you peaked at the 1/8 mile, your car isn't set up right. You should be peaking rpm about 100-150 feet from the finish line. Also, a lot of guys run Powerglides in the 1/8 and a lot of street guys run TH350 or 400s in the 1/4 because of the distance you can get an extra gear change and increase speed more evenly. I agree that 1/8 mile is safer and burns up parts less, but the 1/4 mile has been the standard. I like both, racing is racing to me, but you cars have to be set up differently to run 1/8 than to run 1/4. Just my two cents.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

There is nothing you can say to me to convince me that 1/8th mile drag racing is better than quarter mile drag racing!!!

[@frankhubbardiv8711]

Agreed

[@lsluvr7386]

Looking forward to this event! See ya there.

[@406MenaceRacecar]

I respectfully disagree that nothing happens in the last half of the track.I just got my S10 together. it's a 400 sbc, 540 foot lbs of torque. I raced a ZL1 Camaro , 650hp supercharged and i had him gapped at the 1/8th mile! I ran a 7.04 8th the ZL1 ran a 7.44 in the 8th. Now im new and I SLEPT at the line so he caught me at the traps. a hundredth of a second, he got me! It was exciting bro. I ran an 11.16 1/4 ZL1 was 11.37 in 1/4 I was SLEEPING 😴 💤

[@eddiespagetti8395]

I like quarter mile better. More distance and makes better competition closer races to make up for bad tree starts. The 8th mile is just too short. Quarter mile is way more action. Way more action. Street racing is ILLEGAL and cops impound cars come on sure the 8th mile is more suited to street race , street race is reckless , you cant go racing on street without problems. This is not street racing it's track racing quarter mile or 8th mile. Quarter mile is clearly more action. It gives the car who made mistakes a chance to catch up on the longer track. This is about tracks , not street racing.

[@T51971]

At the end of the day people race to the 8th because there not making enough steam or there scared to run it out the back door aka quarter mile cause there not ready for that type of mph. You can agree or disagree, this is my personal opinion. When i had my single turbo car and now a twin turbo car i always get asked to run the the 8th when im racing a nitrous or supercharged car but when i had a my V2 everybody and there momma wanted to race the quarter.

[@RealSteelStreet]

Agree 100%…of course some are gonna disagree because they thrive on the big end 🤷🏻‍♂️ But to me, it’s drag racing…if you wanna go further than the 1/8th you might as well be roll racing👌🏼

[@huckilt]

Hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol takes care of permanent marker like a dream!

[@WanderinWizard]

Makes sense that it would save the car i think it just depends on what people want exp: one race goes 1/8th the loser of that race says oh if it was 1/4 mile i would have had you 1mile etc... I think thats what it was most likely.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

In the late 60's and 70's everybody raced on the streets where a 1/4 mile was marked off. I've seen races where guy's missed the start, or maybe had some tire spin, but had enough power to overcome that in the 1/4 mile. I can see both sides. Very well explained. What is the fastest street stock car you have seen at the track? Thanks

[@silversonic99]

sooo, pay to win then. if you missed the start, that's because of your lack of skill. you're only catching up and winning because you have more money/power, not because of skill.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

@@silversonic99 I'm not against either way, I just said year's ago everybody raced 1/4 mile on the streets. It's just the way it was then. Now it may be different, young guy's might not be able to handle the 1/4 mile, lol.

[@lw216316]

1/8 track is much cheaper to build than 1/4. 1/8 - I think would be safer - do you want to crash at 1/8 speed or 1/4 speed - safety is why the top fuel went to 1000 feet instead of 1/4. would 1/8 favor race cars more than street? the gearing in a drive to work car does not seem to favor the 1/8 ?

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

I don't want to crash PERIOD!!! But that's neither here nor there!! I grew up on the 1/4 mile, I will die on the goddamned thing!!!

[@A13U53D]

Sorry but if 1/8 is better than 1/4 then why not see who 60ft better at that point. Some cars back half like crazy and running 1/8 limits their sling shot like pass.

[@HighPSItv]

Not if you have a fast car

[@A13U53D]

@@HighPSItv tell that to supras and 8 and 9 second hondas.... your points are invalid, cars are set up for different length of races. 1/8 1/4 1/2 and even 1 mile races. If your point made any sense the world record 1 mile is slow or not a fast car?

[@junie1955]

Lots of races ive seen cought up finish line with top end better for stick cars but you live it.

[@bigskyab]

People like 1/4 mile because you can run daily driver's....hard to drive an 1/8 mile car to work on the "nice" days...gearing isn't worth a shit for daily driving. 1/8 mile cars tend to be dedicated race cars. Most people can't afford two cars....1/4 mile is friendlier to the guy that can't afford two cars. 1/8 mile is as dumb as metric

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

Agree with all of above!!

[@theredwedge9446]

Before I finish the video. My issue is an 8th mile, i believe cars will be only build around acceleration and then also have a poor top end where quarter mile gives room for both.

[@ericbrown4033]

Ahhh shit!! High psi droppn' knowledge!! Very nice sir!

[@curtisfarr9411]

love the channel but playing devils advocate 1/8 mile is geared more torwards rear wheel drive cars with big power(now i am a rear wheel drive guy im just explaining the other end of the spectrum) 1/4 are more for front wheel drive and big money racers big money fer all of the wear and tear and long gears and front wheel drive for the cars that back half harder then they 300ft so i can see both but i also grew up with 1/4 mile racing and have never done an 1/8 mile event

[@alanmorgan8431]

That last 660 for us stick guys is just a 4th gear pull and more room to make up for not being able to drive and set up for the front half

[@gnx3630]

shit made a lot of sense man thanks for posting..

[@HISS2004]

Safer to run 1/8 on the street also, keeps mph to a reasonable level.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

ROFLMFAO!!!! yeah OK, whatever you say there pal!!

[@HISS2004]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty well at the speeds these street cars run now, 120/130 is safer than running it out the back. Just my .02.

[@mikemarckini6720]

Hey Jeff where was your home track in mich.

[@HighPSItv]

MILAN

[@mikemarckini6720]

High PSI tv im on the other side of the state us131msp

[@garyshortt7145]

Well done. Valid point.

[@bobstephens8851]

I run Sportsman class which runs 1/4 mile. I wished they would switch to 1/8. Really don't like beating on my car.

[@dragbikedemon]

And you can purpose build for the 1/8 mile!

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

I guess you can't purpose build for 1/4 mile, huh?

[@2002dodgeram2]

You couldn't have said it better.

[@ericdolby1622]

1/4 is much more enjoyable for spectators. 1/8 is much more fun to race.

[@akgnag4601]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmnXl2d4bpWFjtE civics would like to disagree with that 2nd statement ;d

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

I disagree with your second statement as well!!

[@gregpepple423]

Great video 🇺🇸

[@eighty4buick]

If that’s the case why is professional drag racing 1/4 mile and not 1/8

[@HighPSItv]

PDRA is 1/the Professionals Drag Racing Association

[@NeutralChaotic]

@@HighPSItv That's adorable. Because an association that's been around only SEVEN years, is clearly the authority. They were only 5 years old when you wrote your dumbass response. (And it's Racers, not Racing) Here, let me go form one called Professional Drag Racing Organization, and make the standard race 1 mile. Give it a few years, and that means I'm the authority, right? Dumbass.

[@timsharpe3498]

According to your logic the NHRA TF and FC drivers aren't professionals because they only race 1000 feet.

[@edwardmoon5221]

Wish I wasn't broke...I really wanted to come watch the 919 gap the 717

[@duanebonney]

Summed up. Everything happens within the 1/8th mile. After is just unnecessary stress on engine.

[@juiced71]

what are you guys gearing your 1/8 mile cars at?

[@cool62chev]

That's right, Impala's are fast too!

[@vflrockytop]

I prefer racing 1/8 mile but if I'm watching I'd rather see a good 1/4 mile race. I dunno I guess I'm just different 💁‍♂️

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

Some of us are!!

[@H1GHD3FF]

I never looked at it like that.

[@ericseaman9929]

That Impala won't break an 8 in the 1/8....

[@screcoveryco]

Eric Seaman , I’m pretty sure John Doc said he ran a 7.80 in it. It has quite a bit done to it.

[@ericseaman9929]

7.3 is the best it would muster up at Cecil County

[@jesterz84]

Is that a 96 impala I see in the hoist??

[@HighPSItv]

Yup

[@jesterz84]

I love that year Impala

[@TeslaPlaidChannel]

1/8th mile for me. Seems the only guys I know that prefer 1/4 are the ones than can’t exceed 100MPH in the 1/8th.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

Really?... is that all you got? ROFLMFAO!!! Whatever!!] Seems the only guys I know that prefer 1/8 are the ones that can't handle the speed!!!!

[@TeslaPlaidChannel]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty All SIX of my runs on Saturday hit 161MPH. And as expected, there’s not a single video of you hitting 100MPH on your channel. Not in the 1/8th, not even in the 1/4?

[@liboy9844]

1st half of 1/4 (1/8 mile) is maximum acceleration, next half is maximum cruise. Drag racing per se is all about acceleration. You be the judge.

[@jdubcbr600]

My thoughts exactly! A lot of guys think 1/8 racers are pussies. I'd be willing to bet the same guys have never run any faster than a 12second 1/4.

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

Yeah, I'll bet you've never run on a drag strip period!!! Where in the fuck do you people come up with these fucking stupid ideas? FFS!!

[@jdubcbr600]

@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty you mad bro?

[@backyardbuilttrucks1]

The battle is fought in the 1/8 th.

[@freedomfox8183]

The Spectators can't see after the 1/8th mile anyways what's going on let alone the finish line the 1/8th mile will be better for watching the races

[@Anarchy-Is-Liberty]

Well thanks for making up everybody's minds for them Mr. dictator!!! FFS!!

[@BigMikesGarage]

All valid points. Nice explanation. Thanks

[@BigMikesGarage]

Looking forward to this weekend.

[@matthewherring8042]

Galot is a fast track.

[@robertmoitoza6368]

Doesn’t PSCA run 1/8 mile? True 10.5, outlaw 8.5, etc. fast fast cars that are amazing to watch. You really have to have your suspension set up right to be a good 1/8 mile racer, which is more fun to watch. If you guys come to California I’m gonna come watch 1/8 mile 1/4 mile, whatever. Awesome video. Should also point out street outlaws runs 1/8 mile, hugely popular tv show. Quityerbitchin’ everyone.

[@Sheddy-ih5xl]

Just do burn out contests and cal it good!

[@JSuggs86]

Gallot is only 30 mins away ill def be there all day

[@woodgrain18]

Real men get it done in the 660! lol I live in Alabama and I'm 28 and been racing since since I was 7 at my little backwoods track they have class for kids Jr dragsters fourwheelers go carts, my granddaddy has been racing for years so he got me out there in a go cart then a banshee and finally his old slow bracket car so my whole life iv raced 1/8 mile and when I turned 17 I got a lt1 Firebird Formula and it went from 8.70's stock to 6.80's (Before I put a window in the side of the block) on the bottle with a cam a converter some 4.33 gears of course and a few other things any ways the closest 1/4 mile track is about 2 hours away so me and a couple buddys went down there to see what it was about lol my first pass I let out before the 1000ft second pass I ran a 10.73 @ 123 i was satisfied and didn't want to make any more passes it just felt wrong it was like I could hear my motor saying ok buddy that's enough LOL it's just not for me at all 1/8 mile till I die

[@NeutralChaotic]

"Real men get it done in the 660!" No, real men can go the distance. No matter what your wife tells you to make you feel better.

[@ronaldbrown4746]

Only small block Chevys are "just ridin" after the 1/8 mile. That's because they wound clean out by 1/8 mile.

[@llamacebu216]

What do you think James's car runs on a 1/8? Off cleetus McFarland

[@dcarden3031]

Its easier on the car and the drivetrain

[@matthewherring8042]

132.ft is the best

[@truckguyjoe]

Hey Jeff, see ya @ Galot

[@HighPSItv]

Hell yea

[@tonyb7748]

Gotta get that flag hung with the stars in the left corner🇺🇸

[@willzgn]

Did you know your flag is displayed wrong? The field of stars is always on the left side, horizontal or vertical.

[@HighPSItv]

I hung it that way so when the door is open its correct from the outside

[@viperfukgoogplus386]

Says "Draw a line" Draws dashes... 🤦‍♂️

[@lw216316]

so lets called it a dashed line - and be happy !

[@NeutralChaotic]

He's an idiot, what'd you expect?

[@1299pete]

Well said my car is not super fast but I only run 1/8 mile...1/4 mile is hard on cars plus my car is geared for 1/8 it wouldn't make it through the 1/4 lol

[@coldsmoker9387]

1/8 mile is over before the race starts it's kinda lame but better than nothing

[@davidconley3610]

Eight mile is truly the only true racing. Separate the racers from the posers. Great channel Jeff!

[@matthewherring8042]

1.840 in 132...lol

[@knuckles3007]

1/8th mile sucks!

[@randallsavage3795]

100% disagree.

[@rickyjett675]

I like 1/2 mile racing

[@2002dodgeram2]

1/8 Mile is better

[@matthewherring8042]

1/8 is better

[@jasonclardy9245]

1/8th mile racing all day long.