NOTE: Gateway Drag Racing School Begins Thursday, 5/8!

[Bret Kepner]

This is just a reminder that Gateway International Raceway's FREE Drag Racing School begins its twelfth year on Thursday, May 8th, at the track in Madison, IL, just two miles from the Gateway Arch.

Normally, the first class would begin on the first Thursday of May but, because of the NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals, the first class of 2008 moved to the second Thursday of May. All other 2008 classes will be held on the first Thursday of each month through September.

Everybody, (racers, crew, spouses, kids, etc.), is invited; there is no cost for the class, no admission charge, and no expense incurred during the course. The classes meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7 PM at the dragstrip control tower. (Be sure to tell the guard at the security gate you're there to attend the school). Classes meet rain or shine and are held out on the starting line when it's nice (no mosquitoes) or in the air-conditioned media room of the tower when it's not. Each class covers a different main topic and lasts until 9:00-9:30 PM, (including bathroom/smoking break).

This is not a "Go On Green and Drive A Straight Line" type of program. It's a hardcore series of lessons guaranteed to make you a better racer. Although some aspects are devoted to bracket racing, most of it is directed to applicable information for any drag racer. It is intense and technical but the basics of each concept are always explained for the novice.

Subjects covered include Staging Technique, Launch Technique, Logging Speadsheet Information, Tuning Decisions In Relation To Weather Conditions, and Drag Racing Psychology. Front-wheel-drive theory and motorcycle applications are also specifically addressed in each class.

Participants do not need to bring a vehicle (to race) for the first class, but later courses do include on-track sessions.

Graduates of the Gateway Drag Racing School include eleven track points champions (and seven Junior Dragster track champs), eight National Event champions, six NHRA Divisional Champions, and three NHRA Top Five season competitors...several of whom had never raced before enrolling in the class! Believe it or not, another graduate has won five IHRA Top Fuel Eliminator World Championships!

Whether you want to or not, you WILL become a better racer. It's also a great way for your "significant other" to finally understand what's going on!

Bring something to drink, a notepad, and a pen. Hope to see you there!