1/2 Mile Drags

This past Saturday, I was leaving my apartment on my way down to my garage when I found myself confronted by a cold, constant, pissing rain. My excitement for the day plummeted. Years of evolution tell me to go back; rest; conserve my calories; don't waste my time; Netflix. But I pushed through it—boy, was it worth it.

One hour later I arrive in the city of Monee, IL, about 40 miles south of Chicago. What's in Monee? Well, there's farms, some gas stations, and a McDonalds—the perfect Sunday getaway!

No, I'm here for the air strip. 

Welcome to Bult Field, a privately owned airport where the guys over at WannaGOFAST are hosting a weekend-long 1/2 mile drag racing event. 

As we make our way through the entrance and towards the parking area, we are thoroughly reassured that we have made the right decision to spend our Sunday here.

JDM Hotness parked outside the airplane hangers

It's not everyday you get to hangout in an airplane hanger. Even though it was overcast and 50° with a 25 mph wind, it was by far the most pleasant experience I've had at an airport

Some cars amongst the paddocks: 

S14 Silvia w/ S15 front clip in stunning blue

 

A Chicago classic: The Blues Mobile

Eventually, my buddy and I realize we've wasted the last half hour being distracted by spectators' cars and headed over to the strip...

The staging area

The always-stunning 458 Italia laying the hurt down on a GT500

Only Italy's finest can make a GT500 look so painfully bloated

Beautiful. But I can do you one better...

Personal favorite of the day:

Twin Turbo, flat black

 

 

Another Italian exotic:

Gallardos are so fine. This one is making well over 1000 hp

I don't know why they chose to cover up all the
 goodies with that plate, but I wish they hadn't. 

If mid-engine exotics aren't really your thing, how about this 900 awhp Evo 2. Using a 76mm turbo this JDM classic managed to hit 184 mph. The owner (seen below in red) was wonderfully friendly, and told me he could go faster, but his teeny brakes weren't up to the task of safely slowing him down! 

 


Several tuner shops brought out their best to test their setups and garner some fresh business:

The TopSpeed Motorsports GTR desperately wished this event was a Rallycross

The all-stars over at AMS brought out a healthy mix of their finest:

AMS's Alpha 10 GTR

 

AMS set the fastest trap speed of the day in their Alpha Omega GTR, coming in at 214 mph—video below [cred: Aygtr]:

They also brought out their 160+ mph turbo hearse...

 

The prize fight of the day was between AMS's Alpha Omega and this homely Talon that was just 1 mph shy of the GTR at 213.

The event was a blast, and if you ever get the chance to go to something like this I highly recommend it!

My only regrets:

1. Not getting a ride in one of the GTs

2. Not taking the Cobra out—I thought about it, I really did. As we were leaving we stopped right before the exit and for a full minute contemplated going back to do one run. But for the sake of not blowing her up right before I try to drive it across the country, I resisted temptation. 

AR