Palmyra Dragway is heading into pre-stage.
Finally we are approaching the end of the wet season for “Sunny North QLD” here in Mackay, and as such the drags are getting ready to enter pre-stage with the first lot of racing set to kick off soon. That is to say that first Keep the Speed of the Streets was to be the this Friday the 23rd, however with rain reappearing over the weekend this looks to be pushed back a couple of weeks.
What a lot of people don’t get to see is what goes on behind the scenes at the drag strip. While the club is always looking for volunteers, like most organisations they seem to have a great deal of trouble finding people willing to help. But that is another story, so I thought I would try and open your eyes to some of the things that go on and perhaps show you some pictures and video, plus what is involved in prepping for a race meet. As a result these may end up sounding more like a blog of what is going on than an article or story, but with a little luck should be interesting all the same.
The weekend just gone saw some the regulars attend the track for a clean up and check of everything before the scheduled KSOS. This included everything from a general clean up of the grounds, mowing etc through to a full check of the timing gear and computers. Everything was going to plan until we discovered the timing boards were not functioning. The problem is still ongoing however we have managed to narrow it down to what we believe is the fault. It appears either a one of the power supplies for the boards or a connecting wire has shorted. As a result a couple of volunteers spent some time up a ladder trying to figure the situation out, and will have to do the same again over the next couple of days as we quickly approach the first lot of racing for the year.
Non local might not be aware what the wet season is like for Mackay and the surrounding areas. The wet season normally starts around the end of Nov or Dec and lasts until around May. During these months we will generally get more rain per month that the rest of the year gets in total. Between 300 and 500mm a month compared to 10 to 50mm per month for the rest of the year. So when the wet season finally raps up, most racers, spectators and officials are keen to get underway for the year. And what a year Palmyra has planned. Not much has been said publicly around some of the meets the club is in the process of working out, but what I can say is if they all go ahead, everyone will be in for a spectacular year of drag racing.
Its funny though, some spend the down time working on the cars and bikes so they are ready for start of racing. While other sit back and enjoy the break. I’m the later of the two, but one this is always the same. The moment we all get out to the track to start getting everything ready, everyone leaves the grounds itching to start racing. This also means for people like me (who sit back and relax), find that the moment we start working at the track again the bug to work on our rides returns and everything else is pushed to one side for the year.
No matter which of the two categories you fall into, I’m sure by now you are all starting to rev up for the first race. So lets get rid of this rain and enter pre-stage, and I’ll see you all at the track.
Cheers
D
