A lot of factors contribute to the slow decline and low frequency of the Japanese drag scene on the radars of car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. From being one of the sought after adrenaline past time for over 10 years, it has now become just a topic of conversation to let idle time pass. The changing of rules and regulations, the tightening of standards, the downfall of Japan’s economy and the short supply of new cars to tune all contributed to the end of this smoke and fuel-filled excitement. Though drag racing has been replaced, for the lack of a better word, by time attack and drifting as they rise to fame and are now the new fads and talk of the town.

Drag Racing at Fuji Speedway
But there are still some areas, raceway and speedways in Japan that still hold drag meets that hold drag races from time to time and there you again feel the rush that drag racing brings and also you see and feel the joy and excitement on the faces of the participants and the spectators. Another major contributor to the entire feel of drag racing meets like this is the attention to detail of the car owners to reach the proper level of authenticity of their vehicles. Rather than just shoving classic cars with high horse-powered engines with modern technology, the put decade appropriate engines and they try to stick to the original body work aside from the heavily suited body kits. They would rather push the limits of their car in without steering away from the original, and once they get to do this, a sense of pride comes along with it, a sort of satisfaction with oneself that he achieved something without conforming to modern day gadgets and technology.

A car burning out before the start of a race to soften the rubber and increase traction
Although one has to admit, that seeing new car models with stronger, faster, noisier engines send a tingling sensation down your spine. Hearing their wheels burnout before they jet down makes onlookers smile from ear to ear. “Beasts”, as some people call them, attract attention by having the loader engine and sound system and also by having all the newest dings and whistles and fancy gauges and meters inside. Seeing these drag meets happen is very pleasing because you see two different eras of cars and machines side by side, both in it for the same cause, to revive a culture that was once seemed to have been left in the past.
Photos from Thee Classic Motorcycle Days and Drift Japan