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Video: Wheelstand drag-racing needs to become a global sport

22nd November 2023
Simon Ostler

It doesn’t seem like long ago that I was sat here gawping at the insanity of ‘The Mullet Machine’, a drag racing Chevrolet Sportvan that can pull off some utterly ludicrous wheelies. Now I’m watching a full-length video dedicated to crazy cars with crazier drivers who have made launching themselves up on their rear bumper their favourite weekend activity.

Obviously, if you had the time, money and inclination to pop a 5.5-litre V8 into a Fastback Barracuda you’d be taking home a cheque for $10,000 dollars, too… right? If only had the guts to fling yourself down a drag strip with nothing but the sky in your field of view.

That’s what these lunatics are up to today, as we take a glimpse of a recent Wheelstanders Competition taking place at Byron Dragway in Illinois The cars line up as they would in your standard drag event, but instead of firing themselves at the finish line at breakneck speed, they instead try to fling themselves into space. 

The sound is as awesome as you might imagine from these souped-up monsters, but the visuals of these cars sitting up on their rear bumpers and still making ridiculous progress down the strip is hilarious and impressive in equal measure.

It doesn’t always go to plan, as evidenced in this video, the steering in these cars is somewhat sub-optimal, but when it does, you can’t help but be impressed. It’s almost a wonder how this form of entertainment remains relatively fringe. Surely the mainstream would absolutely love this? We certainly do…

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: V10 Toro Rosso F1 car absolutely flying around Assen

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