Hot Take: Burnt Rubber Don't Smell Too Good
Holy cow I finally finished something.
It’s hard to take bad photos at historic Sonoma Raceway.
Sunday*, I attended the unfortunately named Raceworz (razeworz.com), an “Interactive Motorsports Experience.”
I found the event on the racetrack’s website (sonomaraceway.com). You sign a waiver to enter the track. You’re on your own from there.
I’d been to this track once a few weeks ago, to see a co-worker run open testing in their souped-up Subaru. Before that, my raceway adventures were limited to Berlin Raceway (berlinraceway.com) and the US 131 Motorsports Park (us131msp.com) back in Michigan.
You have to understand that I am not the target audience of this experience. I don’t know anything about cars, or motors for that matter. This summer marks my 1 year of motorcycle ownership. Which means 1 year of learning the basics of how internal combustion engines work.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. Growing up, my dad once took the time to draw a diagram of an engine’s pistons to show me how it worked. It went over my head, and as a young kid or teenager, I wasn’t interested. Boy I regret that now.
Although that memory stings, it’s the minority. Overwhelmingly, I was proud of having a gearhead dad, and my memories are of the cool cars I got to see and be around.
I went everywhere with him: car shows, swap meets, auctions, impound lots. We went to tractor pulls and demolition derbys. He had friends from driving truck who owned slick classics, and I’d tag along to see. We would watch NHRA best-of tapes. He liked drag racing, funny cars, and American muscle. Dad, in my memory, is still sitting in the garage at his work bench under the stereo, with his pipe and one of those used car dealer magazines every dad seems to accumulate.
We spent lots of time together in that garage, where the third stall was always devoted to some project car. At one point was trying to build a V12 hot rod from scratch. Another time, he and a friend hoisted a V6 out of a car to swap for a V8. He changed gear ratios of back axels for better drag racing, and probably many other cool things I didn’t understand at the time. He was always elbows deep in some engine.
Over his life, he owned many classics: Cougars, Mustangs, a Fairlane (that I never got to drive) and what I remember to be a 70s F100 in toothpaste blue (which I did get to drive). I’m forgetting many vehicles from this list. This distresses me greatly, and is one of the reasons I am trying to get “back” into motorsports.
By attending motorsports events, I get to reconnect with memories of my dad, the all-familiar Midwest “car guy.” The vocab washed over me then, but I recognize it now in snatches.
Sonoma Raceway consists of an elevated racetrack, as well as a drag strip. For this event, all manner of vehicles were racing on the quarter-mile drag strip. There was also a sectioned off area for drifting and burnouts.
The race stands were lightly populated, with some geniuses opting to sit in the shade.
Emergency services are on standby, including fire, medical, and tow trucks.
A hard-working crew maintains the strip. It’s clear that Sonoma Raceway values its staff and volunteers; near where I parked my bike, there is a memorial in place for a beloved worker who passed away.
The track is covered with sponsored banners and signs.
The engine noises and smells contrasted with the verdant rolling hills of Sonoma make for a unique scene.
A thin but dedicated crowd hung out closest to the drag strip. Those nearest the action could have been a blend of family or friends of racers, or diehard fans who would be here no matter the weekend’s event. Energy drinks were more common to see than water bottles.
Everywhere you look, you see variety. That goes for attendees, fans, and vehicles.
A discarded energy drink on asphalt.
There is plenty of spectator space at Sonoma Raceway. The grounds are spread out, which made me wonder what the environment would feel like with packed stands throughout.
Your eyes do not deceive you, these are mini RC cars. Inside one of the garages away from the racetrack, I found these cars drifting noisily around a smaller version of the raceway.
The cars moved pretty quickly around the track, jostling for position.
I wondered if these cars and this track were part of a racing league of its own, but did not ask.
Walking down the line in front of these garage stalls was a grab bag. Some cars were rolling out and heading to the track. Some were packing up and ready to leave. In the distance of this photo you can see a yellow wrecker removing a car that can no longer drive home.
As mentioned before, Sonoma Raceway is visually striking because of its location tucked into the hills. Here, you see a spectator parking lot raised above the racetrack and pavilions.
Looking into the upper-right of this picture, you can get a sense of the scale of this space and event. Small vehicles like 4-wheelers, scooters, or minibikes were prevalent to help participants or spectators zip around among pedestrians and cars. Entering this event was a free-for-all flow of people, “normal” cars, souped-up cars, wreckers, emergency vehicles, and everything in between.
A discarded bag of chips on asphalt.
Back at the racetrack, some fans or spectators await the next race.
Beep beep! Stay alert to avoid golf carts and other vehicles.
This building sits opposite the race track and pavilions. This seems to be where the race commentators are located, and potentially admin offices or emergency services coordination for the racetrack. (I have no idea).
The event had a number of attractions, one of which baffled me as a newcomer.
Pay attention to the background of this picture to see how large this area is. A variety of beat-up cars would rip around these corners. I am no expert, but I believe the technical term is “sick drifts.”
Again, Raceworz is a deeply unfortunate name.
Yet again, your eyes do not deceive you. Those are indeed sheep in the background. These sheep quietly doing lawn control contrasted to the cars burning rubber made for a great photo.
I don’t understand this. Is the point to destroy your tires?
Multiple cars destroy their tires at once, whipping around cones in a noisy, confusing dance.
At least 1 camera drone whipped around the stunt area at high speed! I am glad I caught this picture.
I don’t get it, but that’s OK.
There seemed to be a positive correlation between destruction caused to vehicle = enjoyment of audience. Scientists are looking into it further; I do not have the answers.
Have you ever smelled burning rubber? I cannot emphasize enough how bad it smells.
The activities in this area sent continuous noxious clouds directly into the respiratory systems of all spectators, myself included.
OK this is pretty cool.
If you notice the crowd in the center left of the photo, that is where I was standing originally before I headed upwind against the tire smoke. All of those people are standing in a cloud of burnt tires.
?
Ah, yes. Breathe it in.
I decided to not breathe in burnt rubber any more, and went to investigate the sheep.
A path slopes gently up along the proper track (separate from the drag strip). I passed by a family with two kids on scooters. The kids bombed down this hill and one ate shit. The dad is running to help, while I helpfully documented.
Wool in this heat? Unbothered queens.
Pictured: sheep escape deterrent.
Cars participating in the burnt rubber toxic cloud event would cruise along this service road.
Most of the sheep were not eating grass, but instead were sitting together and resting.
View of the sheep, event, drag strip, and pavilions.
Earlier, I mentioned how spread out some of the spectator areas are throughout Sonoma Raceway. When you climb up past the sheep, you cross the racetrack and enter into a scenic picnic area. From this picnic area, I took and edited some photos of the motorcycle drag racers. These guys are insane.
I think these are modified Hayabusas. Their wheel bases are extended for drag racing.
Not familiar with bikes? Basically, these men are laying unrestrained on rocket engines that go +200 mph faster than you can regret your life choices. That is 321 km/hr.
These are 200 horsepower death machines. The acceleration would give you a heart attack. Don’t worry, if you fall off the bike would continue its trajectory into the sun.
Their quarter-mile time was 6.5 seconds (pictured below).
Please understand, that is i n s a n e.
Would you do this?
These pictures are out of order, sorry. Here are some muscle cars blasting down the strip.
Another bike.
A favorite of mine. If you have a souped-up drag racing vehicle, why not have it tow you back to your trailer?
Further distance picture of the Hayabusa* riders.
*If these are not Hayabusas, I don’t care. Don’t contact me. :)
The views at Sonoma Raceway are unmatched. From the picnic area, view of Sonoma Valley, the drag strip starting point, and race stands.
From the picnic area, the drag strip lays fully before you, and makes for some great photo ops.
I wish that I had a longer lens on this camera.
Not a Hayabusa. Do not contact me to tell me what kind of motorcycle this is, I do not care.
View of the stands, main event, and the burnt rubber toxic cloud area.
Sitting in the trunk for a break from the sun.
Another view of the surrounding area.
Quarter-mile time proof from earlier. UNREAL. +200 mph speeds.
A quarter-mile in 6.5 in a car would be insane. Doing it on a motorcycle is another level entirely.
Cruising in style.
(I think) cars lining up for the burnt tire toxic cloud area.
Staff or volunteers direct cars and allow each of them to go at specific times.
From the picnic area vantage point, there is a variety of activity to see. I recommend visiting the raceway on an event day.
With the g-forces these riders must experience, I imagine their legs are tucked into something on the bike, right? Surely his leg is not just hovering ominously over the asphalt unrestrained? Right…. right? (OK you can contact me on this one).
Bright yellow car that was racing the cyan muscle car from earlier photo.
View from picnic area of the event, burnt rubber toxic cloud area, and grazing sheep. The road in the foreground is the “proper” racetrack.
lol
Another amusing moment. Look carefully between the cars, and you will see a tow rope. :) Sometimes you’re the golf cart, and sometimes you’re the sedan.
Large empty stands beg the question of what this space would be like with a full, roaring crowd! I would love to see it.
That appears to be the end of the photos I took that day. Overall, it was an awesome experience and I’m glad I was able to go.
*I attended this event close to a year ago but never finished writing up about the photos until January 2023. Sue me.
Darlene writes about motorcycles, grief, gaming culture, and other things too.