Drag racing is one of the most accessible and simple ways to get into motorsports. Really, all it takes is a license and a car—plus maybe a nominal fee—and you’re literally off to the races. As a result, it’s relatable to the vast majority of car enthusiasts. The simple form of head-to-head automotive competition is also easy to watch as well, which makes videos about the sport increasingly popular with today’s attention-limited internet audience.
The intrigue of drag racing only grows when you stir rare, high-dollar vehicles into the mix. The Petersen Automotive Museum, guardian to some of the world’s most exclusive machines, figured it had a magic recipe when it recently decided to bring some of its storied metal to Central California’s Santa Margarita Ranch airstrip.
Having been invited by the Petersen to witness this event, I took a lovely 200-mile drive…