The paddock is almost always the most exciting place for spectators at a race track. It’s the best opportunity for visitors to mingle with the drivers and mechanics and to get an up close look at the cars. The old paddock at Drag City was exciting but crowded; the newly expanded track opens up this area significantly, making it easier for both racers and their admiring public to maneuver.
Once a car passes inspection, the paddock is almost always the next stop. A few cars may go straight to the staging area, but this is rare, as racers are required to check in for inspection many hours before they are scheduled to race. Thus there is a continuous line of racing cars moving from the inspection station at one end of the track to the paddock at the other end, almost always under their own power rather than on their carriers, making for a spectacular car show for all those in attendance. Here are a few scenes from the new paddock at Drag City Mk. IV on a typical race day, where muscle cars, dragsters, and vintage sports cars co-mingle as they wait for their respective events to begin!
A track babe in “Daisy Dukes” flags traffic into the paddock, letting drivers and spectators alike know this is the place to be!LEFT: These 3 guys may not hang out together, but they’re all taken with what they see rumbling by, close enough to touch. RIGHT: a rare lightweight Jaguar E-Type draws an voluptuous admirerLEFT: A rotund spectator discusses the under-hood goodies of a race-prepped ’68 Mustang with the car’s lithe driver RIGHT: A muscle-bound stud and his demure girlfriend check out a race-spec’d ’64 Corvette roadster as it slowly thumps by looking for parkingLEFT: A mechanic puts some polish on the hood of a BMW; can’t hit the track without the proper shine! RIGHT: A track tam member putting the finishing touches on the number decal on the side of a Jaguar.An argument of a highly nationalist nature appears to have broken out between the driver of this Datsun 510 sedan and a highly modified ’57 Chevy drag car. The Datsun driver menacingly waves the Imperial Japanese battle flag; the Chevy driver’s response appears to be, “Suck this!”LEFT: Ignoring the melee behind them, this shutter bug is more interested in photographing his hot girlfriend in front of the Jaguar passing behind her. RIGHT: a few feet away, a casually attired driver, out of race gear, relaxes on the deck lid of his ’65 Ford Galaxie with his lady at his side; both are watching the qualifying action on the track only a guardrail beyond them.LEFT: Although the wrenching is supposed to be done by the time the car is in the paddock, its inevitable that some last minute item will come up, as is the case with these mechanics rolling out their tool check to check the brakes and wheels on this rare 1959 Chevy Stingray experimental racer. RIGHT: No such last minute items were left for this beautiful 1954 Jaguar XK120 coupe, dressed and ready to race and drawing admirers throughout the crowd
That is a lot of excitement for sure and you can feel the action! All these figures you have are great and your getting very good at painting them!