Thunderbird Dragway Muskegon MI - WaterWinterWonderland.com

Info Updates:

7/25/2023 - Randy Panozzo

I been hearing a rumor that the drag strip is going to re open i hope it does we really need a place to race if anyone has any information about this please let me know also i will be willing to help any way i can to get this re oped

8/9/2022 - Tom Krapp

Hello. We are the new owners of the old Thunderbird Drag strip. The property is now Isaiah 35, church property. I wanted to show a picture of the tower we are painting. Go to www.isaiah35.life for more info. Thanks. Tom and Sally.

10/23/2009 - djd

The circle track is still in operation, but after Larry Eaton's tragic wreck the dragstrip is closed. Personally Eaton's car was obviously and overwhelmingly FAR to fast for that track and anyone who has ever seen Thunderbird raceway and Eaton's car could tell you that. Ten years ago my car was running low elevens and I was uncomfy at the 'Bird!

5/30/2008 - RON GARZA

Too bad about Larry Eaton's crash at Thunderbird, this is one reason the race tracks must take it on themselves to limit speed. It appears to me that IHRA and NHRA must be brain dead and don't care. with the speeds the cars are running today, the tracks should impose a rule anything that runs 11.99 or faster can only run 1/8 mile and any thing that runs 12 sec. or slower can run 1/4 mi.It seems all the wrecks are at the 1/4 mi. where the cars are all wound out and have nothing left. look at all the accidents at MILAN. this should be a fun sport not feel like you are taking your last ride every time you go down the track.

9/11/2006 - ROD MAUL

I lived down south and for the last few years all the 1/4 mile tracks are going to 1/8 mile racing.When it is time to resurface you can do 1/8 mile for one third the cost of 1/4 mile track,because you dont need that long shut down. Also I read a study on safety between the two and it stated that 1/8 mile dragracing was not twice as safe as 1/4 mile racing but more than 10 times safer. So now I know why all the tracks are going to 1/8 mile racing. And most racers that race 1/8 mile for a time never want to go back to 1/4 mile. So it would be a good thing if Thunderbird went to all 1/8 mile dragracing. Rod.

1/7/2003 - Web

I made this Muskegon track my home track from 1976 thru 1981. I believe it opened sometime in the sixties and has opened and closed and reopened a couple of times and is currently open with a track resurfacing a couple of years ago. When I raced there the track was a little short and not real wide but was nice and flat. More flat than Martin or Stanton. About 1979 Doug Rose brought his "Green Mamba" jet car to town and on Saturday night at Thunderbird Raceway dirt track he did his car melt down show and on Sunday he made a couple of runs at the drag strip. During the week before, the track owners had a new asphalt burn out area put down just behind the starting line which was still to soft to use so it was roped off. Well, when Rose fired up his jet car, the thrust literally lifted up giant chunks of the new asphalt and blew it back toward an area of the pits. It was quite a site to see when those sheets of asphalt were blowing in the air what seemed like in slow motion. Luckily no people or cars were hurt. What a show. Yes the pit area can get a little damp when it has rained. The track was built up above the surrounding area.

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Thunderbird Dragway - Muskegon MI