Street Legal Dragway is a brand-new place to race in Perris, California. It opened recently while many other racetracks across the country were closing. In a world where drag strips are quickly going away, this one is not only brand new, but it’s also the only 330-foot dragway in the country made just for street cars. Andy Marocco only opened it to make it a better place for street racers in Southern California. Marocco has wanted to build a race strip for street cars for many years. The project is now finished, despite a few setbacks with local governments and even the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). An interview with the Daily Bulletin quoted Marocco as saying that “no solutions existed” for street racing, even though the issue has gotten much attention from the media since the takeovers. He thinks his very short 330-foot dragway will help him figure out what to do. The goal statement says, “To stop people from racing illegally on public highways and streets, where they risk killing themselves and taking innocent lives.” You can find the new track near the half-mile dirt racetrack at Perris Auto Speedway. It is part of the Perris Fairgrounds. Several tracks are nearby, such as a motorcycle, BMX, and kart track. Most Los Angeles takes more than an hour to get to the Dragway, and few tracks are nearby. There are other choices, but Street Legal Dragway’s $40 driver admission fee is meant to be safe and affordable. It’s not your typical quarter-mile track, but it’s an interesting new idea that makes racing very cheap. Marocco says the new dragway’s “soft debut” shows it has “the numbers to be successful” since past attempts to hold official races went very well. The most petite drag strip in the country is open every other Friday until the end of the year. If you want to try it, more days will be added in 2024.
