Drag Tag - virtual drag racing with your own car
Drag Tag is an indoor facility in Australia where you can virtually drag race your own car using a patented dyno, hold-down, steering and visualization simulator. Design, developed and operated in Australia, Drag Tag uses its own specially-designed hold-down system to keep your car strapped on the dyno during WOT. Laser sensors are used to monitor the angle of the front wheels and gather steering data, while three massive 4.5-meter screens provide over a 200-degree of various simulated race environments.
The Drag Tag website points out the obvious benefits it has to offer over actual racing, which include a complete disregard for the weather outside, shorter lines, no helmets or race suits required and really fast cars don't need any expensive safety equipment like a roll cage.
In order to join the fun, one must first purchase a membership to Drag Tag that include installation of the special hold-down brackets, after which nightly racing can cost anywhere from AUS $10 to $50 for an evening of digital automotive mayhem.
While there's no replacement for the experience of a real Christmas Tree going green and dropping the hammer, the idea of driving your own car in a video game is strangely appealing.
[Source: Drag Tag via autoblog.nl]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian 1:03PM (7/28/2006)
I would say that a serious drag racer would find it valuable just as a training tool. Practice your timing and reaction, do some real-world shift-point experiments, etc. Sounds like a good idea to me.
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Greg 1:28PM (7/28/2006)
Have fun frying your engine while you're redlining your car with zero airflow in your radiator! They provide an engine rebuild service for only 4,999$ as part of their package!
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kevin 1:34PM (7/28/2006)
RWD only?
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D-Dog 1:36PM (7/28/2006)
As a drag racer, this is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. There is nothing like launching a drag car with the front wheels hanging in the air, banging off shifts as you rocket down the track trying to beat the guy in the next lane. This would be a real yawner.
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Baumann 1:38PM (7/28/2006)
Sounds like a good way to make the street racing scene somewhat legit. However, there are a lot of variables that they aren't taking into account.
First off... wind. It doesn't just blow. If you've got a turbo-charger or cold air intake, that horsepower gain is going to be lost in the game. Additionally, you could really risk hurting your car with the lack of airflow to the radiator (or, in my case, the air cooled rear engine.)
It's a good start though.
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Eric L. 1:51PM (7/28/2006)
This wouldn't work on a car with traction control, since the front and rear wheel speeds would be different, unless there was some way to equalize them.
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RickDom 2:00PM (7/28/2006)
Interesting idea, and keep in mind, this is Australia, they have far more RWD cars than in the US. I have to imagine they have some sort of fan system too.
Looking at the site, seeing the picture of the woman scanning some on the car is enough to make me not want to go though, yuck.
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RickDom 2:05PM (7/28/2006)
And, looking at their gallery, those are definitely 4-wheel dynos.
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Carl 2:12PM (7/28/2006)
They have laser to monitor wheel angle...
Dont you guys think that they are actually ABLE to have a dynamic fan system...
Im sure they do, even tho it is not specified in the article.
-Carl Q.
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shrinkydinx 3:07PM (7/28/2006)
they should use this on 'pinks' - its the only thing that could make that show more fake
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Alex 3:25PM (7/28/2006)
I think this is a waste of money, for both parties.
Most people don't drive cars that are true drag cars.
It would a successfull busines if they had a standard race/Drag car already setup for you to use.
But everyone has a different opinion as to what a 'Real' Drag car would be.
Then you may get Drift King wannabe's wanting a drift machine setup so the car would move side to side. Oh Brother...
All in all this business will crash, potentional customers will blow their engines, cause damage to their cars.
They will be playing a virtual game, but using REAL cars, which will be a let down.
Anyone with a real car would never hook up there car to this.
Why redline your car for something that doesn't count.
This Drag Tag in no way replaces the real thing, or could ever simulate a drag strip
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C 4:35PM (7/28/2006)
Guys, you're missing the point. There's a reset button if you blow your motor, just like playing Need for Speed on my XBOX.
Maybe there's an option to pay an extra $50 and it pretends your car makes more than 102HP.
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Joshua Ballard 1:49AM (7/29/2006)
When running cars on dynos, we usually set up the industrial sized fans that blow air into the radiator as fast as you would like. Overheating isn't really an issue, unless your engine is already close to the edge.
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Steve Case 1:11PM (10/24/2006)
I think this would be a hit here in the US . I see car clubs having the meetings there, kids and their friends meeting there to see who has the faster car without gettign killed in a street race! Car shows, and the sexy girls! we have a WINNER!
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