A few weeks ago I was in West Sayville Long Island for a family thing. As I drove by the Fire Department, I noticed there was something that looked like a dragstrip behind the building. Then I remembered that I saw something on TV about 35 years ago on Firemen Drag Racing hopped up trucks with ladders on the back..... Anyway I mentioned it to Ralph a couple of weeks back and he had never heard of it and Ralph knows just about everything You guys from NY probably know about this stuff but who else has never seen it?

Well here are videos of some of the competition. I remember that way back when they didn't use helmets and the strip was longer. It really looked dangerous.

I think that the Supercar Races should but together a team. We could use my Jeep or Ralphs International and Shawn could be the guy who runs up the ladder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQGNznDsYUI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Eo96MdW4A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WEqTCsktQ

I'm in

That's cool. When is the next one. Would love to see it inperson.

I am planning on taking my Grandkids over on the New London to Orient Point ferry this summer and doing an event. I will get some details.

Here's another one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T698z9jAIc

Hal, being origionally from Long Island, I remember those events. If I remember, it was one truck at a time, they'd race down the strip to a tower, raise and climb the ladder and ring a bell at the top. There used to be a practice strip close to where I used to live. They were also on tv, weather it was on a public /local channel I don't remember that, there was no cable tv back then all antenna's. I grew up in Patchogue, LI. N.Y.

living on long island my whole life and being in police dept, i've been up close and personal at these things and been around the trucks. alot of big block chevys and believe it or not 426 hemi's. wyandanch fire dept had half dozen hemis linrd up when i worked up there. they have alot of events at firemans park in lindenhurst and i think there are a few other venues in islip and bellport. trucks run open headers and sound wicked. many depts have stopped doing it because of the liability and risk of injury to the fireman. the old guys drive and the youg guys jump off the frucks and climb. alot of fun to watch.

I remember that they had to jump off the truck and hit a target with the water

your right, they have different exercises that relate to fire fighting with the focus being on speed and accuracy. fire depts that compete usually have practice areas at one of the fire stations.

I lived in Ridge on Long Island for awhile right off of RT25, The FD had a track just across the street from my house. One weekend we were having our weekly "Bleach Fest Sunday", We made so much smoke someone called the F.D., They showed up in their Fire trucks and ended up parking at the end of the road to watch. True gear heads !