I used to live within 2 miles of the track in Memphis. Never went up to watch a race (except for the SCCA sports car races that used the WHOLE track...) but could hear them quite well from my house when they launched.
As for the jet cars...saw Art Arfons one time when I was a teenager in the 70's in Ohio. He only got to make one pass though as his chute failed and he went off the end of the track, thru a corn field, and over a bridge before finally stopping.
Ray
Now I'll date myself a little: I saw an exhibition run at Green Valley raceway in Denton, TX, I believe it was 1961. It was call the "Green Monster." Jet engine propped up on 4 wheels, with a small cockpit at the front; no covering or fuselage, just an ugly cylinder with hoses and metal tubing all over it, like some scary sci-fi movie. Like my friends and myself, the track workers obviously did not understand what happens when the afterburner is ignited . . . the flagman had enough sense to make a timely exit after dropping the flag, but another guy was standing about 30-40 ft. behind the thing when it lit up. I saw him running and screaming as the vehicle SLOWLY crept off the starting line. It seemed like half the E.T. was consumed in the first 100 feet, but when the thrust finally overcame inertia, it was like a rocket sled on rails. We were at half-track when it screamed by, trailing a lovely blue flame, for a high 6-second run. These are the kinds of things a 19-year-old never forgets.
Don't want to work all the weekend away.
