My name is Matthew Day Jackson and I am an artist living and working in Brooklyn, NY. It is my intention to build and race a Super Comp Dragster for a minimum of one season or until the car is rendered mechanically unfit for competition. This foray into Drag Racing will be my first attempt within the world of motor sports. However, in my participation as a driver I will represent the fourth generation of racecar drivers in my family. As a continuation of my work as an artist in understanding the society and culture in which I live, I am entering the world of motor sports.
Drag Racing is terrestrial space travel. It employs common methods of engineering to bridal the power of an internal combustion motor for man to push the boundaries of physical experience. The measure of success in the endeavor of Drag Racing lies in the victory over oneself or an opponent. Oftentimes this margin of victory is measured in thousandths of a second and immeasurably small distances. Every inch and every second of improvement is a light year away until attained.
The machine, one of perfect engineering, finds its existence in its purpose. Every piece of the machine is meant to accelerate to speeds in excess of 160mph/ 258kmh in less than 8 seconds from a standstill within the distance of 1320 feet/ 402 meters. It is not meant to turn nor is it meant to stop fast; and it is not meant for the street, or for the auto show. The machine is a freak in motor sports, and is oftentimes seen as the unwanted stepchild to more “sophisticated” forms of auto racing. I may also mention that Drag Racing finds its history in the street, and in the garage of the machinist engineer. The way in which stock engines and chassis were modified is a sort of anarchy. The Promethean hot rod builder trumps the university-trained engineer at the corporation.
The particular class of Drag cars I will be racing is called “Super Comp”. It is the quickest of the heads-up Super classes and is composed primarily of dragsters or what is commonly called a “rail.” Engine, chassis, and body modifications are virtually unlimited, though all entries must adhere to strict NHRA safety standards. Most Super Comp cars are capable of running well under the 8.90-second index. The car that I will be driving will be built by McKinney Corp. with a 540 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi motor generating in excess of 700 horsepower. The tuning and advisor for the team will be Skip Nichols, my cousin and champion driver /builder/ owner of Nichols Industries. He is a five time SCCA Champion with a resume too long to list.
When compared to the fastest and most powerful passenger cars, even driving a Ferrari would be akin to driving a luxury golf cart. Launching a Super Comp dragster has been likened to being catapulted off an aircraft carrier. The force of acceleration, greater than 1.4G, is like no previous experience. Interestingly, as Drag racing legend Frank Hawley has described it, driving the car is mostly “letting go.” In a sport known for its violent power, the more the car is “muscled” the more dangerous and unsuccessful a run will be. The run can basically be broken down to reaction, which relies on training and faith.
My interest in Drag racing is influenced by my concerns as an artist. As I drive the car I will be entirely transported to a different area of stimulus. My senses will be heightened and my concentration will be intensified. This is no different than what I am trying to accomplish in the studio. I dream of being able to function in a scenario where my body is entirely aware of the situation in which I exist. Our bodies are exquisitely engineered perceptive tools and it is my interest to use my body in its entirety. This will not happen overnight and, just as one may ingest a psychedelic drug, I will have to learn how to understand the experience, which is a process of better understanding oneself and paying attention.
The car is produced by a team of people many I do not know, and is a physical record of years of engineering maybe spanning even thousands of years. The car is meant to be “safe” if cared for and driven responsibly, while at the same time meant to be used to the limits of its performance. To drive the car as fast as it will go, and to trust in its construction is to have Faith in my fellow humans and the knowledge we have gained thus far. This cuts to my core interests and furthering my human experience, which motivate me to make art.
I am also seeking volunteers to join the team who may have valuable experience.
Please contact mdjvolunteer@gmail.com