Yes, everyone with a smattering of interest in motorsports should go to a NHRA, IHRA or any professional drag racing event that runs fuel cars. You get to see (no pun intended) what it's like to actually have your eyeballs rattled in their sockets, blurring your vision just watching a car launch. It's pretty awesome but imo also pretty exhausting even just being spectator, for me at least. But if you only go to one drag race in your life I would very highly suggest the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield every Autumn. That's were you get to see the really cool stuff.
When I was very young my parents took myself and my two bothers to Brands Hatch. We were sitting on the outside of Paddock Hill bend and that's about all I can remember. I mustn't have been older than maybe four or five. I'd love to go to Santa Pod over there at some point.
I used to live just about 2 miles from the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. I never went to the NHRA nationals there, but they were loud enough where I was at to interfere with normal TV watching, even being 2 miles away.
Pittsburgh Auto Show is this weekend and they're going to have a '55 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing there. Stoked, never seen one in person. Heading there Friday after work. The convention center is one block from work, easy money.
This is what else they'll have: http://www.pittautoshow.com/featured_vehicles.cfm
I want to see the new NSX in person to see if I hate it less than I do now.
At one of the Newport Concourse I went to, (Jeez that was almost ten year ago. ) there were four or five 300SL Gullwings parked next to each other.
Saw an NSX on Monday. I'll have to see if my dashcam picked it up.
I can't stress this enough as well. I'm not sure about the Hot Rod Reunion but it should be an event that runs Top Fuel and Funny Cars. Your whole entire body and the entire earth and structures around you will vibrate for the 4.5 seconds it takes for the cars to get down the track.
It's a good example of how powerful sound waves and air pressure can be. It's the only thing I can think of that required me to catch my breath just sitting and watching it.