• (800) 248-0892
  • Find a Dealer

  • Support

  • Account

About

Search Your Vehicle

#lifeonair
Follow Us
  • Shop
    • Suspension
    • Management
    • Search Your Vehicle
    • Parts and Pieces
    • Merch/Swag
    • Closeout
  • Support
    • Get Support
    • Register Your Product
    • Owners Manuals
    • Warranty
  • Resources
    • Terms of Service
    • Return Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Shipping Policy
  • Company
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • Blog
  • Dealer
    • Find a Dealer
    • Become a Dealer

    SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST NEWS

    © 2023 Air Lift Performance. All rights reserved.

    Search By Vehicle

    Throwback Thursday: Air Lift in Drag Racing

    9/25/2014

    You might think air spring suspension is a recent invention, what with the recent rise in popularity of air ride systems in smaller, hatchback-style vehicles. In actual fact, Air Lift has been producing air ride systems for cars and trucks since 1949.

    Back in the early 1960s, Air Lift spotted a unique opportunity to use air suspension technology in drag racing to aid traction off the line for the hole shot.

    Air-Lift-Performance-78-800x533

    The Air Lift tech department worked out that, by using an air spring, racers could pre-load their suspension to use weight transfer to their advantage and improve drag race times.

    In a time when tire technology left a lot to be desired, you had to innovate to gain valuable tenths of seconds. People were already experimenting with gasser stance and altered wheel bases to try and gain traction–the Air Lift ‘drag bags’ were another way to improve drag times without altering the look of the car.

    Air-Lift-Performance-history-Speedhunters-30-800x532

    Air Lift was heavily involved in the spread of air suspension throughout the drag racing community. Once people saw Air Lift cars winning, it spread like wildfire. This popularity throughout the sport led to a series of Air-Lift-sponsored, professional drag cars piloted by Ed Schartman.

    Each of these cars was known as an “Air Lift Rattler” and they were even made into toy cars available to buy at toy stores. Kids would even come to drag events, looking to get themselves an Air Lift Rattler sticker!

    Air-Lift-Performance-history-Speedhunters-1-800x532

    Even today, Air Lift supplies drag racers with Air Lift Drag Bags to improve quarter-mile times.

    Air-Lift-Performance-16-800x533

    For more on this story, check out the Speedhunters story on Air Lift history by Keith Charvonia here.

    More Recent Articles

    GMC Truck Denali HD

    LST 2021 - Lone Star Throwdown Ten Year Anniversary Truck Show

    Get to know: Air Lift Performance 3H

    Get The Latest from Air Lift Performance

    Want first access to big sale events, performance suspension news, and exclusive drops that sell out quickly?

    Subscribe To Our Newsletter