New York Firefighters Combined Drag Racing and Ladder Climbing into an Outrageous Sport

      NYS FD Racing (YouTube)

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      Human beings are inherently competitive. When there’s a task that can be done exceptionally well, people will always strive to excel at it. We're familiar with this spirit in the automotive industry, so it’s no surprise to find yet another unique motorsport. Take NYS FD's motorized ladder drill, for instance, where a truck transporting a ladder team races from a start line to reach a gantry. At that point, the ladder team jumps from the moving truck to set up a ladder, which one of their members then climbs to access the gantry and finish the run.

      It's a blend of drag racing and American Ninja Warrior. Mistakes happen with predictable frequency, but it’s all in the spirit of friendly rivalry and maybe even a way to stay sharp for real emergencies. Whichever way you look at it, it’s quite a spectacle.

      But don’t just take my word for it. NYSFDRacing shares videos of its ladder competition runs (as well as its other events) online. You can witness all the madness for yourself:

      Quick Shot: Westbury C-Ladder, 2022 NYS Drill

      Concerned about being on the second floor without an escape ladder? Don't worry; they’ve trained for such situations. However, this approach might seem problematic for the driver in a real emergency—not to mention the structural soundness of the building you’d hope to escape from if this were a real-life scenario. Admittedly, the practical applications may be limited, but who cares when it’s so undeniably entertaining?

      C-Ladder is just one event among many in a typical competition, and while it's challenging to find simple explanations of the events, there exists a comprehensive rulebook that could easily overwhelm your local SCCA inspector. In the organizers’ defense, these competitors are literally tossing each other off the back of a truck, so it’s not hard to imagine this could turn into chaos.

      Clearly, these aren’t your average “stock” ladder trucks. The rulebook mandates that they include some basic vehicle features (brakes at all four corners, etc.), but they hardly resemble contemporary firefighting apparatus. There are limits on vehicle length and tire size (and no dualies), along with a restriction of one engine with a maximum of 440 cubic inches.

      Also, no wheelie bars are allowed, so please be mindful of your teammates’ safety when you take off, alright?

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