NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series
“Nostalgia Sportsman Shootout ll” at Auto Club Dragway
Auto Club Dragway at Fontana
Fontana, CA
09-12,14-‘08
Story and photographs by Roger Rohrdanz
This is the inaugural year of NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series. This series will help preserve NHRA’s rich history and tradition while capitalizing on the success of nostalgia drag racing competition, the series crown year-end points champions in 14 categories. The four groups comprising the 14 categories are Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster; Nostalgia Funny Car; Group 1 consisting of A/Fuel, Junior Fuel A, Junior Fuel B, and AA/Gas Supercharged; and Group2, containing the following eight categories: Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Nostalgia Eliminator 2, and Nostalgia Eliminator 3; A Gas, B Gas, C Gas, and D Gas; and Hot Rod.
“This series will benefit everyone, from the racers to The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum,” said Steve Gibbs, director of The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. “It provides a great opportunity to preserve NHRA’s rich heritage through nostalgia drag racing competition.”
On Sept 12, 13 & 14, 2008, the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series presented it’s “Sportsman Shootout” at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA. The weather was in the low 80’s and very comfortable for the racers and spectators. Several vendors were showing their wares. Some very good food was being offered in the midway. I had a great rootbeer float! Also, in between rounds, Team VAST performed amazing motorcycle stunts in front of the fans. Team VAST is made-up of Eric “Edub” Whitcomb and “Krazy” Kyle. Qualifying for the anxious race cars in 12 classes began Saturday. Sunday began the exiting rounds of head to head competition to crown a winner in each class. The quickest elapsed time, and the fastest speed of the event was A/Fueler Kin Bates Sr. with a 6.348 second ET and 223.02 mph. This was a very exciting event with lots of action. Plan to come to the final Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series event of the 2008 season at the California Hot Rod Reunion, Oct 10, 11, 12 in Bakersfield, CA.
For complete information on next years events contact, www.autoclubspeedway.com or www.NHRA.com.
Thanks for the Show!
|
|
|
Stormy Byrd “heats the hides” of his dragster, to the delight of the crowd. |
|
Jimmy White thrills the fans as he “twists” his A/Gas Corvette. |
|
|
|
Ron Danly and his nice ’48 Anglia panel truck always puts on a nice show. |
|
Darrell Waters, holding the trophy and Dad Tony Waters watching, took the A/Fuel class with a 6.552 et & 209.59 mph to beat Chuck Tanko and his 6.677 et & 196.39 mph. |
|
|
|
The AA/Gas Final saw Steve Woods (near lane) run a 6.700 et & 205.98 mph to beat Bob Moore and his 7.185 et & 195.31mph |
|
Bud Hammer, with white T-shirt, took the Jr Fuel “B” class with a 7.087 et & 188.33 mph to beat John Rasmussen and his 7.537 et & 176.33 mph. |
|
|
|
he A/Gas Final saw Ken Ratzloff (far lane) run a 7.631 et & 186.82 mph to beat Jimmy White and his 7.716 et & 176.01 mph. |
|
Randy Armstrong (blue driving suit) picked up a “Wally” for clinching the B/Gas season championship as he ran a 8.671 et & 154.63 mph to beat Leonard Perry and his 8.678 et & 156.08 mph. |
|
|
|
The C/Gas Final saw Jim Caruso (near lane) run a 9.617 et & 128.42 mph to beat Kenny Yount and his “to quick” 9.579 et & 128.65 mph |
|
The D/Gas Final saw Roy Sommers (near lane) run a 10.616 et & 124.27 mph to beat Ed Carey and his “to quick” 10.595 et 123.62 mph. |
|
|
|
Dave Ward, holding the trophy, took the Nostalgia Eliminator l class with a 7.696 et & 155.40 mph to beat Jim Scott and his 7.565 et & 178.59 mph. |
|
The Nostalgia Eliminator ll Final saw Cecil Molina JR. (near lane) run a 8.768 et & 151.54 to beat Jim Black and his 8.638 et & 140.81 mph. |
|
|
|
Kim Lee, holding baby daughter, won the Nostalgia Eliminator lll class with a 9.572 et & 139.57 mph to beat Ken Fullerton and his quicker 9.522 et & 139.39 mph. |
|
The Hot Rod class saw Carl Cole win with a run of 12.096 et & 123.62 mph to beat Joy Linehan and her 10.616 et & 124.27 mph |
|
|
|
Steve Gibbs, director of The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum said “This series will benefit everyone, from the racers to The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, It provides a great opportunity to preserve NHRA’s rich heritage through nostalgia drag racing competition.” |
|
Between rounds, Team VAST performed exciting motorcycle stunts in front of the fans. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surrounding Beth Rice, the Auto Club Dragway Manager, are Team VAST members (l) Eric “Edub” Whitcomb and (r) “Krazy” Kyle |
|
|
|
George and Patty Striegel were one of many vendors showing off their wares. |
|
TheNitroGarage.com was open for business in the vendors midway |
|
|
|
Art Cristman and his grandson Mike take in some of the action |
|
|