So Cal Pro Gas Association Celebrates with a Bang - 07/08
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So Cal Pro Gas Association Celebrates with a Bang
07-05-08
Auto Club Dragway at Fontana, CA.
Story and photographs by Roger Rohrdanz
The Fourth of July weekend began with a BBQ and fireworks at the Auto Club Dragway at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Meziere Enterprises and the Auto Club Dragway sponsored the BBQ.
Saturday morning the real fireworks started as the Pro Gas Association began qualifying for their fifth race of the 2008 season. Over 50 racers began to qualify in this 9.90 second elapse time class. The #1 qualifier is the one to run closest to 9.90 seconds without going under (meaning a quicker time). This So Cal Pro Gas
Association has been around since the mid-70’s and many of the current members have been in from the start. Some of the original race cars are still in the association! This is a great group to be associated with. Beth Rice, Track Manager of the Auto Club Dragway, said “We may have the So Cal Pro Gas Association here for all their races next year.”
Before elimination rounds began, Pete Jimenez and his 572 cu in, ’80 Chevy Monza from El Toro, CA. was announced as the #1 Qualifier after running a 9.901 ET. At that point the elimination rounds began. The temperature was up to 106 and the racing was also hot as many great matches through 5 elimination rounds took us to the Final pair left standing. David Coapstick from Victorville, CA. with his 565 Chevy powered ’68 topless Camaro started in the left lane. Last year’s “rookie of the year” Travis Balough from Long Beach, CA. with his 555 Chevy powered ’63 Corvette staged in the right lane. The lights on the Tree counted down, at the “hit” both cars did a little wheelie. David left first with a .018 reaction time to Travis’s .056. At the finish line, David Coapstick with a 9.901 ET and 152.00mph beat Travis Balough’s 9.941 ET and 153.96mph.
This Association and the other associations that filled up the weekend are exciting and fun to watch. For information on future events contact, www.socalprogas.com or Auto Club Dragway at, www.autoclubspeedway.com/dragway/.
Thanks for the Show