[coverattach=1]When Wally Parks’ persistence paid off in 1951 with the creation of the National Hot Rod Association, one of the founder’s primary objectives was to get that era’s drag racers off the streets and onto race tracks where they could compete in a much safer, supervised atmosphere.
There were no jet-propelled airplanes then. The United States ’ huge interstate freeway system was in its infancy and there was an abundance of farm roads that served as makeshift tracks for local teenagers.
And, as modern technology gradually changed lifestyles everywhere, drag racing attracted new audiences. Now, more than a half-century later, the sport flourishes in all corners of the world – including Qatar in the Arabian Gulf region.
Drag racing officially comes to Qatar , February 5-6, with the worldwide premiere event to be held at the Qatar Racing Club, just outside the city of Doha .
Von Smith and Howard Moon, of Oak Ridge , Tenn. , are among the U.S. contingent on hand, not only for the inaugural festivities, but with the intent of winning the first Pro Mod Extreme title in this significant event and presenting the trophy to Sheik Khalid Al Thani, their Al-Anabi team owner.
Smith, one of the race favorites, will be behind the wheel of the same 1957 Chevy he drove to back-to-back victories at Bahrain last fall. Moon, one of the best when it comes to tuning these hard-charging race cars, is the crew chief/tuner.
“Drag racing in Qatar and Bahrain has a different aura,” Smith said. “The people are really excited and as we begin to understand each other’s language, the more we all will benefit.
“As far as the track’s concerned, it’s just the best. Penhall Company built the track. It’s all concrete and it’s as smooth as glass. We haven’t raced on it yet, but we did get to drive on it and it’s as good as any of the tracks we have in the United States . It’s no different than the tracks Bruton Smith builds.
“They have about 300 cars entered for a race and Pro Modified is their premiere class,” Smith continued. “We’ll have 10 to 12 cars (in Pro Extreme) and we have eight-car fields. We also race at night. We don’t get to the track until 1 or 2 p.m. and it starts to get dark about 4:30. We race until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.
“It’s a nice place to visit and a good place to race.”
The team returns to Oak Ridge after the Qatar inaugural, only to go back on February 20 for another event. “We’ll have been there for almost three weeks,” noted Smith. “But going home gives us time to work on our new ’68 Camaro that Tim McAmis is building for our first National Guard ADRL (American Drag Racing League) Series race at Houston (March 6-7). McAmis is so great at getting new cars ready.”
There were no jet-propelled airplanes then. The United States ’ huge interstate freeway system was in its infancy and there was an abundance of farm roads that served as makeshift tracks for local teenagers.
And, as modern technology gradually changed lifestyles everywhere, drag racing attracted new audiences. Now, more than a half-century later, the sport flourishes in all corners of the world – including Qatar in the Arabian Gulf region.
Drag racing officially comes to Qatar , February 5-6, with the worldwide premiere event to be held at the Qatar Racing Club, just outside the city of Doha .
Von Smith and Howard Moon, of Oak Ridge , Tenn. , are among the U.S. contingent on hand, not only for the inaugural festivities, but with the intent of winning the first Pro Mod Extreme title in this significant event and presenting the trophy to Sheik Khalid Al Thani, their Al-Anabi team owner.
Smith, one of the race favorites, will be behind the wheel of the same 1957 Chevy he drove to back-to-back victories at Bahrain last fall. Moon, one of the best when it comes to tuning these hard-charging race cars, is the crew chief/tuner.
“Drag racing in Qatar and Bahrain has a different aura,” Smith said. “The people are really excited and as we begin to understand each other’s language, the more we all will benefit.
“As far as the track’s concerned, it’s just the best. Penhall Company built the track. It’s all concrete and it’s as smooth as glass. We haven’t raced on it yet, but we did get to drive on it and it’s as good as any of the tracks we have in the United States . It’s no different than the tracks Bruton Smith builds.
“They have about 300 cars entered for a race and Pro Modified is their premiere class,” Smith continued. “We’ll have 10 to 12 cars (in Pro Extreme) and we have eight-car fields. We also race at night. We don’t get to the track until 1 or 2 p.m. and it starts to get dark about 4:30. We race until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.
“It’s a nice place to visit and a good place to race.”
The team returns to Oak Ridge after the Qatar inaugural, only to go back on February 20 for another event. “We’ll have been there for almost three weeks,” noted Smith. “But going home gives us time to work on our new ’68 Camaro that Tim McAmis is building for our first National Guard ADRL (American Drag Racing League) Series race at Houston (March 6-7). McAmis is so great at getting new cars ready.”
