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What's the best drag race you ever attended?
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
MSopko_Jr.
Nitro Member
I've been to a bunch of national events including some really great US Nationals. We live 45 minutes from Route 66 and have been to some great races there. Even got to share the winner circle with Kenny Bernstein at the inaugural Route 66 Nats as part of a Prolong promotion from the auto parts store my Dad managed (even met 240 Gordie that day). I have been to Englishtown and Reading. Been to numerous nostalgia events around the Midwest and a bunch of great shows at US 131. However, my favorite all time event was a Match Race Mania event at US 41 on April 21, 1996 as a 15 year old kid. Here is an excerpt from an article I did for Nostalgia Drag World about that event:
Fortunately that lead to the construction of US 41 Dragway about 45 minutes down the highway in Morrocco, Indiana. The track began to have a race every April known as Match Race Mania. They would book in a cool assortment of nostalgia cars, jet cars, outlaw super stocks, and funnies. They really made for some great shows. The only problem was that they were in April. April in Indiana can be tumultuous to say the least. It is not totally uncommon to experience snow and unseasonably warm temperatures within the same week. Also the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” rings true much of the time. Therefore, when scheduling a race in April it is almost certain that Mother Nature will take aim at said weekend.
Well on April 21, 1996 that was not the case and we were blessed with weather that is very uncommon. By the shot of the scoreboard you can see the trees have no leaves yet, which may make you think it was pretty cold out. Actually, the temperature was in the low 70’s with ridiculously low humidity and very calm winds. As I have said, it is not uncommon to have warm temperatures in the spring; however they almost always come with outrageously strong winds. I once attended an NHRA points race that was postponed due to wind. This day was absolutely gorgeous and the track had a killer line up that day. In my opinion it was the best race I still have ever been to.
That day there was a new AA/FD team on the premises. Though Dad and I should probably been more familiar with the name, we really did not know who Paul Romine was. We did notice the guy who was the crew chief, sure looked a lot like Clayton Harris though. We later found out that it was indeed Clayton Harris.
Towards the end of the afternoon Romine lined up to make his last pass on the track. Undoubtedly the unseasonable weather had an impact and the stars aligned at just the right moment for history to be made. As Romine’s cars tripped the beams a 5.96 rang out on the scoreboards signifying the first 5 second AA/FD pass.
The other cars mentioned in the line up included the Midwest Funny Car series which was a group of alcohol funny cars that ran on a 7.50 index. They always put on a great show. There was also a group of nostalgia outlaw super stocks that day that put on a heck of a show. I remember a black Dodge Challenger going into a big wheelstand coming down and getting crossed up before eventually ending up on its roof. It was a beautiful car and hated to see that happen. The overall show was fantastic though and Bret Kepner was on the mic. I have included a picture my Dad took of Paul Romine's run. I was using the video camera that day instead of the film camera.
Fortunately that lead to the construction of US 41 Dragway about 45 minutes down the highway in Morrocco, Indiana. The track began to have a race every April known as Match Race Mania. They would book in a cool assortment of nostalgia cars, jet cars, outlaw super stocks, and funnies. They really made for some great shows. The only problem was that they were in April. April in Indiana can be tumultuous to say the least. It is not totally uncommon to experience snow and unseasonably warm temperatures within the same week. Also the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” rings true much of the time. Therefore, when scheduling a race in April it is almost certain that Mother Nature will take aim at said weekend.
Well on April 21, 1996 that was not the case and we were blessed with weather that is very uncommon. By the shot of the scoreboard you can see the trees have no leaves yet, which may make you think it was pretty cold out. Actually, the temperature was in the low 70’s with ridiculously low humidity and very calm winds. As I have said, it is not uncommon to have warm temperatures in the spring; however they almost always come with outrageously strong winds. I once attended an NHRA points race that was postponed due to wind. This day was absolutely gorgeous and the track had a killer line up that day. In my opinion it was the best race I still have ever been to.
That day there was a new AA/FD team on the premises. Though Dad and I should probably been more familiar with the name, we really did not know who Paul Romine was. We did notice the guy who was the crew chief, sure looked a lot like Clayton Harris though. We later found out that it was indeed Clayton Harris.
Towards the end of the afternoon Romine lined up to make his last pass on the track. Undoubtedly the unseasonable weather had an impact and the stars aligned at just the right moment for history to be made. As Romine’s cars tripped the beams a 5.96 rang out on the scoreboards signifying the first 5 second AA/FD pass.
The other cars mentioned in the line up included the Midwest Funny Car series which was a group of alcohol funny cars that ran on a 7.50 index. They always put on a great show. There was also a group of nostalgia outlaw super stocks that day that put on a heck of a show. I remember a black Dodge Challenger going into a big wheelstand coming down and getting crossed up before eventually ending up on its roof. It was a beautiful car and hated to see that happen. The overall show was fantastic though and Bret Kepner was on the mic. I have included a picture my Dad took of Paul Romine's run. I was using the video camera that day instead of the film camera.
Attachments
1991 Summernationals Englishtown - rain delay led to nighttime finals. My favorite part was Dick Bell in the Bell Boys TAFC winning his first and only national event after being reinstated from a round 2 loss because his opponent Frank Madden had water in his fuel. He then beat Newberry and Manzo, the best in Div 1 to win it all.!
But wait - 1997 with Kenji and Alderman and Cristen Powell
But wait 1986 Karp over Manzo
But wait 2005 Paul Gill winning in honor of his son.
Ok I can't decide - I've been at a lot of favorite races.
But wait - 1997 with Kenji and Alderman and Cristen Powell
But wait 1986 Karp over Manzo
But wait 2005 Paul Gill winning in honor of his son.
Ok I can't decide - I've been at a lot of favorite races.
I recall the Force interview at that race. He was so chagrined after missing out on the opportunity to be the first FC to run a 4 and then the first FC to run 300, both denied him at the same race. Said he'd probably have to transgender into a woman so he could become the first female in the 4s. LOL
Every race I've been to has had great moments, but the one that stands out was Sears Point in maybe '93 (?) during Saturday qualifying. Force was in the left lane and KC Spurlock was in the right lane. At that time, Force was doing long burnouts which was great to see. Force did his burnout, stopped around half track and started backing up, when KC went past him, tires absolutely smoking and when he finally did stop to back up, he was at or slightly past the finish line. KC put it in reverse, backed up faster than any fuel car I've ever seen and arrived at the starting line at the same time as Force. Who won that day? Zero idea. But here some 30+ year later, I still remember that nasty burnout.
ch streetcars
Nitro Member
Speaking of crowd pleasing burnouts in Funny Car- Norm Wilding from England , raced here from '91- '97 . He would often do almost full track burnouts in qualifying. Norm was just the nicest, down-to-earth racer you could ever meet. between rounds I would give him a $20 bill, I'd say, not that this helps, but the fans sure appreciate the show you put on! I see that he builds custom motorcycles in Columbia , Missouri now. Might try to go visit him sometime.
I was there too for that but I think it was in 2000. GA didn't start driving until like 97 I think. Was great to see Force win because it seemed like Columbus always gave him issues. Do remember him winner #2 there in 1988. Man, at that time, who knew what was to come....
If memory serves me correctly, Spurlocks's CC was Ronnie Swearingen? I just watched a current-day long form interview with Cristen Powell and she talks a bit about Ronnie when he was tuning her (funny car). As she was new to the funny cars she asked him how long a burnout she needed to do. Ronnie's response: "make it as long as you want-have some fun with it-the tires, engine and clutch need some heat anyways!". He also said to take that throttle stop off. Old school. Love it!
Yeah, Ronnie was KC's crew chief then. As for Cristen Powell, my brother met her at the Portland Roadster Show in '99 and said she was by far the nicest racer he'd ever met of any kind of sport. It's funny and maybe it's just me, but I seem to remember racers who were (or seemed like) good people more than I remember their win/loss ratio. Guys like Alex Laughlin, Densham, Jack Beckman, Frank Iaconio, Bob Glidden, Tom McEwen, Mike Dunn and many more are my heroes based on my interactions as a lowly fan for that one day at the drags. They were all nice for no reason at all other than we were both happy to be there. Can't say that for all the racers I've ever met, lol
65 Goatboy
Nitro Member
Met Eddie and Ercie Hill in Memphis?, super nice.
Ontario Motor Speedway, last race of 1972, Don Moody wins the race and ran 5.91. Could not believe how quick that was, was almost in shock. Long time ago, but that one stands out. Lions Last Race stands out cuz I didn't want that track to close. I must have stayed there after the race until 3 AM or so, finally just left & went home.
Norm was awesome!
Don’t remember the year (‘90’s) @ Indy, Norm bought out a beautiful black Omni that they had spent hundreds of hours block sanding and getting the body straight, blew the body to smithereens on the first pass! True hot rodder!
robinjackson
Nitro Member
Ontario Motor Speedway 1974 -- Supernationals/World Finals. Garlits, Dave Condit won nitro, Glidden (I think) PS. Carl Olson's last race. The best race because it was the first -- huge impact for someone flown in from the UK.
Since then, 35 NHRA national events and counting in 51 years.
Since then, 35 NHRA national events and counting in 51 years.
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