LAST ONE AT CALIFORNIA DRAGWAY
Sunday, Feb. 5, was the last drag race for California
Dragway in Fontana, CA, in its current location. On Monday
the K-rail and bleachers will be taken down for the upcoming
NASCAR Auto Club 500 on the banked speedway. Track manager
Dave Danish watched over the scheduled sportsman test-n-tune
where Division 7 stockers, super stockers and super categories
readied for the Winternationals.
According to Sr. Director of Operations Mike Yurick,
he only has two weeks to prepare for the NASCAR event
and currently they are working with the city and county
for necessary approvals to relocate the quarter mile north
of its current location to parking lots 6 and 8. The new
track will be renamed Auto Club Dragway at California
Speedway and is scheduled to re-open in May. (Darr
Hawthorne photo) [2-6-2006]
NOSTALGIA SHOOTOUT COMES TO
GEORGIA
South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, GA, will
hold the Southern Nostalgia Shootout on Oct. 27-29, 2006.
Patterned after the highly successful National Hot Rod
Reunion and California Hot Rod Reunion, the event will
feature exhibitions, racing, a swap meet, car corral,
and car show.
The event is limited to pre-1976 vehicles. Headlining
the event is Big Daddy Don Garlits, who will bring one
of his restored fuelers to run and will also participate
in a cackle event on Saturday evening.
Several racing classes are planned, including Nostalgia
Comp for open wheel vehicles, Gassers, Nostalgia Super
Stock, and a "Baddest of the Bad" category for
ultimate bragging rights. Early participants include funny
car driver Al Hofmann, Denny Fenstermaker with Roger Gates'
restored front-engined fueler, Bunky Bobo with his Hemi
Hurricane A/G Willys which won a Best of the Best award
at the National Hot Rod Reunion last year, and David Shaffer
with his seven-second altered. Al Hofmann? Alrighty then!
[2-6-2006]
WHAT'S UPS WITH VANDERGRIFF?
Although no official announcement has come out concerning
the impending UPS sponsorship of Bob Vandergriff Jr’s
Top Fuel team (the worst kept secret in drag racing) apparently
everything is coming together as Vandergriff’s transporter
came to LVMS painted with UPS livery. As of Monday (Feb.
6) the car was still being put together and hadn’t
yet made a lap. However, the Agent was told that no less
than eight blocks/engines arrived at Las Vegas via UPS
for the team, so you have to assume Vandergriff and UPS
plan to debut the team at this week's Pomona event.
(James Drew photo) [2-6-2006]
