Fox Hunt at Boise’s Firebird Raceway

Words and photos by Brian Losness

The Great American Fox Hunt is not something that aristocratic gentlemen do atop of great steeds in the New England countryside. This hunt is one was conjured up by uber promoter Bill Donner at the Mecca of drag strips, California’s Orange Co. International Raceway or OCIR. 

Fast forward thirty-seven years and the Fox Hunt is still alive and running strong at Firebird Raceway near Boise, Idaho.

There have been many different prime attractions to the Fox Hunt: Funny Cars, Pro Mods and Jet Cars have all been featured. This year the New family decided on a triple header to entertain the fans.

The West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods were on the list as was the Northwest BB/FC Association, jet cars from the Darin Bays Stable and from Renegade Raceway Manager Derek Snelson, along with a staple at any major drag race in the west, Ed and Wendy Jones and their Jelly Belly wheelstanders.

Along with those competitors, an ever increasing in size and in performance level of bracket racers would be on tap. The Super Pro class at Firebird is very healthy and their ranks are growing. That their performances have been improving was proven by the fact that Dan Lafferty in his new Super Pro/Top Sportsman dragster ran in the heat of the day on Saturday a 6.97 blast at 201 mph.

The 2014 Fox Hunt was unique in other ways. This was the first Fox Hunt without the patriarch of the New family, Bill New, who passed away earlier in the year. It was unique in another way. Fans at Firebird are known for showing up early and staying for the day.

Well, this year that did not happen. Maybe they were at home watching the World Cup or doing yard work or whatever. (OK, probably not watching soccer, but one never knows.) However, at about two o’clock there were not many folks in the stands. Then about an hour before first round, it was like a dam had burst open and cars were lined up three wide from the track entrance all the way back to State Highway 16.

As the first round got underway, the place was packed. The fans got their money’s worth and more. 

The West Coast Pro Mods were spectacular both visually and performance wise.  Leading at the end of qualifying was the head of the Goodguys, Marc Meadors in his “Pure Hell 2” Camaro at 6.01 and 242.65. Following close behind is Mike Maggio in the world’s quickest and fastest Pro Mod at 6.03/247.93.