David Murray, participating in Small Tire Grudge, launched into a spectacular wheel stand, carried it to half-track, landed poorly and launched into the wall. David is fine, the car…not so.  (Pete Ward photo)

The Street Car Super nationals were held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 15-18 running cars down two of the lanes while the other two were being prepared for the next pair.

Pete Ward, former editor of Drag Racer magazine which now has ceased publication, took a look at the action for us. See his full report at here.  [11/26/18]

Frankie Stotz with his Stotz Racing Pro/Street motorcycle made the world take notice of him with world record setting performance and consistency at the 42nd annual Man Cup, Mann Hill Garage World Finals, held November 18, at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA.

Out of the nearly 800 motorcycles entered into competition for the weekend, Frankie’s Honda was simply amazing. On Sunday he recorded times of 6.607, 6.608, 6.601 and 6.603, along his way to defeating Rodney Williford in the finals, to win the event. Details on the event will appear in December’s Motorcycle Memos with Tom McCarthy. (Tom McCarthy photo)   [11/26/18]

The group that proposed and received a pre-election commitment to build the Colosseum of Drag Racing for Melbourne has vowed to continue their pursuit after the Matthew Guy-led Liberal/Nationals coalition was defeated in the Victorian State Election.

Proponents of the venue were long-time drag racing official Lachlan Craven, three-time Pro Bike champion Maurice Allen, and motorsport industry media representative Gerald McDornan.

“Mr. Guy recognised the considerable economic and social benefits a dedicated, world-class Drag Racing facility would deliver for Melbourne and Victoria,” said Craven. “Our proposal went further than any other plan in more than a decade has towards returning regular, big-time Drag Racing to Melbourne.”

Melbourne has been without regular top-level drag racing since 2001 when Calder Park Raceway’s owner ceased hosting national open events and withdrew as promoters of that year’s Australian Nationals.

“This process has given us immense hope and an extremely optimistic outlook for the future,” Craven continued. “Now we call on all Drag Racing fans and racers to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get behind us. This is only the beginning.”   [11/26/18]

In a spectacular double-breakout final round involving 2014 and 2015 Jr. Dragster winners at Rockingham Dragway’s PDRA Spring Open, Samuel Peterson (shown) slipped past Connor Caulder Sunday, Nov. 25, to win the $5,000 top prize in the inaugural Holiday Junior Jam.

Caulder, a Rockingham regular from St. Pauls who won the PDRA Pro Jr. Dragster title at The Rock in 2014, got the starting line advantage and got to the finish line first but was guilty of running under his 7.900-second target by .006 of a second.

Meanwhile, Peterson, the son of Jason and Stephanie Peterson, who manage US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI, also ran under his target but only by .004 of second. Peterson won the PDRA Top Jr. Dragster crown at the 2015 Spring Open.

More than 100 aspiring young drag racing champions from 15 states and Canada battled the weather and one another for a shot at one of the biggest cash purses in Jr. Dragster history.  Juniors raced in age group categories to determine a final eight.

Among the others who advanced to the main event was two-time NHRA Eastern Conference Jr. Dragster Champion Carson “Big Check” Emmett of Cedar Bluff, AL, a double-up winner earlier this year when Rockingham played host to the Midwest Jr. Dragster Super Series.

The long-distance award was grabbed by Braiden Owen of Palmer, Alaska, who reached the round of six in 10-13 year old division.

Carter Jackson of Cartersville, VA, won Friday’s Gamblers Race for 6-9 year olds, beating Brandon Jenkins of Mechanicsville, MD, in the final.  The other two Gamblers races were interrupted by rain and the purse split among those still in competition.   [11/26/18]

From left, Dick Gerwer, Donna Garlits and Bruce Larson.

Donna Garlits, youngest daughter of Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, was honored on Nov. 10 at Bruce Larson’s “USA-1 DragFest” in Dauphin, PA.

“I have chosen to honor Donna for her tireless efforts to preserve, promoted and perpetuate the heritage of drag racing as the General Manager/Chief Financial Officer of her father’s Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida, for several years,” explained Larson, one of drag racing’s early Funny Car stars who raced the well-known “USA-1” Chevrolet Camaros.

Ms. Garlits retired from the day-to-day management of the Museum in 2017, but still retains the title of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. [11/26/18]

The fifth annual Phoenix Drag Reunion was held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park on Nov. 9-10. Nostalgia drag racing was featured along with a cackle of nitro cars, a car show and parts swap meet.  (Brad Baker photos) [11/26/18]