LOCAL RACERS CLEMENTS, MARTIN, WIGINGTON, WILBANKS AND RAMSEY WIN THEIR CLASS AT HAYES MOPAR MEET 2004
by Tim Glover
Photos by Tim Glover: http://community.webshots.com/album/186930663SuNxNX
More Hayes Mopar Meet photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/186931965jsjYIJ
(Commerce, GA - September 11) Thousands of loyal Mopar fans enjoyed the 2004 edition of the Hayes Mopar Meet at Atlanta Dragway. The show began Friday evening, with a four hour test and tune session and vendor setup. A huge car show, five brand new concept cars, a bustling vendors midway, a car corral featuring many used Chrysler corporation machines and a swap meet featuring used Moparts from the 50's through the present were only part of the attraction on Saturday. On track action was also plentiful. NHRA Pro Stock Mopar racers Larry Morgan and Allen Johnson made several crowd pleasing high 6.80 and low 6.90 second passes at 200mph. Johnny Kelley brought his NHRA Super Stocker Dixie Hemi Barracuda to the facility and turned in low nine second passes with his Ray Barton Hemi powered machine. Paul Miller's US One Jet Dragster was another popular exhibition car. Over 240 race cars participated in eight different drag racing classes, producing eight different happy winners. The Minette family continued their reign in the Kauffman Tire burnout contest, with John Minette winning in 2004. "The weather was great. It's been a good day. Lots of nice cars, here we go again," commented Mike and Jeremy Hayes on the outcome of their show. They also thanked Lake City Cruisers and the North Georgia Mopar Club for their help with the show.
The car show covered several acres of the Atlanta Dragway facility, and examples from the 40s and up were available viewer's enjoyment. One of the oldest cars was Hendersonville, NC resident Grady Hawkins '47 Dodge, and classes like Winged Car, Hemi Car, PT Cruisers, Vipers and many more were represented. Doris Tollison brought her mint '55 Chrysler 300 down from Greenville, SC, complete with a dual quad 331 hemi engine. James Sirman's lime green '74 Gremlin X from Nashville, GA was a looker. Judy and Mike Holman's '65 Belvedere II from Knoxville, TN was a sleeper car, with not much indication a 426 hemi engine was lurking under the hood.
The manufacturer's midway featured many new Mopar products for sale. The Hayes Family Dealerships booth featured brand new crate engines, including a 380hp 360 cubic inch engine and a hotter 435hp 402 engine. Some of the new turbochargers available were also on display. Further down, the Middle Georgia and the North Georgia Mopar clubs had information booths set up. The Year One Restoration and Performance trailer was open for business, featuring high quality replacement parts for Chrysler products.
Five different concept cars wowed the crowd in front of the Mopar Performance Speed Shop. The ME Four Twelve looked like a ground based rocket, with its quad turbo 850hp V-12 mid engine and seven speed Ricardo double clutch transmission. Another popular car was the Jeep Willys 2, a back-to-basics machine. The Airflite, Avenger and Slingshot also showcased new ideas.
Another popular place on the midway was the Dave Dunbar's Diesel Performance Dynojet Chassis Dyno. The first 30 dyno pulls were taken care of by Hayes Chrysler, which was very much appreciated by the participants. Darren Morrison, a Pro Street Diesel class racer, put his '95 Dodge RAM on the dyno, and registered 699hp. The torque went up to 1200ft. lbs., but the dyno quit registering data at that point. A stock diesel RAM truck registered 254hp and 631ft. lb. of torque. Oh yes, cars were also allowed on the dyno.
A Run for the Money event was held for the bracket racers prior to the first round of competition, and the winners were D.J. McClellan ('70 Duster - Suwanee, GA) in Super Pro, Joe Haddon ('67 Chevy II - Oxford, GA) in Sportsman and Jackie Lastinger in Jr. Dragster. Ed Nalley of Nalley Racing Engines put up a $50 award for the best package in round three for Sportsman and Super Pro. Joe Powell ('70 Dodge Dart - Winder, GA) won the Sportsman portion and Jim Mayfield ('92 Beretta - Gainesville, GA) won the Super Pro portion.
Former Super Pro champion and current 2004 Super Pro points leader Mike Ramsey from Commerce, GA added another win to the books in Super Pro action, defeating Stacy Blanton of Jefferson, GA in the final. Ramsey's '81 Don Ness built Camaro turned in a .02 over 5.65 second, 122.26mph winning pass, while Blanton's '04 Undercover dragster went .003 seconds too quick, (5.077 on a 5.08 target). Ramsey thanked Mark Hancock, who helped him out in the later rounds, as Ramsey's daughter, Taylor was also participating in the Jr. Dragster portion of the Mopar show. Jeff Carter from Elgin, SC carried the Mopar banner the longest in Super Pro with his '74 Dodge Demon, making it to the semi-final round. The other semi-final finisher was Larry Barefoot ('65 Chevy II - Bethlehem, GA).
Robert Wilbanks from Winder, GA has raced in Sportsman seriously for three years, and enjoyed his first victory in tonight's final against Alpharetta, GA racer Gordon Warren. Warren had a bit of a holeshot advantage at the starting line, but his '67 Camaro went too quick at the big end of the track, running 11.41, 113.96mph on a 11.43 dial. Wilbank's '65 Mustang carded a 10.43, 130.42mph effort (10.39 dial). He thanked friend Jim Johnson, saying Johnson was his right hand man. "I'm glad to win. Everything fell my way tonight," added Wilbanks." When the field was down to seven cars, four were Mopars, but by the semi-finals, the only Chrysler product left was Cumming, GA racer David Rodger's '68 Dodge Charger R/T. The other semi-finalist was Alton Clements III, brother of 8-12 Jr. Dragster winner Valerie Clements, in his best ever "big car" finish.
Brat Pack racer Phillip Wigington scored another win in Trophy Street with his Canton, GA based '00 Camaro. Wigington faced some tough competition in the form of Michael "Spoon" Seabolt from nearby "Blarsville", GA. Spoon had the advantage in the reaction time department with a near perfect .013 second reaction time, but Wigington's trusty Camaro went nearer to the dial in time of 13.84 seconds with a 13.90 at 101.89mph. Seabolt's '95 Ford Lightning truck fell way off the pace, turning in a 16.14, 79.16mph pass (15.90 dial). "Hey, my light came on. His didn't," added Wigington while he was admiring his huge Mopar Meet trophy. He thanked his girlfriend Louise for all her support of his racing. Deanna Webster (local racer Mack Everett's recently married daughter) from Blairsville, GA was the lone semi-finalist with her '83 Mustang GT.
Eleven year old Central, SC racer Valerie Clements, who won the NHRA Jr. Dragster Challenge race on August 21, made it to the final round for the third race in a row. Clements enjoyed her second win in three outings by running closer to her dial in time of 8.93, with an 8.98 at 70.49mph. Clements faced Justin Fancher (11 - Conyers, GA) in the final, and got the win when Fancher fell off the pace to a 9.27, 68.18mph pass (9.18 dial). Dylan Kent (9 - Acworth, GA) took home the semi-final trophy. Clements thanked the people who helped her, including Billy Crenshaw for racing fuel, Bill Gillen for the engine, Greg Harding of Zorn and her dad. She was joined in the winner's picture by her brother Alton Clements III, who also had a good day in Sportsman class.
Former track champion Cody Martin of Buford, GA won the first two Atlanta Dragway 13-17 Jr. Dragster races in 2004, and then enjoyed the Mopar Meet 2004 victory against Bradley Myers from Loganville, GA. The 16 year old Martin used a big starting line advantage and held off Myers with an 8.59, 74.87mph pass (8.52 dial). Myers, 14, earned the runner up trophy with a 7.94 at 80.23mph on his 7.90 dial. "Mad Matt" Gillen (13 - Gainesville) just turned 13 years old and stepped up to the 13-17 class today, enjoying a semi-final finish on his first outing. The other semi-final finisher was Danielle Krause (13 - Peachtree City, GA). Martin, a seven year Jr. Dragster veteran, thanked Little Bill, his dad, and his sister Lindsey for all their help.
Newnan, GA racer Lebron Hill took his Southern Truck Parts '95 Dodge RAM truck all the way to the winner's circle in the DHRA Diesel Shootout. Hill took advantage of a big holeshot (.083 seconds vs. opponent John Davis' .255 react) and tapped the brakes at the finish line to win with a 15.98, 82.74mph pass (15.91 dial). Davis' '01 F350 was deadly on the dial in time, but due to the late reaction time, was the second vehicle to cross the finish line with a 15.40, 89.22mph pass (15.39 dial). Charles Nash ('96 RAM - McDonough, GA) was the semi-final finisher. "This was a great experience for me. It was my first time attending this event. I'll be back," added Hill.
Bowling Green, KY racer Derek Borders won the Pro Street Diesel event with his '95 RAM easily with a 11.13 second 120.18mph pass after his opponent, Matt Stuckey ('99 RAM - Whigham, GA) snapped a transmission input shaft shortly after he left the starting line.
Jerry Dobbs ('96 Viper - Hiram, GA) won the Viper Shootout.
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mike Ramsey '81 Camaro Commerce, GA 5.65 122.26 (5.63)
R/U: Stacy Blanton '04 Undercover dragster Jefferson, GA 5.07 134.98 (5.08)
Semi: Jeff Carter '74 Dodge Demon Elgin, SC
Semi: Larry Barefoot '65 Chevy II Bethlehem, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Robert Wilbanks '65 Mustang Winder, GA 10.43 130.42 (10.39)
R/U: Gordon Warren '67 Camaro Alpharetta, GA 11.41 113.96 (11.43)
Semi: David Rodgers '68 Dodge Charger RT Cumming, GA
Semi: Alton Clements III '71 Mach I Central, SC
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Phillip Wigington '00 Camaro Canton, GA 13.90 101.89 (13.84)
R/U: Michael "Spoon" Seabolt '95 Lightning Blairsville, GA 16.14 79.16 (15.90)
Semi: Deanna Webster '83 Mustang GT Blairsville, GA
8-12 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC 8.98 70.49 (8.93)
R/U: Justin Fancher 11 Conyers, GA 9.27 68.18 (9.18)
Semi: Dylan Kent 9 Acworth, GA
13-17 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Cody Martin 16 Buford, GA 8.59 74.87 (8.52)
R/U: Bradley Myers 14 Loganville, GA 7.94 80.23 (7.90)
Semi: "Mad Matt" Gillen 13 Gainesville, GA
Semi: Danielle Krause 13 Peachtree City, GA
DHRA DIESEL SHOOTOUT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lebron Hill '95 Dodge RAM Newnan, GA 15.98 82.74 (15.91)
R/U: John Davis '01 F-350 Murfreesboro, TN 15.40 89.22 (15.39)
Semi: Charles Nash '96 Dodge RAM McDonough, GA
PRO STREET DIESEL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Derek Borders '95 Dodge RAM Bowling Green, KY 11.13 120.18
R/U: Matt Stuckey '99 Dodge RAM Whigham, GA broke
VIPER SHOOTOUT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Jerry Dobbs '96 Dodge Viper Hiram, GA 11.66 120.25
A division of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2004 events, including the Hayes Mopar Meet, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.
Photos by Tim Glover: http://community.webshots.com/album/186930663SuNxNX
More Hayes Mopar Meet photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/186931965jsjYIJ
(Commerce, GA - September 11) Thousands of loyal Mopar fans enjoyed the 2004 edition of the Hayes Mopar Meet at Atlanta Dragway. The show began Friday evening, with a four hour test and tune session and vendor setup. A huge car show, five brand new concept cars, a bustling vendors midway, a car corral featuring many used Chrysler corporation machines and a swap meet featuring used Moparts from the 50's through the present were only part of the attraction on Saturday. On track action was also plentiful. NHRA Pro Stock Mopar racers Larry Morgan and Allen Johnson made several crowd pleasing high 6.80 and low 6.90 second passes at 200mph. Johnny Kelley brought his NHRA Super Stocker Dixie Hemi Barracuda to the facility and turned in low nine second passes with his Ray Barton Hemi powered machine. Paul Miller's US One Jet Dragster was another popular exhibition car. Over 240 race cars participated in eight different drag racing classes, producing eight different happy winners. The Minette family continued their reign in the Kauffman Tire burnout contest, with John Minette winning in 2004. "The weather was great. It's been a good day. Lots of nice cars, here we go again," commented Mike and Jeremy Hayes on the outcome of their show. They also thanked Lake City Cruisers and the North Georgia Mopar Club for their help with the show.
The car show covered several acres of the Atlanta Dragway facility, and examples from the 40s and up were available viewer's enjoyment. One of the oldest cars was Hendersonville, NC resident Grady Hawkins '47 Dodge, and classes like Winged Car, Hemi Car, PT Cruisers, Vipers and many more were represented. Doris Tollison brought her mint '55 Chrysler 300 down from Greenville, SC, complete with a dual quad 331 hemi engine. James Sirman's lime green '74 Gremlin X from Nashville, GA was a looker. Judy and Mike Holman's '65 Belvedere II from Knoxville, TN was a sleeper car, with not much indication a 426 hemi engine was lurking under the hood.
The manufacturer's midway featured many new Mopar products for sale. The Hayes Family Dealerships booth featured brand new crate engines, including a 380hp 360 cubic inch engine and a hotter 435hp 402 engine. Some of the new turbochargers available were also on display. Further down, the Middle Georgia and the North Georgia Mopar clubs had information booths set up. The Year One Restoration and Performance trailer was open for business, featuring high quality replacement parts for Chrysler products.
Five different concept cars wowed the crowd in front of the Mopar Performance Speed Shop. The ME Four Twelve looked like a ground based rocket, with its quad turbo 850hp V-12 mid engine and seven speed Ricardo double clutch transmission. Another popular car was the Jeep Willys 2, a back-to-basics machine. The Airflite, Avenger and Slingshot also showcased new ideas.
Another popular place on the midway was the Dave Dunbar's Diesel Performance Dynojet Chassis Dyno. The first 30 dyno pulls were taken care of by Hayes Chrysler, which was very much appreciated by the participants. Darren Morrison, a Pro Street Diesel class racer, put his '95 Dodge RAM on the dyno, and registered 699hp. The torque went up to 1200ft. lbs., but the dyno quit registering data at that point. A stock diesel RAM truck registered 254hp and 631ft. lb. of torque. Oh yes, cars were also allowed on the dyno.
A Run for the Money event was held for the bracket racers prior to the first round of competition, and the winners were D.J. McClellan ('70 Duster - Suwanee, GA) in Super Pro, Joe Haddon ('67 Chevy II - Oxford, GA) in Sportsman and Jackie Lastinger in Jr. Dragster. Ed Nalley of Nalley Racing Engines put up a $50 award for the best package in round three for Sportsman and Super Pro. Joe Powell ('70 Dodge Dart - Winder, GA) won the Sportsman portion and Jim Mayfield ('92 Beretta - Gainesville, GA) won the Super Pro portion.
Former Super Pro champion and current 2004 Super Pro points leader Mike Ramsey from Commerce, GA added another win to the books in Super Pro action, defeating Stacy Blanton of Jefferson, GA in the final. Ramsey's '81 Don Ness built Camaro turned in a .02 over 5.65 second, 122.26mph winning pass, while Blanton's '04 Undercover dragster went .003 seconds too quick, (5.077 on a 5.08 target). Ramsey thanked Mark Hancock, who helped him out in the later rounds, as Ramsey's daughter, Taylor was also participating in the Jr. Dragster portion of the Mopar show. Jeff Carter from Elgin, SC carried the Mopar banner the longest in Super Pro with his '74 Dodge Demon, making it to the semi-final round. The other semi-final finisher was Larry Barefoot ('65 Chevy II - Bethlehem, GA).
Robert Wilbanks from Winder, GA has raced in Sportsman seriously for three years, and enjoyed his first victory in tonight's final against Alpharetta, GA racer Gordon Warren. Warren had a bit of a holeshot advantage at the starting line, but his '67 Camaro went too quick at the big end of the track, running 11.41, 113.96mph on a 11.43 dial. Wilbank's '65 Mustang carded a 10.43, 130.42mph effort (10.39 dial). He thanked friend Jim Johnson, saying Johnson was his right hand man. "I'm glad to win. Everything fell my way tonight," added Wilbanks." When the field was down to seven cars, four were Mopars, but by the semi-finals, the only Chrysler product left was Cumming, GA racer David Rodger's '68 Dodge Charger R/T. The other semi-finalist was Alton Clements III, brother of 8-12 Jr. Dragster winner Valerie Clements, in his best ever "big car" finish.
Brat Pack racer Phillip Wigington scored another win in Trophy Street with his Canton, GA based '00 Camaro. Wigington faced some tough competition in the form of Michael "Spoon" Seabolt from nearby "Blarsville", GA. Spoon had the advantage in the reaction time department with a near perfect .013 second reaction time, but Wigington's trusty Camaro went nearer to the dial in time of 13.84 seconds with a 13.90 at 101.89mph. Seabolt's '95 Ford Lightning truck fell way off the pace, turning in a 16.14, 79.16mph pass (15.90 dial). "Hey, my light came on. His didn't," added Wigington while he was admiring his huge Mopar Meet trophy. He thanked his girlfriend Louise for all her support of his racing. Deanna Webster (local racer Mack Everett's recently married daughter) from Blairsville, GA was the lone semi-finalist with her '83 Mustang GT.
Eleven year old Central, SC racer Valerie Clements, who won the NHRA Jr. Dragster Challenge race on August 21, made it to the final round for the third race in a row. Clements enjoyed her second win in three outings by running closer to her dial in time of 8.93, with an 8.98 at 70.49mph. Clements faced Justin Fancher (11 - Conyers, GA) in the final, and got the win when Fancher fell off the pace to a 9.27, 68.18mph pass (9.18 dial). Dylan Kent (9 - Acworth, GA) took home the semi-final trophy. Clements thanked the people who helped her, including Billy Crenshaw for racing fuel, Bill Gillen for the engine, Greg Harding of Zorn and her dad. She was joined in the winner's picture by her brother Alton Clements III, who also had a good day in Sportsman class.
Former track champion Cody Martin of Buford, GA won the first two Atlanta Dragway 13-17 Jr. Dragster races in 2004, and then enjoyed the Mopar Meet 2004 victory against Bradley Myers from Loganville, GA. The 16 year old Martin used a big starting line advantage and held off Myers with an 8.59, 74.87mph pass (8.52 dial). Myers, 14, earned the runner up trophy with a 7.94 at 80.23mph on his 7.90 dial. "Mad Matt" Gillen (13 - Gainesville) just turned 13 years old and stepped up to the 13-17 class today, enjoying a semi-final finish on his first outing. The other semi-final finisher was Danielle Krause (13 - Peachtree City, GA). Martin, a seven year Jr. Dragster veteran, thanked Little Bill, his dad, and his sister Lindsey for all their help.
Newnan, GA racer Lebron Hill took his Southern Truck Parts '95 Dodge RAM truck all the way to the winner's circle in the DHRA Diesel Shootout. Hill took advantage of a big holeshot (.083 seconds vs. opponent John Davis' .255 react) and tapped the brakes at the finish line to win with a 15.98, 82.74mph pass (15.91 dial). Davis' '01 F350 was deadly on the dial in time, but due to the late reaction time, was the second vehicle to cross the finish line with a 15.40, 89.22mph pass (15.39 dial). Charles Nash ('96 RAM - McDonough, GA) was the semi-final finisher. "This was a great experience for me. It was my first time attending this event. I'll be back," added Hill.
Bowling Green, KY racer Derek Borders won the Pro Street Diesel event with his '95 RAM easily with a 11.13 second 120.18mph pass after his opponent, Matt Stuckey ('99 RAM - Whigham, GA) snapped a transmission input shaft shortly after he left the starting line.
Jerry Dobbs ('96 Viper - Hiram, GA) won the Viper Shootout.
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mike Ramsey '81 Camaro Commerce, GA 5.65 122.26 (5.63)
R/U: Stacy Blanton '04 Undercover dragster Jefferson, GA 5.07 134.98 (5.08)
Semi: Jeff Carter '74 Dodge Demon Elgin, SC
Semi: Larry Barefoot '65 Chevy II Bethlehem, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Robert Wilbanks '65 Mustang Winder, GA 10.43 130.42 (10.39)
R/U: Gordon Warren '67 Camaro Alpharetta, GA 11.41 113.96 (11.43)
Semi: David Rodgers '68 Dodge Charger RT Cumming, GA
Semi: Alton Clements III '71 Mach I Central, SC
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Phillip Wigington '00 Camaro Canton, GA 13.90 101.89 (13.84)
R/U: Michael "Spoon" Seabolt '95 Lightning Blairsville, GA 16.14 79.16 (15.90)
Semi: Deanna Webster '83 Mustang GT Blairsville, GA
8-12 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC 8.98 70.49 (8.93)
R/U: Justin Fancher 11 Conyers, GA 9.27 68.18 (9.18)
Semi: Dylan Kent 9 Acworth, GA
13-17 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Cody Martin 16 Buford, GA 8.59 74.87 (8.52)
R/U: Bradley Myers 14 Loganville, GA 7.94 80.23 (7.90)
Semi: "Mad Matt" Gillen 13 Gainesville, GA
Semi: Danielle Krause 13 Peachtree City, GA
DHRA DIESEL SHOOTOUT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lebron Hill '95 Dodge RAM Newnan, GA 15.98 82.74 (15.91)
R/U: John Davis '01 F-350 Murfreesboro, TN 15.40 89.22 (15.39)
Semi: Charles Nash '96 Dodge RAM McDonough, GA
PRO STREET DIESEL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Derek Borders '95 Dodge RAM Bowling Green, KY 11.13 120.18
R/U: Matt Stuckey '99 Dodge RAM Whigham, GA broke
VIPER SHOOTOUT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Jerry Dobbs '96 Dodge Viper Hiram, GA 11.66 120.25
A division of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2004 events, including the Hayes Mopar Meet, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.
posted by David @ 10:14 PM
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