NICHOLS, WIEGAND, GESSLER AND YARBER WINNERS AT YEAR ONE COMMERCE CHALLENGE
by Tim Glover
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(Commerce, GA - October 9) Although the Weather Channel was predicting rain for Sunday, it made an early visit Friday evening and Saturday morning to Atlanta Dragway during the Year One Commerce Challenge 2004. Friday began with test and tune and vendor setup, and all participants enjoyed the day until 8:30 pm, when light rain stopped the day and the scheduled Jet Dragster and Wheelstander exhibition runs. Saturday was fine, with light rain delaying the racing action in the morning. However, the track personnel soon had the track dry. The promoters decided to complete all the racing Saturday (instead of the normal Sunday eliminations) due to the predicted heavy rain on Sunday. Racers came from all over the U.S. to enjoy competition in the three different classes offered.
Although the fastest qualifier ran 7.80 seconds (local racer Bob Clifford - '67 GTO) in Quick 16, the slower cars ruled the day. #15 qualifier Erik Wiegand from White Plains, MD used a big .072 second holeshot to win Quick 16. Even though his final round opponent, #14 qualifier Melvin Fuller of Clermont, GA, crossed the finish line first, Fuller's '70 Nova broke out with a 10.00 flat, 132.11mph pass (10.04 dial) handing the win to Wiegand. Wiegand's clean looking '64 GTO ran a decent 10.30 at 129.31mph (10.26 dial). The Quick 16 semi-finalists were Dan Bytnar ('03 Mustang - Cumming, GA) and Robert Johnson ('87 Pontee Carlo SS). Three other local racers, Mike Holman ('70 Buick GSX), Jim Mayfield ('92 Beretta) and Ricky Hicks ('76 Monza) entered the event. Wiegand said he used to race a lot, but now just concentrates on select events. "My wife Christine and I came to the Bristol Bash last year and enjoyed it (semi-final finish) so we decided to come back. I'm just trying to have fun. I have a group of guys I run with," added Wiegand.
Blairstown, NJ racer Greg Gessler is already a three time champion of the F.A.S.T. (Factory Appearing Stock Tire) class. Gessler received the instant win this time after David Dudek, Jr's immaculately restored 426 Hemi powered '70 Challenger rolled through the starting line beams before the tree activated, turning on the dreaded big red bulb. Gessler was #1 qualifier and the Shelby Township, MI based Dudek qualified #2. Gessler's '72 Buick GS turned in an 11.54 pass at 122.47mph. Dudek's car was the #2 qualifier and Gessler's machine was the #1 qualifier. Joel Nystrom ('67 Hemi powered GTX - Buffalo, MN) and Wayne Nelson ('69 Corvette - Princeton, MN) were the semi-final finishers.
Nick Yarber and his wife Dawn started racing True Street with their '95 Mustang Cobra six years ago, running 13 second passes at that time. He has improved the car through the years, and after running the required 30 mile cruise, he ran three hot laps down the dragstrip, never shutting the engine off. He turned in a 9.02, a 9.29 and a 9.02 pass. His closest competition was Mark Hicks, who averaged 9.80 seconds in an '89 Mustang.
Racing was only part of the action at the Year One Commerce Challenge. A huge car show featured many different makes of American muscle cars using Year One parts. A kid's play area boasted several moonwalks, a climbing wall and a slot car track to keep them out of their parent's hair. The parents had plenty of time to enjoy a large swap meet featuring used performance parts and even show quality cars. The manufacturer's midway had a lot of new performance and restoration parts available. The Year One compound featured many of their products, along wth many completed show quality muscle cars. Test and Tune racers enjoyed making as many passes as they wished. Steve Dunlap of Cumming, GA came to the track to see what his '66 Chevelle would do. He first tried it out on the Werx Motorsports Chassis Dyno, where it put down 338 hp and 420 ft. lb. of torque to the rear wheels. He then carded several 12.50 passes at 107mph.
Year One presented the coveted Year One Cup to Carl and Bessie Nichols of Morganton, NC. The couple bought their 1963 Impala SS new, and began restoration one year ago. Their main worry after they bought the 327 300hp four-speed car was making the $101 monthly payment, as Carl only made $1.25 per hour. They worked together as a team all year and completed the car Friday at 12:00 noon. They were both astounded when they were rewarded with a win the first time out. In addition to a large lead crystal cup, they received a $5000 Year One gift certificate and the opportunity to display their car at other Year One events. Johnny Norrell of Cumming ('69 COPO ZL-1 Camaro clone) and Richard Carlson (custom '69 Camaro convertible) from Hudson, FL were the finalists for the Year One cup, winning smaller versions of the cup for their entries. One of the more unusual car show entries was the 1998 Ten Door "Game Over" Suburban belonging to Marc Bowen of Lawrenceville, GA. It was painted in red and black and sat nearly five feet off the ground.
Jim Wangers of Pontiac fame was on hand to meet and greet car enthusiasts who came to the Year One event. He brought his GeeTO Tiger '66 Pontiac GTO to show and go. Driver Dave Anderson put the car through its paces on the track, running in the 10.70 to 10.90 second range against Year One president Kevin King in a '69 Camaro and local racer Alan Hause in his '70 Olds 442 W-30 car.
Paul Miller "US One" from nearby Watkinsville, GA and Haynes City, FL racer Elaine Larsen "Miss Ta Fire" wowed the crowd with three flame throwing passes on Saturday in their Jet Dragsters. They also gave autographs in their pit spaces to fans. Scott Kennedy brought his Wheelstander to the track for the spectator's enjoyment. On Saturday night Year One sponsored a huge fireworks display, capping off a great weekend for the spectators.
Sunday was also enjoyed by participants in the Year One Commerce Challenge. Shortly after the gates opened the Racers for Christ service was held. Although the regularly scheduled racing eliminations were already complete, there were continuing car show awards, along with the swap meet and manufacturer's midway. Test and tuners continued to blast down the track Sunday, making as many passes as they wished.
QUICK 16 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Erik Wiegand '64 Pontiac GTO White Plains, MD 10.30 129.31 (10.26)
R/U: Melvin Fuller '70 Nova Clermont, GA 10.00 132.11 (10.04)
Semi: Dan Bytnar '03 Mustang Cumming, GA
Semi: Robert Johnson '87 Pontee Carlo SS San Diego, CA
F.A.S.T. CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Greg Gessler '72 Buick GS Blairstown, NJ 11.54 122.47
R/U: David Dudek, Jr. '70 Challenger Shelby Twship, MI no time
Semi: Joel Nystrom '67 Hemi GTX Buffalo, MN
Semi: Wayne Nelson '69 Corvette Princeton, MN
TRUE STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET
Win: Nick Yarber '95 Mustang Cobra Abingdon, VA 9.11 average (1/4 mile)
R/U: Mark Hicks '89 Mustang Baltimore, MD 9.80 average (1/4 mile)
Photos
More Photos
(Commerce, GA - October 9) Although the Weather Channel was predicting rain for Sunday, it made an early visit Friday evening and Saturday morning to Atlanta Dragway during the Year One Commerce Challenge 2004. Friday began with test and tune and vendor setup, and all participants enjoyed the day until 8:30 pm, when light rain stopped the day and the scheduled Jet Dragster and Wheelstander exhibition runs. Saturday was fine, with light rain delaying the racing action in the morning. However, the track personnel soon had the track dry. The promoters decided to complete all the racing Saturday (instead of the normal Sunday eliminations) due to the predicted heavy rain on Sunday. Racers came from all over the U.S. to enjoy competition in the three different classes offered.
Although the fastest qualifier ran 7.80 seconds (local racer Bob Clifford - '67 GTO) in Quick 16, the slower cars ruled the day. #15 qualifier Erik Wiegand from White Plains, MD used a big .072 second holeshot to win Quick 16. Even though his final round opponent, #14 qualifier Melvin Fuller of Clermont, GA, crossed the finish line first, Fuller's '70 Nova broke out with a 10.00 flat, 132.11mph pass (10.04 dial) handing the win to Wiegand. Wiegand's clean looking '64 GTO ran a decent 10.30 at 129.31mph (10.26 dial). The Quick 16 semi-finalists were Dan Bytnar ('03 Mustang - Cumming, GA) and Robert Johnson ('87 Pontee Carlo SS). Three other local racers, Mike Holman ('70 Buick GSX), Jim Mayfield ('92 Beretta) and Ricky Hicks ('76 Monza) entered the event. Wiegand said he used to race a lot, but now just concentrates on select events. "My wife Christine and I came to the Bristol Bash last year and enjoyed it (semi-final finish) so we decided to come back. I'm just trying to have fun. I have a group of guys I run with," added Wiegand.
Blairstown, NJ racer Greg Gessler is already a three time champion of the F.A.S.T. (Factory Appearing Stock Tire) class. Gessler received the instant win this time after David Dudek, Jr's immaculately restored 426 Hemi powered '70 Challenger rolled through the starting line beams before the tree activated, turning on the dreaded big red bulb. Gessler was #1 qualifier and the Shelby Township, MI based Dudek qualified #2. Gessler's '72 Buick GS turned in an 11.54 pass at 122.47mph. Dudek's car was the #2 qualifier and Gessler's machine was the #1 qualifier. Joel Nystrom ('67 Hemi powered GTX - Buffalo, MN) and Wayne Nelson ('69 Corvette - Princeton, MN) were the semi-final finishers.
Nick Yarber and his wife Dawn started racing True Street with their '95 Mustang Cobra six years ago, running 13 second passes at that time. He has improved the car through the years, and after running the required 30 mile cruise, he ran three hot laps down the dragstrip, never shutting the engine off. He turned in a 9.02, a 9.29 and a 9.02 pass. His closest competition was Mark Hicks, who averaged 9.80 seconds in an '89 Mustang.
Racing was only part of the action at the Year One Commerce Challenge. A huge car show featured many different makes of American muscle cars using Year One parts. A kid's play area boasted several moonwalks, a climbing wall and a slot car track to keep them out of their parent's hair. The parents had plenty of time to enjoy a large swap meet featuring used performance parts and even show quality cars. The manufacturer's midway had a lot of new performance and restoration parts available. The Year One compound featured many of their products, along wth many completed show quality muscle cars. Test and Tune racers enjoyed making as many passes as they wished. Steve Dunlap of Cumming, GA came to the track to see what his '66 Chevelle would do. He first tried it out on the Werx Motorsports Chassis Dyno, where it put down 338 hp and 420 ft. lb. of torque to the rear wheels. He then carded several 12.50 passes at 107mph.
Year One presented the coveted Year One Cup to Carl and Bessie Nichols of Morganton, NC. The couple bought their 1963 Impala SS new, and began restoration one year ago. Their main worry after they bought the 327 300hp four-speed car was making the $101 monthly payment, as Carl only made $1.25 per hour. They worked together as a team all year and completed the car Friday at 12:00 noon. They were both astounded when they were rewarded with a win the first time out. In addition to a large lead crystal cup, they received a $5000 Year One gift certificate and the opportunity to display their car at other Year One events. Johnny Norrell of Cumming ('69 COPO ZL-1 Camaro clone) and Richard Carlson (custom '69 Camaro convertible) from Hudson, FL were the finalists for the Year One cup, winning smaller versions of the cup for their entries. One of the more unusual car show entries was the 1998 Ten Door "Game Over" Suburban belonging to Marc Bowen of Lawrenceville, GA. It was painted in red and black and sat nearly five feet off the ground.
Jim Wangers of Pontiac fame was on hand to meet and greet car enthusiasts who came to the Year One event. He brought his GeeTO Tiger '66 Pontiac GTO to show and go. Driver Dave Anderson put the car through its paces on the track, running in the 10.70 to 10.90 second range against Year One president Kevin King in a '69 Camaro and local racer Alan Hause in his '70 Olds 442 W-30 car.
Paul Miller "US One" from nearby Watkinsville, GA and Haynes City, FL racer Elaine Larsen "Miss Ta Fire" wowed the crowd with three flame throwing passes on Saturday in their Jet Dragsters. They also gave autographs in their pit spaces to fans. Scott Kennedy brought his Wheelstander to the track for the spectator's enjoyment. On Saturday night Year One sponsored a huge fireworks display, capping off a great weekend for the spectators.
Sunday was also enjoyed by participants in the Year One Commerce Challenge. Shortly after the gates opened the Racers for Christ service was held. Although the regularly scheduled racing eliminations were already complete, there were continuing car show awards, along with the swap meet and manufacturer's midway. Test and tuners continued to blast down the track Sunday, making as many passes as they wished.
QUICK 16 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Erik Wiegand '64 Pontiac GTO White Plains, MD 10.30 129.31 (10.26)
R/U: Melvin Fuller '70 Nova Clermont, GA 10.00 132.11 (10.04)
Semi: Dan Bytnar '03 Mustang Cumming, GA
Semi: Robert Johnson '87 Pontee Carlo SS San Diego, CA
F.A.S.T. CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Greg Gessler '72 Buick GS Blairstown, NJ 11.54 122.47
R/U: David Dudek, Jr. '70 Challenger Shelby Twship, MI no time
Semi: Joel Nystrom '67 Hemi GTX Buffalo, MN
Semi: Wayne Nelson '69 Corvette Princeton, MN
TRUE STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET
Win: Nick Yarber '95 Mustang Cobra Abingdon, VA 9.11 average (1/4 mile)
R/U: Mark Hicks '89 Mustang Baltimore, MD 9.80 average (1/4 mile)
posted by David @ 2:39 AM
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