Atlanta Dragway September 25 Results
ONDA, COLLINS, CROSS AND WILHELM WIN SNAP-ON ROLL LOCK TOOLBOXES DURING SNAP-ON TOOLS DAY AT THE RACES
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - September 25) Hundreds of Snap-On Tools customers enjoyed the annual Snap-On Tools Day at the Races Customer Appreciation event. As a gesture of appreciation for their continued business, Snap-On dealers gave their customers free passes to the event, paid for completely by Snap-On Tools. The winners of each class received a Snap-On Roll Lock tool box base, and the runner ups were awarded a Snap-On Wheel Grill. Customers and spectators enjoyed looking at several truck loads of different Snap-On tools and tool boxes on display in the vendor's midway, near the starting line gate. Snap-On customers also enjoyed racing or watching a wide variety of vehicles. One racer, Stewart Watts from Habersham County, thanked his Snap-On representative Pat Kowalski for giving him a ticket. He raced in Sportsman, and then after he bowed out of competition, jumped on what he called his "Motorized Big Wheel" and, still the kid, enjoyed riding it around his pit area. However, for some reason, he wouldn't specify in what class it was entered.
The first winners of the day were Timmy Towe from Gainesville, GA and Daniel Harris of Griffin, GA. Both were winners in the Burnout Contest, where the contestants see how much smoke they can make with their tires before either the tire blows or the clock runs out. Towe's wild looking converted '73 Cadillac hearse was a crowd pleaser, along with Harris's 454 Chevy Big Block powered '85 Firebird, which also generated a lot of smoke. Both were awarded very nice Snap On 3/8" torque wrenches for their efforts. Towe said he would be adding stickers and a casket for the 2006 Snap-On Burnout Contest.
A large field of Motorcycles turned out for the event, ranging from pure street legal bikes to deadly serious Prostar Harleys. However, by the end of the event, the fast bikes were on the trailer, and Craig Cross, father of last year's Snap-On Motorcycle runner up Randall Cross, took the overall win. Cross' Stone Mountain, GA based Cross Boyz Racing '00 ZX9 Ninja was actually quicker than its 10.53 dial, but still won with a 10.44 at 129.45mph pass (10.53 dial). Unfortunately for Troy Sewell, his '90 Kawasaki left the line .020 seconds before the Christmas Tree said he could, which then lit it up a bright red color and gave the automatic win to Cross. Sewell chose to run his bike on out, and carded an otherwise great pass of 10.79 at 125.96mph (10.78 dial). Stanley Russell ('02 Suzuki - Gray, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Some racers noticed Cross had no seat on his bike. Cross said that removing the seat allows his feet to easily reach the ground for better control. When asked after the race if he thought he could afford a seat for it now, he replied, "I got the seat! I just can't afford to ride with it. I'd lose." He then added, "I want to thank Snap-On Tools for putting on the race and awarding the toolboxes. I enjoyed it. We'll be back next year!"
Commerce, GA racer Hank Wilhelm's dragster broke a few weeks ago, so he decided to race his '98 Chevy Z71 pickup in the meantime. As of today, the former Jr Dragster racer has raced his truck twice, finishing runner up on September 17, and then winning a coveted Snap-On Roll Lock tool box for his second effort. Wilhelm met Snap-On customer Barry Coppenger of Newnan, GA in the all Chevy pickup final. Coppenger used to race a lot, but said he only goes once per year now to the Snap-On event. Coppenger's '69 Chevy C10 was a bit too quick on the big end of the track, posting a 15.00 at 90.20mph (15.10 dial). Wilhelm also broke out, but was closer to his 17.25 dial with a 17.19 at 79.07mph. David Trimble ('72 Ventura - Atlanta, GA) finished in the semi-final round. "We came, we saw, we donkey punched. This was my second time out, and my second final," added Wilhelm. Coppenger, a retired mechanic, mentioned he still owns all the Snap-On tools he purchased through the years.
Toby Collins of Blairsville, GA has raced at Atlanta Dragway for years, and took the Sportsman win tonight with his small block Mopar pump gas powered Collins Racing Engines and Transmissions equipped '76 Arrow. His opponent, Chris Moore from Alto, GA had a big reaction time advantage, but his '88 Mustang fell off the pace a bit to an 11.74 at 115.44mph (11.64 dial).
Collins took advantage of that window of opportunity, nailing his dial with a dead on 10.928 at 116.88mph. Dale Anderson ('68 Camaro - Hayesville, NC) and Terrence Arrowood ('70 Nova - Hiwassee, GA) were the semi-final pair. Collins was actually racing his Arrow in both Super Pro and Sportsman, but his starter relay acted up in Super Pro, which, as it turns out, allowed him
to focus on Sportsman class. Collins thanked all his crew and the Snap-On folks.
Jim Onda made his trip down from Toccoa, GA worth the trouble by winning Super Pro with his '96 Boling dragster. Onda ran very close, but slightly under his 5.03 dial, putting a 5.027 at 138.78mph on the scoreboard. However, he already had the win light on in his lane before he even left the starting line, courtesy of a .006 seconds too quick react (red light) by Johnny Brown from Buford, GA. Brown's '93 Innovative dragster also broke out, posting a 5.290 at 130.54mph (5.30 target). "Tricki Ricki" Blackwell from nearby Homer, GA, finished the day with his '68 Chevy II in the semi-final round. Blackwell also made it to the quarter-finals in Trophy Street with another car. The 23 year old Brown, also a "Donkey Punch" racer, noted this was his second final in the last three races.
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jim Onda '96 Boling dragster Toccoa, GA 5.027 138.78 (5.03)
R/U: Johnny Brown '93 Innovative dragster Buford,
GA (foul) 5.290 130.54 (5.30)
Semi: Ricki Blackwell '68 Chevy II Homer, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Toby Collins '76 Arrow Blairsville, GA 10.92 116.88 (10.92)
R/U: Chris Moore '88 Mustang Alto, GA 11.74 115.44 (11.64)
Semi: Dale Anderson '68 Camaro Hayesville, NC
Semi: Terrence Arrowood '70 Nova Hiwassee, GA
-----------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Hank Wilhelm '98 Chevy Z71 Commerce, GA 17.19 79.07 (17.25)
R/U: Barry Coppenger '69 Chevy C10 Newnan, GA 15.00 90.20 (15.10)
Semi: David Trimble '72 Ventura Atlanta, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Craig Cross '00 Ninja Stone Mountain, GA 10.44 129.45 (10.53)
R/U: Troy Sewell '90 Kawasaki Hull, GA (foul) 10.79 125.96 (10.78)
Semi: Stanley Russell '02 Suzuki Gray, GA
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - September 25) Hundreds of Snap-On Tools customers enjoyed the annual Snap-On Tools Day at the Races Customer Appreciation event. As a gesture of appreciation for their continued business, Snap-On dealers gave their customers free passes to the event, paid for completely by Snap-On Tools. The winners of each class received a Snap-On Roll Lock tool box base, and the runner ups were awarded a Snap-On Wheel Grill. Customers and spectators enjoyed looking at several truck loads of different Snap-On tools and tool boxes on display in the vendor's midway, near the starting line gate. Snap-On customers also enjoyed racing or watching a wide variety of vehicles. One racer, Stewart Watts from Habersham County, thanked his Snap-On representative Pat Kowalski for giving him a ticket. He raced in Sportsman, and then after he bowed out of competition, jumped on what he called his "Motorized Big Wheel" and, still the kid, enjoyed riding it around his pit area. However, for some reason, he wouldn't specify in what class it was entered.
The first winners of the day were Timmy Towe from Gainesville, GA and Daniel Harris of Griffin, GA. Both were winners in the Burnout Contest, where the contestants see how much smoke they can make with their tires before either the tire blows or the clock runs out. Towe's wild looking converted '73 Cadillac hearse was a crowd pleaser, along with Harris's 454 Chevy Big Block powered '85 Firebird, which also generated a lot of smoke. Both were awarded very nice Snap On 3/8" torque wrenches for their efforts. Towe said he would be adding stickers and a casket for the 2006 Snap-On Burnout Contest.
A large field of Motorcycles turned out for the event, ranging from pure street legal bikes to deadly serious Prostar Harleys. However, by the end of the event, the fast bikes were on the trailer, and Craig Cross, father of last year's Snap-On Motorcycle runner up Randall Cross, took the overall win. Cross' Stone Mountain, GA based Cross Boyz Racing '00 ZX9 Ninja was actually quicker than its 10.53 dial, but still won with a 10.44 at 129.45mph pass (10.53 dial). Unfortunately for Troy Sewell, his '90 Kawasaki left the line .020 seconds before the Christmas Tree said he could, which then lit it up a bright red color and gave the automatic win to Cross. Sewell chose to run his bike on out, and carded an otherwise great pass of 10.79 at 125.96mph (10.78 dial). Stanley Russell ('02 Suzuki - Gray, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Some racers noticed Cross had no seat on his bike. Cross said that removing the seat allows his feet to easily reach the ground for better control. When asked after the race if he thought he could afford a seat for it now, he replied, "I got the seat! I just can't afford to ride with it. I'd lose." He then added, "I want to thank Snap-On Tools for putting on the race and awarding the toolboxes. I enjoyed it. We'll be back next year!"
Commerce, GA racer Hank Wilhelm's dragster broke a few weeks ago, so he decided to race his '98 Chevy Z71 pickup in the meantime. As of today, the former Jr Dragster racer has raced his truck twice, finishing runner up on September 17, and then winning a coveted Snap-On Roll Lock tool box for his second effort. Wilhelm met Snap-On customer Barry Coppenger of Newnan, GA in the all Chevy pickup final. Coppenger used to race a lot, but said he only goes once per year now to the Snap-On event. Coppenger's '69 Chevy C10 was a bit too quick on the big end of the track, posting a 15.00 at 90.20mph (15.10 dial). Wilhelm also broke out, but was closer to his 17.25 dial with a 17.19 at 79.07mph. David Trimble ('72 Ventura - Atlanta, GA) finished in the semi-final round. "We came, we saw, we donkey punched. This was my second time out, and my second final," added Wilhelm. Coppenger, a retired mechanic, mentioned he still owns all the Snap-On tools he purchased through the years.
Toby Collins of Blairsville, GA has raced at Atlanta Dragway for years, and took the Sportsman win tonight with his small block Mopar pump gas powered Collins Racing Engines and Transmissions equipped '76 Arrow. His opponent, Chris Moore from Alto, GA had a big reaction time advantage, but his '88 Mustang fell off the pace a bit to an 11.74 at 115.44mph (11.64 dial).
Collins took advantage of that window of opportunity, nailing his dial with a dead on 10.928 at 116.88mph. Dale Anderson ('68 Camaro - Hayesville, NC) and Terrence Arrowood ('70 Nova - Hiwassee, GA) were the semi-final pair. Collins was actually racing his Arrow in both Super Pro and Sportsman, but his starter relay acted up in Super Pro, which, as it turns out, allowed him
to focus on Sportsman class. Collins thanked all his crew and the Snap-On folks.
Jim Onda made his trip down from Toccoa, GA worth the trouble by winning Super Pro with his '96 Boling dragster. Onda ran very close, but slightly under his 5.03 dial, putting a 5.027 at 138.78mph on the scoreboard. However, he already had the win light on in his lane before he even left the starting line, courtesy of a .006 seconds too quick react (red light) by Johnny Brown from Buford, GA. Brown's '93 Innovative dragster also broke out, posting a 5.290 at 130.54mph (5.30 target). "Tricki Ricki" Blackwell from nearby Homer, GA, finished the day with his '68 Chevy II in the semi-final round. Blackwell also made it to the quarter-finals in Trophy Street with another car. The 23 year old Brown, also a "Donkey Punch" racer, noted this was his second final in the last three races.
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jim Onda '96 Boling dragster Toccoa, GA 5.027 138.78 (5.03)
R/U: Johnny Brown '93 Innovative dragster Buford,
GA (foul) 5.290 130.54 (5.30)
Semi: Ricki Blackwell '68 Chevy II Homer, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Toby Collins '76 Arrow Blairsville, GA 10.92 116.88 (10.92)
R/U: Chris Moore '88 Mustang Alto, GA 11.74 115.44 (11.64)
Semi: Dale Anderson '68 Camaro Hayesville, NC
Semi: Terrence Arrowood '70 Nova Hiwassee, GA
-----------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Hank Wilhelm '98 Chevy Z71 Commerce, GA 17.19 79.07 (17.25)
R/U: Barry Coppenger '69 Chevy C10 Newnan, GA 15.00 90.20 (15.10)
Semi: David Trimble '72 Ventura Atlanta, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Craig Cross '00 Ninja Stone Mountain, GA 10.44 129.45 (10.53)
R/U: Troy Sewell '90 Kawasaki Hull, GA (foul) 10.79 125.96 (10.78)
Semi: Stanley Russell '02 Suzuki Gray, GA
posted by David @ 1:08 AM
<< Home