Georgia Drag Racing News

Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events from GeorgiaDragRacing.com.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Cackle Event to be part of the Southern Nostalgia Shootout

In the tradition of the Cacklefest events held at the California Hot Rod Reunion and the National Hot Rod Reunion formerly in Kentucky, South Georgia Motorsports Park will present a Saturday night Cackle Event as part of the Southern Nostalgia Shootout, October 28, 2006. Cackle events are a way to honor Drag Racing's past. Restored cars are started and lined up to
idle until they run out of fuel. Early dragsters are push-started as they were in the 1950s and 1960s. Flames explode out of the headers in a very special type of fireworks that stirs the imagination and recounts racing as it was in the past. Grown men have been known to shed tears at these events, and it is not because of the nitromethane fumes. The "cackle" in
Cacklefest comes from the staccato sound the engine makes.

Headlining the SGMP tribute to our past is Big Daddy Don Garlits, voted as the number one drag racer of all time by the National Hot Rod Association. Don is bringing his Swamp Rat VIII. Valdosta's own Denny Fenstermaker will participate in his original California top fuel dragster,
and he is flying in Roger Gates, the original driver from California, for this event. Other fuel dragsters participating in the big show include Bob Gladstone in the Michigander and David Workman's Chevy-powered car. Funny cars will also participate, including the Chi Town Hustler, Donnie Reeves' Southern Shaker mustang, and Al Hoffman debuting the restored China Syndrome car. Gassers include Bunky Bobo in his award-winning Hemi Hurricane Willys, the Prock and Howell 33 Willys, Mack Pressly in the Hartsoe Brothers Anglia, Larry McLendon in his supercharged Willys gasser, and Don Brugman in his 48 Austin gasser.

Be sure to attend the Southern Nostalgia Shootout October 27-29, and don't miss the Saturday evening Cackle Event.

Marvin T. Smith