Georgia Drag Racing News

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

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

MUSCLE CAR GATHERING ATTRACTS ENTHUSIASTS, OLD AND NEW, TO ATLANTA DRAGWAY


RACE DATE: September 6, 2008
EVENT: Hayes Automotive American Muscle event presented by Year One at Atlanta Dragway in 2008

MUSCLE CAR GATHERING ATTRACTS ENTHUSIASTS, OLD AND NEW, TO ATLANTA DRAGWAY

By: Amy & Tim Glover

(Commerce, GA – September 6) The Hayes Automotive group and Year One teamed up in 2008 and brought the Hayes Automotive American Muscle Meet, presented by Year One, to Atlanta Dragway. The show featured all makes of American muscle cars in many different settings, including a Car Show, Swap Meet and Car Corral. In addition, the car owners were allowed to flex the car’s muscle on the track surface, beginning with the Car Show Parade of Muscle in front of the grandstands. Some show car owners showed their enthusiasm a bit more than others with a bit of tire smoke in front of the fans. All makes and models of American muscle cars were featured in the Car Show. Billy Head from Gainesville, Ga. displayed his immaculate 1964 Impala Super Sport. Head bought this car new from Stamey Chevrolet in Cleveland, Ga., special ordering the 409 engine, Muncie 4-speed transmission, and AM-FM radio with a reverb box. Another great looking ride was the 2000 Dakota Sidewinder R/T, featuring a shaker style hood scoop and “too many mods to mention” belonging to Darren Alcorn. Local racer Lonnie Cothran showed his 1969 Nova, which has never been tagged for the highway. The car was built to run Super Stock and has been raced all of its life. Chris Taylor from Norcross, Ga. brought his “interesting” ’95 Dodge RAM, featuring a Herculiner paint job. Car Show winners in each class were rewarded with $500 Year One Gift Certificates. The Car Corral featured many older model muscle cars available for sale, like a 273 cubic inch V-8 equipped ’66 Valiant convertible and a recently discovered ’70 Super Bee belonging to J.D. Garrard from Braselton, Ga. The cars varied in state of repair, and were priced accordingly.

Junior Godfrey, a long time Mopar supporter, was on hand at the Mopar trailer, displaying his brand new Limited Edition 2008 Challenger, #2051 of 6400. Godfrey also owns a ’70 440 6-pack Challenger R/T, and recently displayed them together, showing off his blast from the past and wave of the future machines. “It’s neat having something from two different generations. The 2008 Challenger is definitely a 21st century muscle car. It’s amazing how much thought Chrysler put into it,” added Godfrey. The Mopar trailer also featured different variations of new Hemi crate engines for sale. A 6.1 liter Hemi, equipped with optional dual four barrel carburetors and a cutaway six speed transmission showed hot rodders what they could do for their cars. Also on hand was a 392 Hemi engine, featuring all the modern improvements, like fuel injection and individual coils for each spark plug. The manufacturer’s midway was packed with many different restoration parts, both new and used, for sale. The Year One booth was very popular, along with the Hayes Dealerships display. In addition, two technical seminars were available to anyone interested, given by Galen “Mr. Mopar” Govier and Gilbert Propes, who gave a GM Restoration Tips seminar. Diesel Performance Motorsports had their mobile chassis dyno on the grounds again, and there was no charge, thanks to Hayes Mopar. Cars were allowed, but several 600hp diesel trucks seemed to enjoy the testing as well.

Fans were thrilled by the high horsepower displays put on by two NHRA Pro Stock standouts. Allen Johnson from Tennessee and Warren Johnson of nearby Sugar Hill, Georgia made national event side by side style passes, with Warren Johnson posting 6.77 and 6.82 second passes at 203 and 204mph. Allen Johnson struggled a bit with his combination, posting slightly slower passes.

The annual Pritchett Tire burnout contest has been dominated for many years by the Minette family, but this time a newcomer earned the $500 certificate toward four new tires from Pritchett Tire. Hayden O’Leary from Auburn, Ga. cooked the tread off the rear tires on his ’04 Silverado in less than one minute, delighting the fans in the stands. The winner was determined by the loudest cheer from the crowd, and the volume was so close, it took three times to determine the winner. After the contest, the Minettes personally congratulated O’Leary for his win. The Minette family had won the contest ten straight years, with John taking five, Diane taking four and Alan taking one. O’Leary added, “I want to thank my kids, and also the Hayes Dealerships for a great place to work.”

Seven different classes were contested on the track surface in the Drag Racing portion of the program, ranging from the popular Jr Dragsters for kids eight to seventeen years old to the ultra quick Super Pro machines. The NADM group brought three classes of diesel powered race machines to the show, along with two exhibition vehicles powered by 5.9 liter Cummins Diesel engines. Bo Layne of Terre Haute, Indiana laid down the quickest diesel powered pass with his Scheid Diesel ’04 Spitzer dragster, running 7.02 seconds at 196.04mph. Darren Morrison’s crew was thrilled when he posted their first seven second pass in his ’02 Chevrolet S10 pickup, running 7.999 seconds at 161.07mph.

The Super Pro class made for an interesting race, replacing the usual tight runs with a slapdash go for the finish line, both racers leaving before the tree was ready. Tim Gibson of Walhalla, SC jumped the gun in his ’70 Dart, automatically giving the win to Gainesville’s Bubba Rich. Rich felt lucky after his ’02 Firebird jumped before the green, and let off the gas for his predetermined victory lap. The ’08 Super Pro win made Bubba Rich the undefeated Hayes event champion for two years running, a daunting title despite his comment on the run, being “the sloppiest final [he] ever won.” Rich thanked the staging lanes coordinator Debbie Blackwell, “for doing such a good job.” Stan Sinack from Lilburn, GA stayed behind with a semi-final placement in his ‘69 Dart.

The Pro class final produced a double-breakout, with Mac Everett (Blairsville, GA) predicting the lesser of two evils in his ’85 Mustang. Everett ran an 11.74 on an 11.78 dial-in, against Ed Nalley’s ’76 Vega, the Maysville man running a 9.48 on a 9.53 dial-in, a one-hundredth of a second disparity making all the difference. Everett reported having gone to every Hayes event since the occasion began over a decade ago, and noted, “If I’m still livin,’ I’ll be back next year.” He also thanked God, and Mike Hayes for putting on the show. Tom Moran (Walhalla, SC) finished in third place in his ’72 Plymouth.

Sportsman winner Mel Abney of Cumming, GA, claimed victory in his ’67 Camaro despite breaking out (A 12.98 run on a 13.09 dial), owing to runner-up Tracy Schaffer’s nervousness. Schaffer (Austell, GA) pulled a -.016 foul in her ’68 Camaro, while also breaking out at the top end, with a 13.69 on a 13.70 prediction. Regardless of the run, the dueling Camaro enthusiasts agreed on a near-even split, rewarding both with a malign-free finish. Abney said, “It was a long day, but it was fun,” adding, “I just want to thank my wife for letting me come out here.” Chris Moore of Greer, SC placed in the semi-final round in his ’08 Jeep SRT8.

The ET Diesel class, brought in by the NADM organization, gave fans something new, with a line of smoke-spewing trucks from the East Coast competing for recognition in the budding Diesel component of drag racing. The final came down to Kurt Lincoln’s close dialing, running a 14.92 on a 14.90, against Howard Bowman’s 16.54 on a 16.35. Lincoln traveled far from his hometown of Altamonte Springs, FL, looking to prove his worth in his Dodge Ram 2500. The Hayes event was his first NADM win, after traveling all around, from Alabama, to Georgia and North Carolina. Lincoln thanked Diesel Specialists Inc., FTI Competition Converters, and Airdog for the support, including his team of Bill Hartzell, Scott Hayes, Greg from FTI, and Rondle David. Lincoln’s competitor, Howard Bowman (Homer, GA), was hoping to win to join his son Brett as a Hayes winner, who won the Jr Dragster class. Unfortunately, his ’07 Chevy didn’t run the number, pulling off the 16.54 on a 16.35 dial. Bowman normally runs a Harley in Atlanta Dragway’s Summit ET series races, though in lieu of no Motorcycle class for the Hayes event, Bowman joined in on his family’s fun (both his wife and son race) with the family tow-truck. Bill Counts (’04 Dodge – North Augusta, SC) ended the night as a semi-finalist.

The Quick Diesel class was another offshoot of the NADM, providing an index class dependent on fine tuning to the tune of 12.00 seconds to make it to the finish line. Scotty Bradshaw (Haw River, NC) claimed the win in his ’00 Ford F250, after Brian Buchanan (High Point, NC) red-lit in his ’97 Dodge. Bradshaw competes all over the country, on the east coast mostly, noting he’d just been in Indiana two weeks prior to the event. The bottom end of his Ford’s motor is bone stock, its consistency attributed to countless hours of tuning and over 200 passes on the same setup. Bradshaw thanked Swamps Diesel Performance, River City Turbo, and Brian’s Truck Shop. Matt Wells (’95 RAM 2500 – Middleburg, Fla.) was the semi-final finisher.

Mickey Davis, who recently enjoyed making the field at the Atlanta Pinks All Out event with his Pelham, Ga. based ’97 Dodge RAM, was the winner in AirWerks Unlimited Street. Although he ran a very quick 6.59 at 105.70, his opponent, Phillip Palmer of Cairo, Ga. made the win easier when his ’94 Dodge RAM broke the engine immediately following his starting line launch. Jeff Garmon (’95 Dodge RAM – McDonough, Ga.) took home the semi-finalist money.

The Junior Dragster class may have had the tightest final of the night, without advantage as a result of no tree-end red-lights or top-end breakouts. It came down to the older boys of the category to finish the race, with Brett Bowman (Homer, GA) and Chase Mullinax (Buford, GA), both seventeen. Mullinax cut the better light, with a .053 against Bowman’s .060 reaction time, but Bowman’s win-light flashed after he ran an 8.31 on an 8.30 dial, alongside Mullinax’s 7.92 on a 7.90. Bowman was surprised by his dragster’s consistency, after its broken state for the last two weeks. Bowman remarked, “It was a fun, long weekend,” and thanked his parents, all the fans cheering him on, and all his team members. Hunter Ramsey (10 – Commerce, GA) placed in the semi-final round.

Event promoter Mike Hayes added, “Teaming up with Year One for the Hayes Automotive American Muscle Meet, presented by Year One, was a great success.”

Sanctioned by 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 2008 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to
http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .

SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bubba Rich ’02 Firebird Gainesville, GA 7.48 55.60 (5.24)

R/U: Tim Gibson ’70 Dart Walhalla, SC 6.68 102.17 (6.68) (foul)
Semi: Stan Sinack ’69 Dart Lilburn, GA

PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mac Everett ’85 Mustang Blairsville, GA 7.12 94.33 (7.06)

R/U: Ed Nalley ’76 Vega Maysville, GA 8.06 85.40 (7.98)
Semi: Tom Moran ’72 Plymouth Walhalla, SC

SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney ’67 Camaro Cumming, GA 12.98 107.12 (13.09)

R/U: Tracy Schaffer ’68 Camaro Austell, GA 13.69 100.32 (13.70) (foul)
Semi: Chris Moore ’08 Jeep SRT8 Greer, SC

ET DIESEL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kurt Lincoln Dodge Ram 2500 Altamonte Springs, FL 14.92 80.40 (14.90)

R/U: Howard Bowman ’07 Chevy Homer, GA 16.54 69.11 (16.35)
Semi: Bill Counts ’04 Dodge North Augusta, SC

QUICK DIESEL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Scotty Bradshaw ’00 Ford F250 Haw River, NC 12.16 108.46 (12.00)

R/U: Brian Buchanan ’’97 Dodge Ram Homer, GA 12.05 105.96 (12.00) (foul)
Semi: Matt Wells ’95 Ram 2500 Middleburg, FL

AIRWERKS STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH

Win: Mickey Davis ’97 Dodge Ram Pelham, GA 6.59 105.70
R/U: Phillip Palmer ’94 Dodge Ram Cairo, GA broke
Semi: Jeff Garmon ’95 Dodge Ram McDonough, GA

JUNIOR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brett Bowman 17 Homer, GA 8.31 77.64 (8.30)

R/U: Chase Mullinax 17 Buford, GA 7.92 80.95 (7.90)
Semi: Hunter Ramsey 10 Commerce, GA