RACERS SPRING FORWARD TO NEW SEASON, ALDRIDGE SMOKES THE COMPETITION
EVENT: Summit ET Series event at Atlanta Dragway in 2009
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce, GA March 7) Despite the economic downturn, racers still have a place to race at Atlanta Dragway. And what better way to begin the 2009 season, than with fair weather and a reunion with the regulars, who dominated the categories tonight. The first race ran smoothly thanks to Atlanta Dragway staff. Once the sun went down, the staff altered the Motorcycle class format from quarter mile to eighth mile runs, in order to preserve safety.
To the delight of race fans, Junior Pippin, a long time Atlanta Dragway regular, tested his 07 Buell NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle at the track in preparation for next weeks NHRA national event in Gainesville, Florida. Pippin also brought his protg, 21 year old Douglas Horne, who is in his first year of campaigning an 09 Buell. Horne did well with a cumulative best of 7.237 seconds and 185.33mph, but Pippin showed him how it's done, posting a 7.02 at 186.28mph. A familiar name to Atlanta Dragway racers, Clayton Reeves (raced Super Pro four years at Atlanta, most recently in an 03 Horton Dragster) returned to the racing scene in a much more powerful machine, an 05 Horton Top Alcohol Dragster. Reeves is currently sorting out his tune-up before entering competition.
In the Super Pro category, Joe Haddon, of Oxford, GA, dominated the tree with his 05 Miller Dragster, launching with a .003 light against Joe Cheek's .050 in an 02 Firebird. Cheek, out of Lavonia, GA, had a tighter package at the top end, running a 5.07 on a 5.06 prediction at 135.95 mph, but Haddon's reaction sealed the deal, despite finishing with a 4.99 on a 4.96 dial at 136.07 mph. Haddon agreed it was a great way to start off the season, but made sure to thank his wife: She's the one that lets me do this! Haddon started his day with some experimentation, switching from a gas carburetor to an alcohol carburetor in the time trials, citing the first as slow. It almost picked up a tenth when we switched, Haddon added. He also made sure to thank Mike Pittman and Brad Howard, not only for their machine work, but for the alcohol he needed to run. I had to bum alcohol off of Mike and Brad, but not the kind you drink! Haddon was all smiles with his wife Vicki. It was a lucky night. Ricky Page (Monroe, GA) finished in the semis, in his 90 Mustang.
The Pro class featured a father-son semi-final round between Mickey Morris 87 Corvette, and his dad Rickey Morris' 80 Malibu (Both from Ellenwood, GA). There was no mercy shown in the run (.018 react for Mickey and .015 react for Rickey), and Mickey Morris went on to face Canton's Chad Brewer in the finals. Brewer cut a .030 light in a 67 Camaro, preceding Morris' later reaction. Morris' 6.43 dial-in proved too slow, his Malibu breaking out at a 6.33 at 102.07 mph, while Brewer ran dead-on with a 7.16 at 95.79 mph. Brewer was a formidable competitor from the get-go, as a three times track champion from the recently closed Southeastern International Dragway. Brewer grinned from ear-to-ear, saying, I'm the points leader already! He mysteriously thanked the mayor of Hickory Flat for his help.
Sportsman racers were overtaken by Gerald Aldridge's smoke show in his 01 Dodge 2500. Jack Roberts (Kennesaw, GA) fouled at the starting line, jumping the tree in his 83 Thunderbird. Aldridge, from Dacula, GA, ran his diesel parade to the finish with a 13.54 on a 13.50 dial-in at 98.83 mph, while Roberts finished off with a 15.19 on a 15.03 prediction at 90.79 mph. Aldridge, the track's Racer' For Christ (RFC) chaplain for eight seasons, was glad to gain credibility among his peers, winning the first race in his second season of Sportsman class. It's tough competition here. These guys are serious. The race was also his first Atlanta Dragway win, and his second win overall. Aldridge is a one-man show, running a solo operation, but added, I want to thank the Lord, who is a major part of my life. I race as part of my ministry. Mel Abney, from Cumming, GA, ended his night in the semi-finals, with his 67 Camaro.
The Motorcycle category featured a tight final between Scott Reynolds (Cartersville, GA) and five-time track champion Jay Bird Rhyne (Athens, GA). Rhyne's formidable 81 Kawasaki launched with a .044 green light, surpassed by Reynold's .034 light. The men crossed the finish line close, but Reynolds won, running a 6.59 on a 6.55 dial at 112.23 mph, against Rhyne's 7.68 elapsed time on a 7.65 dial at 86.22 mph. The margin of victory was an intense .002, making the race a hot one. Reynolds raced an 03 GSXR 1000, a street-legal Suzuki model without any electronics. Reynolds emphasized, Just keep it simple. Though he plans to be in a car next week, his for-sale bike was the only thing at the house to race, a lucky choice for the night;s event. It feels good to get the win against Jay, since he;s a track champion. Despite the good fortune, Reynolds is ready to get back to street cars. Tim Sutton (Clermont, GA), another tough regular, finished in the semi-final round in his 83 Suzuki.
The 8-12 Junior Dragster final included juniors from racing families regular to Atlanta Dragway. Tallapoosa's Malone Wilson, 9, won against Salina Shanks (12 Jefferson, GA). Wilson made a strategic run, deep-staging to prevent exceeding his 12.90 dial-in. Wilson treed Shanks with his .030 against her .044 light, and crossed the win stripe first with a 12.95 elapsed time at 49.73 mph, Shanks following with an 8.99 on her 8.90 dial, at 72.11 mph. Wilson ran a handful of races last year, and started the season right with his first win ever. He thanked his dad, Brian Wilson, who said, We do it together. He does a lot of work; he can sit there, take it apart and put it back together. Avery Smith (11 McDonough, GA) was the 8-12 semi-finalist.
The 13-17 Junior Dragster category was won by 15-year-old Blake Griffith of Homer, GA, when Brittney Hellemn, last year's 8-12 track champion, red-lit. The run had eerily similar numbers, as both ran a 7.94 on a 7.90 dial-in, Hellemn (13 Buford, GA) running 81.61 mph, while Griffith ran a tad faster at 81.62 mph. The semi-finalists were a pair of siblings out of Evans, GA, 17-year-old Alicia Charette and her 13-year-old brother Paul Charette.
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 2009 events, including the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals on April 16-April 19, 2009, 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: Joe Haddon 05 Miller Dragster Oxford, GA 4.99 136.07 (4.96)R/U: Joe Cheek 02 Firebird Lavonia, GA 5.07 135.95 (5.06)
Semi: Ricky Page 90 Mustang Monroe, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer 67 Camaro Canton, GA 7.16 95.79 (7.16)R/U: Mickey Morris 87 Corvette Ellenwood, GA 6.33 102.07 (6.43)Semi: Rickey Morris 80 Malibu Ellenwood, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gerald Aldridge 01 Dodge 2500 Dacula, GA 13.54 98.83 (13.50)
R/U: Jack Roberts 83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 15.19 90.79 (15.03)
Semi: Mel Abney 67 Camaro Cumming, GA
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Reynolds 03 GSXR 1000 Cartersville, GA 6.59 112.23 (6.55)
R/U: Jay Bird Rhyne 81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 7.68 86.22 (7.65)
Semi: Tim Sutton 83 Suzuki Clermont, GA
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Malone Wilson 9 Tallapoosa, GA 12.95 49.73 (12.90)
R/U: Salina Shanks 12 Jefferson, GA 8.99 72.11 (8.90)
Semi: Avery Smith 11 McDonough, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Blake Griffith 15 Homer, GA 7.94 81.62 (7.90)
R/U: Brittany Hellemn 13 Buford, GA 7.94 81.61 (7.90) (foul)
Semi: Alicia Charette 17 Evans, GASemi: Paul Charette 13 Evans, GA
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce, GA March 7) Despite the economic downturn, racers still have a place to race at Atlanta Dragway. And what better way to begin the 2009 season, than with fair weather and a reunion with the regulars, who dominated the categories tonight. The first race ran smoothly thanks to Atlanta Dragway staff. Once the sun went down, the staff altered the Motorcycle class format from quarter mile to eighth mile runs, in order to preserve safety.
To the delight of race fans, Junior Pippin, a long time Atlanta Dragway regular, tested his 07 Buell NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle at the track in preparation for next weeks NHRA national event in Gainesville, Florida. Pippin also brought his protg, 21 year old Douglas Horne, who is in his first year of campaigning an 09 Buell. Horne did well with a cumulative best of 7.237 seconds and 185.33mph, but Pippin showed him how it's done, posting a 7.02 at 186.28mph. A familiar name to Atlanta Dragway racers, Clayton Reeves (raced Super Pro four years at Atlanta, most recently in an 03 Horton Dragster) returned to the racing scene in a much more powerful machine, an 05 Horton Top Alcohol Dragster. Reeves is currently sorting out his tune-up before entering competition.
In the Super Pro category, Joe Haddon, of Oxford, GA, dominated the tree with his 05 Miller Dragster, launching with a .003 light against Joe Cheek's .050 in an 02 Firebird. Cheek, out of Lavonia, GA, had a tighter package at the top end, running a 5.07 on a 5.06 prediction at 135.95 mph, but Haddon's reaction sealed the deal, despite finishing with a 4.99 on a 4.96 dial at 136.07 mph. Haddon agreed it was a great way to start off the season, but made sure to thank his wife: She's the one that lets me do this! Haddon started his day with some experimentation, switching from a gas carburetor to an alcohol carburetor in the time trials, citing the first as slow. It almost picked up a tenth when we switched, Haddon added. He also made sure to thank Mike Pittman and Brad Howard, not only for their machine work, but for the alcohol he needed to run. I had to bum alcohol off of Mike and Brad, but not the kind you drink! Haddon was all smiles with his wife Vicki. It was a lucky night. Ricky Page (Monroe, GA) finished in the semis, in his 90 Mustang.
The Pro class featured a father-son semi-final round between Mickey Morris 87 Corvette, and his dad Rickey Morris' 80 Malibu (Both from Ellenwood, GA). There was no mercy shown in the run (.018 react for Mickey and .015 react for Rickey), and Mickey Morris went on to face Canton's Chad Brewer in the finals. Brewer cut a .030 light in a 67 Camaro, preceding Morris' later reaction. Morris' 6.43 dial-in proved too slow, his Malibu breaking out at a 6.33 at 102.07 mph, while Brewer ran dead-on with a 7.16 at 95.79 mph. Brewer was a formidable competitor from the get-go, as a three times track champion from the recently closed Southeastern International Dragway. Brewer grinned from ear-to-ear, saying, I'm the points leader already! He mysteriously thanked the mayor of Hickory Flat for his help.
Sportsman racers were overtaken by Gerald Aldridge's smoke show in his 01 Dodge 2500. Jack Roberts (Kennesaw, GA) fouled at the starting line, jumping the tree in his 83 Thunderbird. Aldridge, from Dacula, GA, ran his diesel parade to the finish with a 13.54 on a 13.50 dial-in at 98.83 mph, while Roberts finished off with a 15.19 on a 15.03 prediction at 90.79 mph. Aldridge, the track's Racer' For Christ (RFC) chaplain for eight seasons, was glad to gain credibility among his peers, winning the first race in his second season of Sportsman class. It's tough competition here. These guys are serious. The race was also his first Atlanta Dragway win, and his second win overall. Aldridge is a one-man show, running a solo operation, but added, I want to thank the Lord, who is a major part of my life. I race as part of my ministry. Mel Abney, from Cumming, GA, ended his night in the semi-finals, with his 67 Camaro.
The Motorcycle category featured a tight final between Scott Reynolds (Cartersville, GA) and five-time track champion Jay Bird Rhyne (Athens, GA). Rhyne's formidable 81 Kawasaki launched with a .044 green light, surpassed by Reynold's .034 light. The men crossed the finish line close, but Reynolds won, running a 6.59 on a 6.55 dial at 112.23 mph, against Rhyne's 7.68 elapsed time on a 7.65 dial at 86.22 mph. The margin of victory was an intense .002, making the race a hot one. Reynolds raced an 03 GSXR 1000, a street-legal Suzuki model without any electronics. Reynolds emphasized, Just keep it simple. Though he plans to be in a car next week, his for-sale bike was the only thing at the house to race, a lucky choice for the night;s event. It feels good to get the win against Jay, since he;s a track champion. Despite the good fortune, Reynolds is ready to get back to street cars. Tim Sutton (Clermont, GA), another tough regular, finished in the semi-final round in his 83 Suzuki.
The 8-12 Junior Dragster final included juniors from racing families regular to Atlanta Dragway. Tallapoosa's Malone Wilson, 9, won against Salina Shanks (12 Jefferson, GA). Wilson made a strategic run, deep-staging to prevent exceeding his 12.90 dial-in. Wilson treed Shanks with his .030 against her .044 light, and crossed the win stripe first with a 12.95 elapsed time at 49.73 mph, Shanks following with an 8.99 on her 8.90 dial, at 72.11 mph. Wilson ran a handful of races last year, and started the season right with his first win ever. He thanked his dad, Brian Wilson, who said, We do it together. He does a lot of work; he can sit there, take it apart and put it back together. Avery Smith (11 McDonough, GA) was the 8-12 semi-finalist.
The 13-17 Junior Dragster category was won by 15-year-old Blake Griffith of Homer, GA, when Brittney Hellemn, last year's 8-12 track champion, red-lit. The run had eerily similar numbers, as both ran a 7.94 on a 7.90 dial-in, Hellemn (13 Buford, GA) running 81.61 mph, while Griffith ran a tad faster at 81.62 mph. The semi-finalists were a pair of siblings out of Evans, GA, 17-year-old Alicia Charette and her 13-year-old brother Paul Charette.
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 2009 events, including the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals on April 16-April 19, 2009, 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: Joe Haddon 05 Miller Dragster Oxford, GA 4.99 136.07 (4.96)R/U: Joe Cheek 02 Firebird Lavonia, GA 5.07 135.95 (5.06)
Semi: Ricky Page 90 Mustang Monroe, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer 67 Camaro Canton, GA 7.16 95.79 (7.16)R/U: Mickey Morris 87 Corvette Ellenwood, GA 6.33 102.07 (6.43)Semi: Rickey Morris 80 Malibu Ellenwood, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gerald Aldridge 01 Dodge 2500 Dacula, GA 13.54 98.83 (13.50)
R/U: Jack Roberts 83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 15.19 90.79 (15.03)
Semi: Mel Abney 67 Camaro Cumming, GA
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Reynolds 03 GSXR 1000 Cartersville, GA 6.59 112.23 (6.55)
R/U: Jay Bird Rhyne 81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 7.68 86.22 (7.65)
Semi: Tim Sutton 83 Suzuki Clermont, GA
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Malone Wilson 9 Tallapoosa, GA 12.95 49.73 (12.90)
R/U: Salina Shanks 12 Jefferson, GA 8.99 72.11 (8.90)
Semi: Avery Smith 11 McDonough, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Blake Griffith 15 Homer, GA 7.94 81.62 (7.90)
R/U: Brittany Hellemn 13 Buford, GA 7.94 81.61 (7.90) (foul)
Semi: Alicia Charette 17 Evans, GASemi: Paul Charette 13 Evans, GA
posted by David @ 9:28 PM
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