Cordova crunch time

HangoverFest was Cordova (IL) Dragway Park’s first race of the year and here’s a look at their first crash of the season. If the driver didn’t have a headache before this run, he sure did afterwards.

For more New Year’s Day action, see the results in our Race Coverage.  (Mike Garland photo) [1/2/2009]

Musclecar madness date set

York Traditions Bank and GGS Technical Publication Services will present the 8th Annual Musclecar Madness at the York Reunion show at the York Expo Center, York Fairgrounds on July 10-11, 2009. The show has become a tradition with the annual Reunion for York US 30 Dragway that closed thirty years ago this year.

The Detroit Rat Pack, composed of drag racing legends Wally Booth, Dick Arons, and Gordy Foust, will be at the show.

The 2009 show will feature a "Salute to Ford" with many Ford legends to be in attendance for the celebration. At this date Hubert Platt, Tommy Grove, Al Joniec, 422 Motorsports and many others along with legendary race cars from the past will round out two days of exciting activity. [1/2/2009]

In the pink at Famoso

Over the holidays the Agent spoke with Famoso Raceway Track Manager Blake Bowser who said that their September 11–12, 2009, Pinks All Out has already received well over four hundred 12.99 ET or quicker pre-entries for the Fall event.  The pre-entries for Pinks All Out Bakersfield closed on November 18, but there will be two qualifying races prior to the September show, but you’ll need to hit the Famoso website to get all the details.

Bowser also said that the 51st March Meet has already had strong pre-entries for the historic March 6–8 race and all the forms for Racers, Spectators and Camping space are available for downloading on their website.  Still one of the best values in this tough economy is a three-day spectator pass for $75 bucks.  A tip from the Agent, get your hotel reservations now!

The March Meet nitro classes are shaping up to be a 16-car Top Fuel field, and Funny Car will be set up as it was before with an 8-car A-field and an 8-car B-field without any association membership required to compete.  This kick-off for the 2009 NHRA Heritage Series will also host the 7.0 PRO Class that has been added this year for the entire season.

For more information check out Auto Club Famoso Raceway http://famosoraceway.com [1/2/2009]

Bill Crites dies unexpectedly

Bill Crites, longtime photographer, National Dragster staffer, and friend to DRO’s Editor Jeff Burk and Managing Editor Kay Burk, suffered a suspected heart attack and died on Dec. 30. Although not as well known to the general public as long-time NHRA head photographer the late Leslie Lovett, Crites was certainly a legend within the industry for his irrepressible sense of humor and wild antics. Several years ago Kay Burk worked at National Dragster with Crites. 

On the National Dragster staff at the same time as DRO’s Chris Martin, the duo certainly caused Publisher Neil Britt and Editor Phil Burgess to understand the phrase “like trying to herd cats.” In fact Martin and Crites at one time were roomies when covering races for ND. For whatever reason that practice was stopped after the pair worked a couple of races. Both seemed to stop “maturing” at about the age of 14 and together no doubt contributed more than a few laughs and grey hairs to late NHRA founder Wally Parks. Crites was 68. He will be missed. [1/2/2009]