QUICK STREET (9.60 index)
Glen Copley is always competitive in Quick Street and at the Fall Nationals he was the #1 qualifier at 9.617. Unfortunately, Glen came up against 71-year-old Don Davitt in his new, red ‘65 Chevy Chevelle . The Lake Havasu retiree, who had not raced since 1969, came out of racing retirement, and has enjoyed himself for the past couple of years, racing when he wants too. Don really excelled this time, when he defeated Las Vegas ‘s Michael Hadrath and his green Vega in the final. Don ran a nice 9.643, 135.56 while Michael broke out at 8.581, 140.01 mph.
MEAN STREET (10.60 index)
Mighty Mike Matranga in his Lucas-backed ‘65 Nova was the closest to the index at 10.604 … but then there is that guy with the black Vega from Fontana, CA, that just seems to do nothing but WIN.
On Labor Day Mike Nordahl and his two-lady crew, his wife and Mary Broudy (quite a driver herself), won not just one category but two. In Mean Street it came down to Nordahl and Hemet’s favorite son, Joe Bennett in his bright red Vega. “The Machine” Nordahl left first at the first hint of green (.011RT) to Joe’s very good (.022RT) and then Nordahl ran an almost perfect 10.605, 128.44 mph over a very game 10.623, 122.51 for Bennett. That’s some kind of close racing!
OPEN COMP
Here we go again. After John McKindley has the best reaction in this open dial in class, who do you think comes up in the final round? How about Mike “The Machine” Nordahl in the little Vega again. This time he faced local talent Steve Westlund from Henderson, NV. Nordahl turned in a perfect 10.600 (on a 10.57 dial-in) to \Weslund’s 10.262 on a 10.24.
MUSTANG MADDNESS
Point leader Dan Marciano led the big group of Mustangs with the best reaction time. But this time it was Scott Doll’s excellent (.005RT) and an 11.60 (on an 11.43) at 120.76 mph over Glen Strelecki’s 2003 Stang at 10.971, (10.83) and 129.70 mph.
TROPHY CLASS
Another one of our over-60-year-old group made it to the winners circle. Jim Yanders, from nearby Henderson, NV, drove his very stock appearing 2002 Camaro to the Trophy class over Doug Carter. Yanker had not been in a race car since 1969 and was once told by his doctor that he would only be around for six months. That was 20 years ago.Congrats Jim!
BRACKET #1
For the second race in the row in Bracket one, our very own New York transplant Carl Cannavo and always a popular bracket racer, took out Marty Clevenger in the final of Bracket one in an all dragster final.