and the same back to you Chip. Did you end up finding anything this time while there? The Nostalgic Show & GO/Phoenix Drag Reunion is shaping up to be a good event but, I wish to be clear about something- this is not just a spectator event. I will be running 4 nostalgic drag cl***es, as we have for many years, including a trophy/award plaque cl*** for only $30. Money brackets with payouts are $50. Those prices are the total amount you would pay to enter, there are no added on fees at the gate, etc. This makes it very affordable to be a part of our program if you want to. NHRA safety rules in effect. You can also come out Saturday evening and run for $30 or for $50 in a separate Sat eve program. I am also offering overnight camping/rv ing for $20 per rig/vehicle. They are making me pay for licensed security so, I just want to get reimbursed for that, not taking advantage of anyone. either way- Sat eve and/or Sunday- race or spectate or show your vehicle- come and join us this weekend. Thank you, Steve 480-899-7873
More than I should have!!! That's the problem with swaps... I didn't think I needed yet one more late fifties/early sixties press framed Honda comp/weirdo bike, but the swap proved I did...
My mother just called me to let me know there is an article in todays Az Republic on the Drag Reunion this Sunday! She lives in Tempe so, not sure if it is in all the editions. I have yet to see it though. Has anyone seen it?
Yup, the Republic article is in today's paper with a vintage pic of Al smoking the hides in his AA/Fueler! I talked to AL again today and, believe it or not, in addition of bringing both S&E fuelers, he will be bringing his HEMI nitro burning Bonneville car to the Reunion also! If that is not enough, he is going to make runs down the track with it! Yes, Al is going to make p***es down the 1/4 mile at Wild Horse with his Bonneville car! That alone may be worth admission. Also, we will be having nitro fuelers firing up and 'cackling'! Want more? Ok, how about we schedule some authentic push starts and fire up a AA/Fuel Dragster in front of the crowd?! The "Old Timer" will be there too. It's going to be the place to be, This Sunday- Wild Horse P*** for the 12th annual Nostalgic Show & GO! and 1st annual Phoenix Drag Reunion! Gates open at 8am. Don't miss it. If you bring a car to show, you can park on the gr*** near the lake and save some walk time. more info www.nostalgicshowandgo.org thank you much, Steve
Looks like I'll be coming along with the Model A... On another note is there going to be a test and tune lane open?
tried and left messages, did not get an answer from him. I did get a call from a guy though who ran at all the Phx strips 50+ years back, he is coming out and may have some dialog with him in the tower. It all starts tomorrow night.
Nick, yes. Both on Saturday night 6pm-1am and Sunday. Here are the prices for Sunday Gen admission, spectator side ( gate 3 ) $15 + $5 parking per car. Or, if you have 1981/older, you can park on the pit side in a specific area near the car show. Car show $25 car w/driver- with awards will be on the gr*** overlooking the lake. There is a large shade pavilion with seating right there. Car show includes a dash plaque. Race- Test and tune or trophy cl*** $30 car with driver Race money brackets or A/FX $50 car with driver. All who buy tech cards also get an official event window decal as we have for several years. My nephew Matt Webster is handling Race director/lane duties and he knows his stuff. We do our best to keep the lanes moving. Note- Race/test prices are the same for Sat night. You can also stay overnight at the track for $20 per rig/vehicle if you buy into Sunday. There is a Love's travel center across the Interstate with showers, etc. I'll be doing it myself. There are no added gate fees. The prices above are the total prices. Master photographer Gil Rebilas will be shooting all day with a team and offering event pictures. If you have a vintage race car and want to display, contact me- special deal, special parking. We will have 50/50 raffle and giveaways too as well as Phoenix Drag Reunion event shirts. I am already in planning for our 2nd Phoenix Drag Reunion and working to get more center steered cars to participate and have a cacklefest too. www.nostalgicshowandgo.org
Steve, if ya get a chance would like to talk to you about next year's event sometime during the weekend.
Hope someone brought a camera to this, bet it's a good one. Was hoping to bum a ride but didn't work out.
A few days afterward and I am still recouperating from the weekend. Thanks to all who attended and participated and to my sponsors who supported and to my staff of about 20 who did an outstanding job over the 2 1/2 days. Results will be posted soon on the event website and will get some pictures too.
We are now in planning for the 2015 Phoenix Drag Reunion to be held at Wild Horse P*** Motorsports Park. Our dates are Saturday night, April 18 6pm-midnight for early set up, tech and test and tune. The main event is Sunday, April 19. In addition to multiple cl***es of 1/4 drag racing for 1981 and older, we will have our car show, special display area, special guests ( to be annouced ) and more. Special tribute and attention will be paid in 2 specific areas- Earlier this year, I located and purchased the car that runner up in Top Fuel 49 years ago at the Beeline Winters, the car of Dean Turk, Bill Cox and JD Braswell. Restoration has already started and we plan to debut this car at the event along with Dean Turk and Bill Cox as my special guests! The car shown in the promotional is the actual car what it looked like in 1962-4 timeframe at Mel Larson's. The other very important area to pay special tribute next spring will be the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the public debut of the altered wheelbase 'Funny Cars" that changed drag racing forever! These special cars not only were introduced 50 years ago next year but, they also bebuted right here in Phoenix at the AHRA Winternationals at Beeline! We are working on special guests from the day who were well known and will be talking about the glory days when the stockers turned to A/FX, then to AWB and on to the flip tops. Car show, 1/4 drags , special guests and displays and more. Make plans to be in Phoenix April 19 and tell your friends.
Will be a good week for Drag race fans with the Tucson Reunion on April 10-11th and the Phoenix Reunion 18-19th
Work on the restoration of the Turk/Cox/Braswell Fueler has been going well. Here are some updates. This car will be debuted at the Phoenix Drag Reunion April 18-19 at Wild Horse P***. Here is a picture of the car in the hot car push/fire up lane at Beeline Dragway winter 1963-4 Here is a pic of Dave Keyes with the ch***is. Dave is doing the ch***is and body portion of this restoration. Dave has been a good friend of Deans for over 50 years and was with Dean when he built this Fueler in late 1962! This historic Fueler will be debuted at the Phoenix Drag Reunion April 19! It is the real actual car that set many track records in Phoenix, Tucson and southern California area tracks and was runner up in Top Fuel at the 1965 AHRA Winter Nationals at Beeline Dragway. Dean was also in the first group of the M/T 200 mph club with this car 1965!
Remember that 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Altered Wheebase Cars which were soon to be called "Funny Cars" and it all happened right here in Phoenix at the AHRA Winternationals at Beeline! We will be giving special tribute to these cars that changed drag racing and am happy to announce my Special guest will be "The Georgia Shaker" himself , Mr Hubert Platt! Hubert was a factory Ford racer who ran at Beeline and all over the US. Come out and meet Hubert personally, he has many exciting stories to share. It all happens Sunday, April 19 at Wild Horse P*** ( formerly Firebird ) His actual 1965 Altered wheelbase Falcon will be in attendence as well. Make plans to attend! We are looking for all altered wheelbase cars to attend- originals as well as current cars. 1/4 mile nostalgia drag racing vintage car show auto parts swap meet special guests and displays vintage race car display area nitro cackle
The next thing happening for the Reunion in April is a recreation of the original Beeline tower. Plans have been started and we should have it for display at the event Sunday, April 19.
The body is now about finished. Here is the rear portion being built. There are more pics on the event site www.phoenixdragreunion.com Here again is the car at Mel Larson's Phoenix Dragway in 1963. Here is a color video from Beeline in 1963, it shows the car making a run around 3:12 into it. the sub ***le says it set Low ET that day!
The event web page has been updated and now lists our 2 event Host Hotels. Be sure to mention "Phoenix Drag Reunion" for a special rate. Registration is now also open, there is a form on the page you can copy/paste/print and mail it in. www.phoenixdragreunion.com
More info on the Mesa, Az based Top Fueler of Turk/Cox/Braswell. Dean Turk and this car was actually present at the ground breaking ceremony for Beeline Dragway in 1963! check out the newspaper clipping from the day! so glad it was saved all these years The restoration continues! We are excited and working hard to have the car ready for display to be seen publicly for the first time in close to 50 years! With the ch***is now shortened to its original wheelbase, it was time to fit a bare 3rd member into the original rear end housing, then fit a piece of alum pipe through the mains of the block to align properly. After having lunch with Dean and Bill on Saturday, I got more information on the correct front engine cover as well as mounting the engine, seat belts, etc. Even with my extensive stash of parts, I did not have the correct one for the car. After some calls looking, I located one from good friend Glenn Gibbons (Pouncin' Poncho). On Sunday, I purchased it and brought it over to Dave's who is doing the majority of the restoration. It's coming along and is nice to see the engine block in the ch***is. Engine mounting is next.
The engine block is now mounted in the ch***is and work continues. Recently, I located and purchased a very rare pair of original M&H Racemaster Dragster pie crust style slicks. We just went to the LA area to pick them up. This is a great find. Another feature for this years Phoenix Drag Reunion is a nitro fuel altered match race! This is in addition to our nitro cackle. This Saturday is Al Eshenbaughs annual party and fundraiser. We will be there promoting the Reunion. make plans to attend. info on our facebook page
2 months from today! Phoenix, Arizona has such an important place i...n Drag Racing history. For many years in the day, anyone who was anyone flocked to Phoenix for the first national event of the season. We remember this and more at the Phoenix Drag Reunion April 19 at Wild Horse P*** ( formerly Firebird ). 2 months from today is the Phoenix Drag Reunion! Make plans to attend. * See Dean Turks restored AA/Fueler * Nitro cackle * Front engine dragster challenge * Wild AA/Fuel Altered match race with 2 time IHRA national champion Ron Maroney driving his "Blind Faith" taking on his cousin Jim Maroney in "Legacy"! Both will be loaded for bear with a good load in the tank! * Plus plenty of nostalgia drag racing including A/FXers, swap meet, car show with awards and more. * Special displays not seen elsewhere like the one of a kind M/T HEMI Pontiac engine! When was the last time you saw something this rare? It is one of a kind and the only surviving original Pontiac Hemi on the planet. Like the one Jack Chrisman drove to win over Don Garlits to take Top Eliminator at the '62 US Nationals! * Special guest Hubert Platt will be there with one of his original Altered Wheelbase Falcons! The altered wheelbase Mopars made their debut right here in Phoenix 50 years ago at the AHRA Winternationals at Beeline! * Speaking of Beeline, how about seeing the recreation of the original Beeline Tower? Yes, it will be there and seen for the first time. * Like live music? You will really enjoy the tunes by The Joshua Stone Band * We will also have a performance boat display. Phoenix has a great Drag Racing history on the water too. Firebird lake has hosting blown fuel Drag boat racing since 1975. Make plans to attend and tell your friends. There are special guest room rates too at our 2 hotels. more info at www.phoenixdragreunion.com and on facebook We will see you here. Thank you,
The 3rd annual "Phoenix Drag Reunion" will be held on Saturday, December 17 at Wild Horse P***! Several things have been improved, here are a few- 1. moving the event from Sunday to Saturday, along with a Friday night set up and meet and greet option I rented the track this time for Friday as well and those wanting to come early to set up, pit, test and tune, etc, can do so 6-11pm. 2. there are now no restrictions on RV parking and over night camping 3. those wanting to sell used parts no longer need to purchase a permit from the Gila tribe. You can arrive with used parts and set up as you would at any other swap meet. Further, I will not charge extra for a space. If you come wit parts in your trunk, or pick up, you only pay the $15 per day admission! I you want more than one space to sell used parts, contact me. You can sell used parts Friday, Saturday and or Sunday this way. 4. we now have a new Host hotel very close to the strip! It just opened 6-8 weeks back and you can get a special "Phoenix Drag Reunion" rate of only $79 with full amenities- breakfast, wi-fi, indoor pool and more. There is a 24 hours Love's travel center next door. 5. Our nitro cackle this year is called a "Christmas Cackle". It will be at dusk and the cars will cackle under Christmas lights. Much more info on site or faebook www.phoenixdragreunion.com thank you
Sounds like a few weekend! My weekend is open as of right now but that could change multiple times between now and then!
Thumper is back on the road, so I reckon I'm in. Maybe we can set up a grudge race, "Thumper" vs. "Snowball".
The Jalopy Journal
