I might be doing that, too! I think we are setting up a friggin' Army tent...gonna be chock full of drunks, I'm sure. Its supposed to be extra-jumbo-sized, I think we have room for a piano in it, and ten of us, from the reports from our Harrisburg-area contingent. Its gonna be like M*A*S*H*.... join us at the "Officers club" anyone? Lets hope that the only "wetness" involved is from spilled drinks. Last years weather was just fantastic...we need the same this time out.
I'll probably be heading up then since I talked to you and Larry @ the Karb Kings show and you guys gave my 40 the OK for the show
Man, I certainly hope so...A few would be good, actually. I think a few of us might sneak off Friday night and go to the "End Zone", nearby, in State College... Hot Rodders: To the Go-Go bar! Its killer, its on a mountainside, and...ummm...well...its a Go-Go bar! I really wish I would have gotten more done on the truck this year...I was hoping to join in on the wheelstanding fun...oh, well...next year.
Would definitly like to run the roadster. Never been there. Is this 1/4 or 1/8 mile. What's the criteria to run. Cage, Helmit, or NHRA overkill? How much to run? Is there a site for this info? Friends told me there were about 30 cars last year and it was boring. Can't imagine.
More from Western PA: The Bonneville Bombers, a few BS_Gassers, The Paint Chop Gang, and a few from the Johnstown area will spectating on Sunday.
The gates will open at 8 AM Saturday. I'll be posting the schedule for the day when it is finalized in a day or two. I'm getting a few opinions on the racing format. I need a reason to give out the couple trophies we have without getting too serious about it. Back with more info soon.
.... about how long a ride is it from the Baltimore area. I looked at a map and it doesn't appear to be that far from Carlisle.
That should help from an organization stand point! It won't be hard to find the officers club! Nico will be piloting the Trashinal this year.
.... thanks guys, Mapquest had it a little over 4 hours from my place but I wanted to check with some real people.
There's a pretty cool bar I was at when I was up here about a month ago called the Scarlet D which is a hop skip over the mountainl in Mifflinburg. If the weather holds out I'm going up Friday and bringing the 79 Honda CB750 cafe project bike to race with the locals For anyone who hasn't gone last year to the drags or just never even been to Beaver Springs, it's well worth it. Beaver Bob and Flashback Bill are the chillest dudes and know how to run a drag strip with a huge factor of fun in it. Camp out for the weekend if you want to really enjoy the beaver... even if it's a little wet!
Camp out for the weekend if you want to really enjoy the beaver... even if it's a little wet![/quote] MMMMMMM... wet beaver here is the link again www.jalopyshowdown.com
This event is not just about the drags. It is a great car day. I'll be there fleain' some left over parts from the 34 coupe build. Smokey
I've talked with Bob & Bill at the track back and forth a couple of times trying to come up with the best formula for the day that has both some sort of organized races and the unorganized that I'm so good at because I'm a mess. This is what we have. Open time in the morning, first round of eliminations, then a second and third round with lanes three and four open at the end of each round for more grudge races. The important thing for me is that if you get eliminated in the round that YOU ARE NOT FINISHED FOR THE DAY! The description of the events below are from Bill and he describes stuff like he is in the tower announcing it to the crowd, some are a little over the top...read them like an announcer would. We'll do the night racing IF everyone is not toasty drunk...I dont think I have to explain that one. So far it looks like the weather will be clear and cool. I'm happy we had to move this years date. THIS weekend WOULD have been it. We've gotten HAMMERED with rain, so we lucked out! As always, thanks for the support. 2008 JALOPY SHOWDOWN DRAGS Format & Race Notes Time Schedule / Event Overview *Note: Times listed AFTER 9:45 drivers are all tentative 8:00 AM Gates Open Saturday 9:45 Racers Meeting Welcome & Basic Tech / Required Safety Equipment Race Class Parameters Stop Light Staging Procedures Flag Start Procedures Basic Format & Projected Time Schedule of Days Events 10:30 – 12:00/12:30 Open Grudge Matches 11:30 – 12:00 Exhibition Flag Starts 12:00 1:00 Intermission Activities Kids Foot Race Hot Dog Race (1st Rnd) Car Push Race 1:15 Begin 1st Round of Eliminations East Coast Gassers Exhibition & Match Races A Hot Rod B Hot Rod C Hot Rod 2nd Round of Eliminations East Coast Gassers Exhibition & Match Races A Hot Rod = Big Block cars B Hot Rod = Small Block cars C Hot Rod= 4 Cyl, 6 Cyl & Flat Heads *At end of 2nd & end of every round of eliminations afterward, Lanes 3 & 4 will be open for grudge matches so racers can continue to get more track time after they have lost in eliminations 5: ? End of Racing 5:? - 6:30 Open Cruising of Race Track Break Night Time Segment 8:00 – 9:30 /10:00 -Flashbike Drags -"Showdown Special" - Flag started, heads up, grudge matches under the lights Jalopy Showdown Drags Event Description The East Coast Gassers are scheduled as the drag racing show head liners to wow the crowd with their period correct gasser race cars, while a car show will be going on in the pit area just like at the sister Showdown show held at Latimore. A swap meet area will also be set up for those folks wanting to sell parts and those interested in getting a good buy! A special area will be set up for the annual Flashbike Drags bicycles to on display prior to this years newly added "night life" event segment. Drag Racing Segment Information 4 Classes will be contested for folks to enter: -Exhibition Class = dragsters, real race cars and non street legal vehicles - A Hot Rod = Big Block cars - B Hot Rod = Small Block cars - C Hot Rod = 4 Cyl, 6 Cyl & Flat Heads Heads up racing is intertwined throughout this event and will be available throughout most of the day. On track action will begin with a long 2 hour open session of heads up grudge matches with exhibition flag starting being scheduled for a brief period in that open session. This year, 2 real deal stop lights, one for each lane, will be used to start the races. The typical "prestage bulb" is the middle yellow bulb on the stop light. With yellow bulb lit, the racer pulls forward slightly to pull into the "stage beam" which is indicated by the top red light. When both racers have staged, indicated by the two red top bulbs one, the autostart system will activate the green light. There is no delay between the top red light going off and the bottom green light coming on. HInt: do not wait for the green light to come on to leave, leave as soon as the red light goes out. After the "2nd round of eliminations and in between the remaining rounds of eliminations, lanes 3 & 4 will be opened up for guys who wish to continue to make heads up grudge runs with a buddy of their choosi! ng just by pulling beside them in lanes 3 & 4. Those two lanes will be open for the remainder of the event to permit grudge runs until the event is over. After the 2 hour open grudge run session, the intermission segment of the Kids Foot Race and ever popular Hot Dog race will begin with the addition of a new team event called the "Out of Gas" race. Intermission Activities Kids Foot Race This event has 3 kids classes and 1 masters class (teen through adult) contested by sprinting 100+ feet down the beginning at the starting line. Winners of the kids classes will be awarded a trophy and in the past have won a parade ride of the fair grounds in hot rod of their choice. Hot Dog Race The hot dog race consists of a team of two racers for a total of 8 teams. In this event, the teams jalopy is staged on the starting line. All 4 racers are given a hot dog and a coke. When the green light comes on, the racers chug the coke, down the dog, sprint off the starting line out past the stop light, which is about 45 feet out, to throw their trash in a 5 gallon bucket. Then they sprint back to their jalopies, jump in them, start them up and it becomes a heads up race to the finish line. This event can literally have spectators watching a racer "puking on the starting line!" This event is riot to watch. Talk trash all you want in the pits, because talks cheap when its time to eat! "NEW" - Out of Gas Race This newly added event is designed for car clubs, families or groups of good buddies to collectively have fun in altogether. 4 teams consisting of 3-8 members will make up a team. This race has both teams driving their car out onto the starting line to stage it in the traffic light staging beams. When the green light comes on, the team PUSHES the car approximately 100 feet to the finish line in this heads up grudge match formatted event. If the car really wasn't out of gas at the start of the race, it is anticipated that the racers will be when their heads up match up is over. This event will only consist of 2 rounds out of mercy for the racers and once the vehicle is pushed past the finish line with the winning team declared, the cars can be driven off the race track. "NEW" - Night Time Segment Flashbike Drags This newly organized event will begin at 8:00PM. Racers will pedal a bicycle 200 feet to the finish line to contest heads up grudge match ups on two wheels. A flashlight will be used to signify the start of the race. Racers are encouraged to bring their own "period correct - early 70's and older bike to compete in this event with, but in the past a handful of bikes were shared by a number of folks who were out to just have fun. The winner is determined by two line judge’s eye balling the finish line results. "NEW" - "Showdown Special" This event is the real deal... run what you brung... heads up... flag started grudge run match races for the die hard hot rodder who has hung in with us into the evening. Race under the lights! So this final event of the show is for the night owl and a great way to lay the Showdown drags to rest. Then its off to sit by a fire and relive the past, telling twice told tales and bench racing late into the evening, or flinging rubber bands around if that is your thing!
BTW Friday admission for the test and tune is $10 a carload. Camping for the weekend is $10. Saturday is $10 a person, $20 if you want to race and $40 for a vendor spot and that gets two people in. Then feel free to camp over Saturday with all us knuckleheads! It's fun to see what they look like Sunday morning!!
I smell a night grudge match!!!!!!....Mr. Reaper............Littleman Do they sell 110 or greater racing gas at this track?...........
Here is the link to the track. http://www.beaversprings.com/ If I remember Bob did say they had 3 grades of fuel don't know what octane.
I'm going to be making my way up there Friday afternoon- No '56 this year but I will be towing the Scotty up and I'm bringing an old bike for the flashlight drags
Seeing as Littleman, Steve, and I don't drink........we will race past 10 if you let us! But not too late, as we gotta pack up and leave real early in the am again to make it back to Thompson Ohio for the rescheduled Gasser Nationals on sunday! Any East Coast Gassers on here wanna play some more!!!
It's only an hour and 1/2 from Carlisle . I'll be there hopefully around 10am. I got room for one person if someone wants to come along. If you want to follow me just pm me. Andy
The Jalopy Journal
