I am happy to announce an addition to this years Nostalgic Show & GO!. We will be hosting the 1<SUP>st</SUP> annual “Phoenix Drag Racers Reunion”. Phoenix has had a colorful history of drag racing with many drag strips and stars. Speedworld was our long lasting standout lasting over 50 years but, now that it is gone and Wild Horse is open. It is time to open a new chapter in Phoenix Drag Racing History. We will be paying tribute to all the Phoenix area drag strips of the past- Beeline and Mel Larsons/Speedworld a**** others. Also recognizing area Drag Racers who helped make it all happen. Al Eshenbaugh of the Steinegger & Eshenbaugh AA/Fuel Dragster team from the late 1950’s through the mid 1960’s will be my Special guest along with others remembering drag racings past in the Phoenix area. There will be vintage race cars on display plus room for memorabilia of all kinds and more to be announced. This is in addition to our 1981/older bracket program and our special wheel standing A/FX cl*** we have now had for several years. We are inviting all vintage race cars, drivers, fans and memorabilia to attend this first annual celebration at Wild Horse P*** on Sunday, April 6. For those coming in from out of town, we will be having warm up and test and tune Saturday night from 6pm-1am so there will be plenty of time to test. We also have a host hotel with not only discounted rates but, it also offering free shuttle service to and from the track at no extra cost. The Wild Horse area is very tourist friendly with plenty to do for all ages. Great dining from 5 star to burgers, gaming, premium retail shopping, golf, horseback riding, Rawhide 1880's town and more. There is a Love's truck stop right across the interstate with a 24 hour Arby's, showers, parking and they even offer 110 octane fuel right from the pump. You will like it here in early April. Make plans to attend. More details to be announced. Info on web page www.nostalgicshowandgo.org Please help spread the word of this important event.
Sounds cool, putting it on the calendar now. Interesting trivia, did you know when Charlie Allen was building Firebird as the OCIR lease was coming to an end he considered moving the OCIR tower to Phoenix but the costs were too prohibitive.
That's great news! My first out-of-state announcing gig was at Mel Larson's Phoenix Dragway in February 1963. Not a better guy to have leading the geezers than Al Eschenbaugh! Got a cute story to tell about Jim Wangers. I'll try to make it.
Wow the Jon Lundberg? I was just listening to you the other day on a CD version of the 1964 AHRA Winternationals record and have the '63 version coming in the mail.
Jon, It would be great to you to attend. If you would like to have some dialog in the tower that would be wonderful. We are looking for any/all vintage race cars and any memorabilia related to Phoenix area drag racing and performance related. It is time to get 'our' Phoenix Drag Reunion started and established.
Wish I had something real to contribute but other than a handful of yellowed Hot Rod magazines, Beeline trophy, a brochure or two and Loper's wheelie bar, really not much to speak of. I'm just a younger guy trying my best to find what local history there is and share it but there are guys that have some neat stuff, J.R. Bloom's picture collection would be at the top of my list.
I second JR' collection.Applekrate if you want me to I'll contact him and see if he would come to the event.
Everybody has something or things of interest and it does not matter how old you are. If you are willing to bring anything of interest to display, please do! We will have an area set up for just that.
Thanks Rich ( I think this is Rich?). There will be some nice things to see and hear and am trying for JR as well. will let you know.
I'll try to make it as well. I should have the A down here by then. I hope! --- Sent from the pits of dispair app. Wirelessly, of course.
I bought the record album from the 1963 AHRA meet,my favorite part was your memorial to Don Maynard regarding the "CHIZLER" would love to see the restored one make a showing.
Does anyone remember the Beeline radio commercials? They had a real 'action' feel to them. About 15-20 years back in Bakersfield, I bought a collection of 60s-70s era Drag race radio spots. I was hoping a**** them would be one of those great Beeline commercials I still hear in my head. Sadly, there was not an actual Beeline spot in the collection but, gladly, there was one produced the same way, same background noise or music. I'll be playing some of these great 60s and 70s drag race radio commercials on the PA at the Phoenix Drag Reunion. Also have some more Fuelers lined up to be there to display. We are looking for any vintage drag cars, running or not, for our reunion display. We are focusing on past Phoenix drag strips and races or all cl***es but, vintage memorabilia and cars from anywhere are most welcome to attend. contact me.
Check post #352 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341996&highlight=phx+hist&page=18
About the only announcing you can comprehend on that one, crowd sure cheered. Still a neat record though and from the old speedworld location. The '64 version from Beeline is twice as nice and seems to have the announcing piped directly into the recording.
Just heard about it! I plan to be there with my '23 "T" Altered---first time in YEEEEAAARs it's been out. Don't know if I'll make any p***es, but I'll be there...........
Thanks for the reply but, none of them seemed to have any radio spots. I am sure I cannot be the only one who remembers them. They were high energy action type commercials. There was some sort of rumbling sound in the background and there were 2 people doing them. They would mention racers names of the day. Will continue to work on locating some of this for our Reunion April 6. I've been getting some calls already and we are going to have a very nice display of historical and vintage race cars for our 1st annual Phoenix Drag Reunion. Al Enshenbaugh andf Jim Wangers are but 2 of those special guests. This is in addition to our 1981 and older bracket program I have run since 2002 and this includes the popular A/FX cl***. Plus a full car show. Make plans to attend. If you are coming from out of town, you can arrive and get set up Saturday night. Test and tune Saturday night is 6pm-1am. Then, gates open Sunday at 8:30 for day of. You can get in earlier, 8am if you preregister. info online here www.nostalgicshowandgo.org or call me 480-899-7873 Steve Barcak
That's a great collection. I first bought the c***ette from Steve himself when he was selling them at Bakersfield, must have been in the mid 1990's. Later, bought the CD online. There is at least one commercial on there with the same background music as the ones I remember. Must have had the same producer. How cool it would be to hear that.
2 Weeks from this Sunday is the Phoenix Drag Reunion/Nostalgic Show & GO! We will have warm ups and test and tune for those who want to test the night before. April 5 Sat night times 6pm-1am April 6 gates open 8:30 day of show, earlier if you preregister. Make plans to attend. More event info at www.nostalgicshowandgo.org
Here is a pic of the Beeline staging lanes. They were set up very much the same way Wild Horse P*** is- from the pits, make a left turn, end up on the left side of the track. The difference was Beeline had 2 staging lanes. The one shown was for door or shorter wheelbase cars. The Hot cars, diggers, etc, staged in a straight line directly behind the drag strip itself. We'll be discussing more of this in a few weeks at the Phoenix Drag Reunion. If you have any questions about this event, call me direct 480-899-7873 Steve (not into texting). More info too on event web page - www.nostalgicshowandgo.org We are looking to add to our vintage race car display, this is in addition to the car show area. Also looking for those who have memorabilia of any kind to bring it out to display. It is going to be a great day, Sunday, April 6 at Wild Horse P*** Motorsports Park!
2 weeks from tonight at Wild Horse P*** in Chandler, 6pm-1am. I will be having an open test and tune lane for the nostalgia cars racing the following day. This is in addition to the main evening show- Diesel drags and the "All Years Muscle Shoot Out"
One week from tonight, they will be pulling in to Wild Horse P***. Coming from all over Arizona and the surrounding states..... The A/FXers! Yea, Fords, Pontiacs, Hemis, Chevys. Some injected, some with carbs. Some running gas and others on alky and some with altered wheelbases ( read- FUNNY CARS )! Still, they ALL have one thing in common, they are Very Exciting to watch! They will be testing and tuning and some grudge racing, maybe as late as 1am. All getting ready to compete for A/FX Eliminator at the 12th annual Nostalgic Show & GO and that is but just a part of the action happening on Sunday April 6. Saturday night the gates open at 6pm. Sunday 8am. Come out and meet and talk to Al Eshenbaugh and Jim Wangers. Rumor has it Al may be bringing out his Bonneville car to run the 1/4 mile! uh huh. More? How about a nice display of front motor Top Fuelers! G***ers? You bet! Stockers too. Just about anything you would have found at a drag strip in the 50's-70's will be there. Plus, we will also have a nice vintage car show worth entering with over 15 award cl***es- they will all be parked on the gr*** overlooking the lake near a large shade pavilion so you do not need to cook in the sun all day at the show. Special Guests Al Eshenbaugh & Jim Wangers will both also be awarding their own favorite entry in the show! If you like stuff that is rare, when was the last time you saw a blown, Hilborn injected Mickey Thomspon HEMI Pontiac? It'll be there on display a**** other interesting things. We will have all the food, beer and pop available too that you could want. Plus event t shirts and photographs from well known nostalgia photographer Gil Rebilas. What a great time to attend the Drags! We hope to see you there. Make plans to attend. Questions? call me 480-899-7873 ( Steve ) more event info at www.nostalgicshowandgo.org
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