The best "car" event I have ever attended, by far! Can't wait for next year! I'm going to do everything I can to get the 54 rollin and bring my family. Thanks for all the work put in to this event! BTW, I took a lot of "home" video, and hope to be posting links up in the near future!
It was my first time to the H.A.M.B. drags and I was completely impressed. My family runs NHRA and the basterdization of the classes really kills it for me. There was so much variation at Mokan I think my necks sore from trying to see everything! Also, I took my old man with me who went to Pitt State and hasn't been back there in 30 years. We had a great time hearing some of his war stories of racing at Mokan in the early 70's.
seems i recall some trailer queen blowin me kisses, but i cant recall who...some lil guy with a red coupe??? anyone know who that was??? damn, im not even gonna start on a list of the great people i got to hang with again cause my wife told my imma alcoholic, so ill forget half of them! woodstock!!![WELL ROB [SUIT] YOU nailed it buddy!!! robs been callin this event HAMBSTOCK for a few days..so if anyone wants to use that, youll have to call him at the holiday inn! if he actually go's back to work this week!!! congrats to all, and next year there will be another ucly primered coupe with a fat farmer in it, doin 1320!!!!
Damn, this was a big ass event. It obviously took alot of planning, but I think it has really come into its own. Most people were respectful of each other. May I suggest, having the second gate open as the main entrance, so spectators don't get confused and try to park in the return lane again? They could re-direct the racers at the fuel station. Maybe weed out some power parkers too.
Thank's Ryan, Marci all the folks that make the HAMB a sucess and the good folks at Mokan, always a treat to race in Joplin. Thank's also to all the fantastic like minded folks here for being so friendly. We always have the time of our lives at these events!
the dividing line is going to be much clearer for next year, you either need to be on this side of it or not. changing wheels to fit the criteria isn't a big deal, and it ain't gonna slow you down that much. take the el polacko truck for example, it looks great with the new chrome steelies, and still hauled ass. super lites and drag stars are perfect for the street machine nationals, not the hamb drags. i'm not sure where the (few) rat rods belong, but even you guys can de-rat enough to join the party. you just gotta change from "look at me" to having fun without the shock value...
We can never thank you for all your hard work and stress with the overwhelming task of putting on an event of this magnatude, hats off and we raise our cheap beer cans in honor of you and all your helpers!
Ryan, It looks like whatever you got going back there is badass, sounds like a "real" Drag race to me. Dont change a thing. Good on you.
It kinda reminded me of the drag races back in the late 50's and early 60's down in South Texas (Rodd Field in Corpus, Victoria drag way, The Gulf Freeway in Dickinson, yella belly in Dallas) and others. Lots of pieces of not so fancy stuff mixed with a lots of kind fancy stuff, mixed with a sprinkle of really fancy stuff (read that as money). But all of it good stuff run by good people. I still can't get over the inginuity in some of these cars. I sometimes wonder what they were drinking when the built it. We had a blast and hope all of you got a kick outta the G-Hopper on Friday night.
Ryan-I had a ball. My buddy from my old home town attended with me for his second time and of course loved it. Great job by you and all your team. As far as I am concerned it is a can't miss deal. I thought every one was treated well and with respect and you can't ask for more than that. Again, great job and looking forward to next year. Later, Dick
I'd be down for a little traditional policing. There were cars in Stock Car running quicker than you. I didn't know that a 62 dodge came with a fire breathing 426 and slicks? If the grounds crew simply said trucks and trailers over here, drivers over here, spectators STRICTLY over there, It would have made preparing for the next run smoother. .02
All the Tulsa gang had a great time as well. Pop's really enjoyed the event and was glad to see and visit with everyone. We haven't missed one yet and they keep getting better and better each year. Thanks for all you do Ryan! monkey
Ryan , Looks bloody brilliant and it puts me in the mood for the U.K. Hot Rod drags next month, THANKS man! Nick.
If there is any one person who can relate to your dilema, it's Bill Moore, who puts together the Nostalgia drags at the Leadsled Spectacular. Last year was a proverbial zoo. Our good natured buddy who is always glad to see us was just a bit snippy last year. Mike asked if he could help, and was told the best way to help was to get the *)(# behind the barriers! Hmmmm. Not exactly what Mike had in mind, but we did as we were told. This year was a lot different, much more contained and organized, and Bill was his old peppy self. It takes hours and hours of preparation to put something like this on Ryan, so you have all of our respect. Everyone here understands how difficult something like this is, and just how overpowering it can be. I think everyone here will agree with me on that. Even though I wasn't there, Mike was and said he was really surprised at the attendance. Sounds like it was a huge success and our hats are off to you. Carrie
What an awesome event. We had so much fun I don't even know how to say it. Ryan, you and yours did a great job with this. Sorry if you had some anxiety about it, but in the end the weekend was simply fantastic. Congrats to everyone involved! You all done good.
Ryan, It was a pleasure to meet you briefly. I am sure you are going to be overrun with suggestions, but I have two: 1. I agree with Ryno that no cars should be in the pits unless they are race cars or support cars. (And I say this having been in the pits every year for the past four years strictly as a hanger-on!) I'd be happy to park in a field and walk to the pits. How about a set-aside area for cool cars? 2. If you're going to limit racing to 200 pre-registered cars, how about getting some help to set up tighter rules about what can run? If the HAMB Drags don't keep it strict it'll wind up being another AHRA drags. (i.e. high tech drag cars). I am not the one to ask about this, but the HAMB has hundreds of old racers and some of them would probably be happy to set up some ground rules for what is and is not allowed. This year was great!!
Oh yeah, and I said it before but I'll say it again: IF YOU NEED VOLUNTEERS to do ANYTHING at all, LET ME KNOW!!
For my own sanity, the 2010 drags will be a little smaller and little more focused for certain. I know how to get there.
The Jalopy Journal
