Bristol Dragway's Blast from the Past presented by RAM Motor Company on Sept. 6 will give long-time race fans the opportunity to relive the old days of drag racing, while allowing new race fans to witness racing as they have never seen it.
As classic front-engine dragsters, nostalgia funny cars and vintage A, B, and C/Gas gassers roar down the Thunder Valley quarter-mile, visitors also will be able to catch a glimpse of two of drag racing's legendary names, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney, "The First Lady of Drag Racing."
Garlits, named the National Hot Rod Association's top driver of all-time, won his first race in 1955 with his first crudely built car. Since then, Garlits raced his radically designed Swamp Rat dragsters to 144 national event wins and 17 World Championship titles.
During his storied career, Garlits experienced the thrill of victory three times in Thunder Valley. He collected the 1972 International Hot Rod Association Spring Nationals and swept the 1973 Bristol Dragway season, claiming both the Spring Nationals and All-American Nationals.
Muldowney was the first woman to receive a license to compete in NHRA's Top Fuel category. In 1977, she became the first and only woman to earn a championship in NHRA Top Fuel. She followed the effort with two more championship trophies in 1980 and 1982.
According to Southern Slingshots Northern Race Director Adam Pyle, the occasion to meet these racing heroes and to step into racing's past is one opportunity fans should not let slip away.
"The goal of the Southern Slingshots club is to have fun while preserving our drag racing heritage," said Pyle. "To have a chance to compete at a track with such a rich racing history as Bristol is a real honor.
"All of the teams are very excited to run at the famed Bristol Dragway."
In addition to his duties as race director, Pyle also finds time to slip behind the wheel of one of the wild front-engine dragsters.
"Driving a front engine dragster is a very unique experience," he explained. "Most people take one look inside the cockpit, see that that driver drapes their legs over the top of the rear-end housing and say ‘you guys are crazy!' The Southern Slingshots enjoy the challenge and share in the tradition of bringing a flavor of 60's nostalgia back to drag racing.
"While we enjoy the rush of racing, talking with the fans is almost as much fun. It is especially enjoyable to talk with veteran racers that lived through the golden age of drag racing."
A car show will give everyone a chance to show off their unique rides. Participants can enter their vehicles in one of two classes, pre-1979 or post-1979.
Exciting bracket racing classes take place Saturday and continue on Sunday. Racer entry fees and purse information can be found on the Bristol Dragway website.
Sixteen lucky fans will have the opportunity to hang out with "Big Daddy" in one of the Bristol Dragway suites by registering at RAM Motor Company on Bristol Highway in Johnson City.
Gates open at 9a.m. Saturday with time trials beginning at noon. Eliminations will follow. The front-engine dragsters and gassers will make runs at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. The nostalgia funny cars will run at 7 and 9 p.m.
Car show registration begins at 9a.m. and ends at noon on Saturday. Judging begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m. The entry fee for pre-registered cars is $20, while those registered on the day of the show are $25. Awards will be given to the Best of Show, Best Paint, Best Motor, Best Interior and Top 25 in each class. To pre-register, please contact Jeffrey Dillard at (865) 804-6617 or email dillard_jeffrey@yahoo.com.
On Sunday, gates open at 8:00 a.m., with church service scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Bracket eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
Spectator admission is $20 on Saturday, with $5 discount coupons available at FasMart and Roadrunner Convenience Stores. Sunday admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free.
For more information about the Blast from the Past presented by RAM Motor Company, please call (423) 764-DRAG, or visit www.bristoldragway.com.