Georgia Drag Racing News

Georgia Drag Racing News

• A Vintage WJ Race Car to Sell at Barrett-Jackson with The Professor on Hand

  January 18, 2008

  Contact: Jon G. Knapp
  TMG Sports Marketing
  
  
  WJ’s 1987 Olds Firenza Pro Stocker to be sold at noted Scottsdale auction
  
  
  Sugar Hill, Ga., January 17, 2008 – Acknowledged as one of the hardest working men in motorsports, there is nothing unusual in the fact that Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson will be tending to a race car this weekend. After all, with the start of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season just over three weeks away, virtually every team across the country will be hard at work making final preparations for the NHRA season-opener in Pomona, CA.
  
  In this case, however, The Professor’s efforts will not be focused on his familiar GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO, which he has left in the capable hands of his crew in Sugar Hill, GA. Instead, the six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion will take part in the sale of one of his former mounts, a 1987 Olds Firenza which will be auctioned off as part of the famed Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ.
  
  “I was originally contacted by Norm Bierhorst, who had bought one of my old Firenzas,” said Johnson. “After deciding he was no longer interested in racing Super Gas, Norm wanted to restore the car to its original condition, and asked what I might have. After looking around at the shop, I was able to supply most of the drivetrain from a Firenza, which I still had in storage. I provided him with a complete engine from the carburetors to the dry sump, as well as the clutch and other pieces that were totally unique to that body style.
  
  “After putting it back together, he brought it over to Indianapolis last September for me to look at, and I have to say he did a remarkable job of restoring it. It’s close to a 100% original car, although it probably doesn’t have some of the scratches I put on it when I was racing!”
  
  Freshly repainted in its distinctive black-and-silver GM Goodwrench Performance Parts (which was GM Performance Parts branding at the time) livery, it offers both racers and fans a glimpse into drag racing history. In addition, it stands as proof of the tremendous technological progress made by the Pro Stock division over the last twenty years, with Johnson leading the charge both on and off the track, as evidenced by his role in the development of the General Motors Drag Racing Competition Engine (DRCE) and his 80 national event wins, 127 final rounds and 122 No. 1 qualifying performance during that period (out of a total 96 career wins, 154 final rounds and 136 No. 1 qualifiers).
  
  “It will be interesting to see what it brings,” said Johnson. “That particular Firenza was a Ness car that I raced early in the 1987 season before switching to the Rells chassis, which was the first Pro Stocker to run 190 mph, a magnesium-bodied car that unfortunately is no longer in existence.
  
  “But we had our share of success with this car as well, including winning the Winternationals, which ironically is something we are looking to do with our current GM Performance Parts GTO in about three weeks.”
  
  Entering its 38th year, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is an event unlike any other. Encompassing nine days, it offers a total automotive experience, from exhibits and displays of cars, automobilia and manufacturer’s displays to the auction itself, drawing over 250,000 attendees a year ago. Thousands of bidders from across the world will participate in person, by phone or on the internet, vying for a wide variety of spectacular and often notable vehicles.
  
  In 2007, 1,250 cars crossed the auction block earning over $112 million in sales. The 2008 edition will feature unprecedented live television coverage, with over 39 hours airing on SPEED, which began on Tuesday, January 15. Assigned lot number 1295, WJ’s Firenza is scheduled to be sold on Saturday, a day which is normally reserved for the higher-profile and most significant vehicles that draw the highest bids.
  
  “I have no idea what the car is worth, so I’ll be just as interested as any one to see how it turns out,” said Johnson. “The folks at Barrett-Jackson obviously believe it has some potential, as they have scheduled to hit the block on Saturday, which historically is the biggest day of the auction.
  
  
  “I’ll be flying in on Friday to help in whatever way possible and I’ll try to take in as much of the show as time allows. This promises to be an interesting experience, but Sunday morning I will be on a plane heading back to Georgia. After all, the 2008 season is right around the corner, and there’s work to be done.”
  

  
• Hubert Platt Interview at the 2007 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion!
• E.S.T.N. at SGMP Pre-Entry Information

  January 11, 2008

  The Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco's CompetitionPlus.com is open to pre-entry registration. The eighth annual event will be held at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga., during the weekend of March 6 - 8, 2008. For more information, go to CompetitionPlus.com.
  To view the pre-entries (as of 1-10-08), click here.
  
  South Georgia Motorsports Park Website

  
• Bunky Bobo in the Hemi Hurricane Willys
• Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

  December 23, 2007

  GeorgiaDragRacing.com would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous 2008! Thanks for visiting!

  
• 502 Chevy Crate Motor/700 Trans For Sale

  November 28, 2007

  502 CI/502 HP Chevy crate motor (fuel injected, aluminum heads, etc.) with 700 transmission for sale. Call Bogan Renfroe at 770-206-0505 for more information.

  
• Ken Grant sweeps Summit Bracket Series at South Georgia Motorsports Park

  November 19, 2007

  November 18, 2007
  
  By Marvin T. Smith
  
  It was a big, two-day Summit Series bracket race at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Over 200 cars packed the track for the race under perfect Fall weather conditions. Ken Grant was the biggest winner for the two day event, sweeping the Pro category on both Saturday and Sunday. Oddly enough, Franky Bishop was runner-up both days. The racing was close. On Sunday, Grant used a starting line advantage (.021 to .072) to beat Bishop as both ran .015 off their dial ins. In an all-dragster Sunday Super Pro final, Brendon George took the win over Glenn Newmans when Newmans broke out by .001 seconds. Saturday’s Super Pro race was won by Todd Ewing. In a hard-fought battle of Junior Dragsters, Brian Chason ran a 7.93 on his 7.91 dial to beat Matt Cook who ran 12.00 on his 11.94 dial. Cook had the reaction time advantage, but couldn’t run his number. The next big event at South Georgia Motorsports Park is the National Dragster Challenge on Saturday, December 29. The event features Wally trophies and $2,000 to Super Pro winner, $1,000 to the Pro winner, $250 to the Sportsmen winner, and $50 for the winner in two Junior Dragster classes (8-12 years and 13 and up). Look for full information on the track’s new web site http://www.racesgmp.com/ .
  
  Photos

  
• BELL,FORRESTER, ABNEY, COOVER, LASTINGER, HUTCHINS AND WOOD HONORED AT 2007 ATLANTA DRAGWAY SUMMIT SERIES AWARDS BANQUET

  November 18, 2007

  EVENT: Atlanta DragwayChampions Award Banquet
  by Tim Glover
  
  (Commerce,GA – November 17) Atlanta Dragway racers and their families came together again to honor their members, at the Georgia Mountain Center in Gainesville, GA. After the social hour, RFC Chaplain Lloyd Shanks opened the event with a prayer, and then presented bibles to four Atlanta Dragway Junior Dragster racers, Alex Krause, Clayton Wood, Cole Wood and Ashton McCammon, who came to the Lord earlier in the season.
  
  After the buffet dinner, track manager Ray Wilkings got things going by giving away a lot of door prizes, donated by sponsors to all in attendance. Some of the prizes included VP Fuel jugs, tee shirts, caps, hand cleaner, bungee cords, and even a DVD player.
  
  Wilkings then opened the awards ceremony by announcing news about NHRA. He also told everyone the track surface is being completely replaced, with new concrete past the eighth mile mark, and new asphalt for the remainder of the racing surface. The concrete and asphalt will be in place by the end of December, and the finishing will be done by the end of February. He then announced news about three new big events coming in 2008, including the NOPI nationals, Pinks All-Out, and the return of the Million Dollar Race.
  
  He recognized the sponsors who helped make the 2007 season possible, including VP Fuels, Hayes Family Dealerships, Year One, Coca Cola, Summit Racing Equipment, OReilly Auto Parts, North Georgia Tractor, American Janitorial, Waste Management, RPM Truck& Trailer Sales, Tanger Outlets and Mr. Bill’s Souvenirs. He then thanked the track employees, who are the ones standing out in the hot sun all day making the race happen. He ended the introduction by thanking all the wives, girlfriends, husbands, boyfriends and family members who give up their weekends to help their loved ones race.
  
  Participants in the OReilly Jr Drag Racing program were recognized first. The Jr Dragster program is actually composed of three different categories, 8-9 year old, 10-12 and13-17 year old. The top finishers in each program were then recognized at that time, except for the champions, who were recognized later in the evening. The Jr Dragster Qualifying Shootout winners were announced, with Dalton Rogers winning the 8-9 year class, Dylan Hutchins taking 10-12 and Morgan Wood, Kelsey Lynn and Jacquelyn Lastinger sharing the spot in 13-17.
  
  The top finishers (except for the champions) in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle were then recognized for their accomplishments. Two perfect runs were made at Atlanta Dragway in 2007. (A perfect run is when the driver has a perfect .000 reaction time and the car goes exactly on its dial in time.) Joe Rampley was the first, followed two weeks later by J.D. Reid.
  The special awards were then announced. Jeremy Hancock (Super Pro – ’05 M&M dragster), Bill Boomhower (Pro – ’65 Belvedere), Mel Abney (Sportsman – ’67 Camaro), Paul Cavanaugh (Motorcycle – ’02 Suzuki Hayabusa) and Chase Mullinax (Jr Dragster) were name as winners in the Best Appearing Car categories.
  
  Wesley Mayfield was awarded the Junior Dragster Sportsmanship award and Bobby Bowden was named the Junior Dragster Parent of the Year in the Junior Dragster program. Jeremy Hancock was given the “big car” Sportsmanship award, and his wife Ashley Hancock was named Most Improved driver. J.D. Burford, a medical doctor who races in both Pro (finished fifth in the 2007 points) and Sportsman (finished sixth in the 2007 points) was given the Most Inspirational award. Wayne Roberts, the guy who gives everyone their ET slip after the run, was announced as the 2007 Atlanta Dragway Employee of the Year.
  
  The end of the evening’s ceremony was reserved for the 2007 Atlanta Dragway track champions. All the champions received a champion’s jacket and a large trophy commemorating their achievement. Cole Wood (8-9 Jr Dragster) was called first to the podium to receive his award. He thanked his mom, dad, uncles, cousins and entire family that helped. Dylan Hutchins (10-12 Jr Dragster) was next. Hutchins thanked his dad, family, Bill Gillen and Mike, Debby and John who let him make some much needed passes. Jacquelyn Lastinger (13-17 Jr Dragster) came next. Lastinger thanked God, her mom and dad, brothers and grandparents for allowing her to enjoy that lifestyle.
  
  Young Ryan Coover won the 2007 Motorcycle championship. He thanked his mom and dad for getting him into drag racing. He also thanked his girlfriend for supporting his passion. Mel Abney (Sportsman) came to the podium next, and thanked the Atlanta Dragway staff and his fellow competitors for making each week enjoyable. He then thanked his wife for allowing him to skip his chores and go racing. Dickey Forrester has been racing for 39 years, winning many races, and was announced as the 2007 Pro champion. He first competed in a 4000 lb Pontiac Catalina (which he still owns) and said he has enjoyed every bit and is looking forward to the next season. “That’s one for the AARP crowd,” he added with a smile.Thomas Bell (Super Pro) was the final recipient, and added, “I may be the most outspoken person here, but hey, someone has to do it.” He thanked his wife, crewmembers Freddie and Angie Lewis and Ed Nalley for their help. He also thanked Max King racing and Mark Milford for letting him use the “deadly green Vega” earlier in the season when his dragster was out of commission.
  
  Ray Wilkings then closed out the evening by thanking everyone for coming out to the banquet, and added he looked forward to seeing everyone next year.
  
  Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2008 events maybe obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .

  
• 2007 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame/Moonshine Festival Photos by Fred Simmons

  November 10, 2007

  More Fred Simmons photos have been added from the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the following Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville, GA.
  Fred Simmons' Photos

  
• 2007 Old Drag Racers Reunion Photos by Fred Simmons

  November 10, 2007

  I've just added many new photos from the 2007 Old Drag Racers Reunion. Thanks to Fred Simmons for sharing his photos!
  Old Drag Racers Reunion Photos