A Weekend of Memories that None will Forget
The 39th running of the NAPA Auto Parts Oldies But Goodies had something for everyone. With dynamic racing that featured everything from side-by-side 200mph passes, to bracket eliminators separated by thousandths of a second, the atmosphere was certainly electrifying. After the dust had settled, winners were claimed in the names of Drew Austin (A/Fuel), Mitch Chamberlin (AA/Supercharged), Ralph Fox (Pro Nostalgia), Nick Pruett (Nostalgia Eliminator), Ron Austin (Dragster/Roadster), Gary Wargnier (Top Gas), Ron Parks (Hot Rod I), John Rheinberger (Street Machine I), Jeff Enger (Hot Rod II), Tony Bombara (Street Machine II), Troy Skinner (Stick Shift), Michael Bjkerlund (Inline/Flathead), and Nate Greene (Jr Exhibition). With weather an almost non-factor the entire weekend, a fantastic time was had by all in attendance. Don’t forget that August 15-16, we’ll do it all over again with the GK Machine Hot Rod Nationals, and the last big nostalgia event of the season.
The A/Fuel categories’ ‘Chicago Style’ Eliminations left everyone competing for a spot as one of the two fastest cars on site Sunday. After the two runs, it was Drew Austin and Bill Wayne competing as those very two racers. Austin ran a 6.483 at 220.14mph, while Wayne ran a 6.385 at 214.18. In the final round, Austin left with a stellar .039 reaction time, and powered to a holeshot victory after running a 6.434 @ 216.55 compared to Wayne’s quicker but losing 6.336 @ 215.41.
The AA/Supercharged had an overly special weekend, as not only were the racers awarded with the Danny Kilcup Memorial Award for the preservation of old school drag racing, but the action was close and as exciting as ever. Mitch Chamberlin, who had earlier defeated Howard Anderson and Scott White, was set to fight off with Monte Grubb, who earned wins against Joel Matton and Mike Molea. In the finals, the race was over earlier when Grubb encountered issues, and Chamberlin blasted to a 6.876 at 205.47mph. Matton was the number one qualifier with a 6.726 at 205.94mph.
Pro Nostalgia eliminations brought a whirlwind of emotions with racers flying down the quarter mile in side-by-side 190+ mph runs. In the finals came Ralph Fox and Paul New. Fox’s dragster gained victories against Michael Peck and Lloyd Hamilton, while New defeated Jerry Buckley and DeWayne Sanders. In the finals, New had the reaction time advantage, but Fox ran on a wire to a 7.509 on his 7.50 dial, claiming the win.
Next up was Nostalgia Eliminator, with Nick Pruett and Ralph Fox facing off in the finals. Pruett eliminated Peter Farrelll and Mike Floyd, while Curtis won via a competition breakage against Mike Padur and a single in the semi-finals. For the final round, Pruett leapt with the reaction time advantage and cruised to the victory, 7.998 on his 7.72 dial. The win was extra special after watching good friend Ralph Fox win earlier.
Dragster/Roadster competition featured a final round between Ron Austin and Mike Ekerson. Austin’s Topolino earned wins against Scott Utter, John Hamilton, and David Cookman. Through all the rounds of racing, Austin’s worst reaction was a .025. In the finals against Ekerson, the racers left with IDENTICAL .026 reaction times, and the win went to Austin via a breakout finish on behalf of number one qualifier Ekerson. Ekerson reacted with a .001 reaction in qualifying to earn the number one spot.
The Top Gas category featured Gary Wargnier and Debbie Dawson. Wargnier, who reached his fourth final round of the month, made it there by defeating Chris Dutson, Ken Sweo, Austin Heilman, and a laddered single. In the finals, Dawson had the reaction time advantage but broke out at the finish line by .003, meaning that Wargnier would claim win number three of the month. Richard Dietrich was the number one qualifier with a .001.
Hot Rod I eliminations brought forward a final round showdown between Ron Parks and Cliff Waldron Jr. Parks’ ’65 Coronet, defeated Norm Davis, Jim Estes, Ken Florey, and Jim Carr to reach the final round of eliminations. In the finals, Parks left with a .030 to Waldron Jr’s .024. Racing down the quarter mile, Parks made the decision at the finish line to let Waldron take the stripe—and a good decision it was as Waldron broke out, meaning the win and Woodburn Wally would go to Ron Parks. Florey was the number one qualifier with a .001.
The final round in Street Machine I was between a pair of good friend and parking buddies in John Rheinberger and Jeff Seivers. Rheinberger, out of Shoreline WA., defeated Barry Sheasgreen, Dean Tabert, a single, and Gary Wood to reach the finals. Through five rounds of racing, Rheinberger’s worst reaction was a .053. In the finals, he left with the slight advantage (.043 to a .053) and drove down to a 10.361 on his 10.34 to secure the victory. Honey Badger Dean Tabert was the number one qualifier with a perfect .000 reaction time, earning his a t-shirt and two decals courtesy of Northwest Wholesale/Hilton Racing, the suppliers of Goodyear/Hoosier/Mickey Thompson Race Tires.
In the Hot Rod II category, Jeff Enger lined up alongside Gordon Cady Jr. Enger, the former Hot Rod II Track Champion, defeated Del Sechler, Garry Heinrich, Dan Stokes, and James Heriford II. Facing off against 2013 Street Machine II champion Cady Jr, an exciting final round we know we would have! Enger left with a .023 reaction time advantage, which he needed as he ran further off his dial-in by .004, giving him the holeshot (worse vehicle performance but better driver performance) victory! Jacquelyn Roberts was the number one qualifier with a .004 reaction time.
Speaking of Street Machine II, the final round in that category came down to number one and number two in the points standings when Tony Bombara and Bob Glafka did battle. Bombara and his Great Northern Trailerworks sponsored ’76 Chevy Pickup defeated Casey Miller and Carl Thorsett to earn the semi-final round single into the finals. In that final round, Glafka left with the reaction time advantage, but slowed just enough to let Bombara slip by for the victory. Bombara made it a wire to wire victory as he also claimed the number one qualifier position.
For the Inline/Flathead category, final round opponents Michael Bjerklund and Jim Johnson were set for battle. Bjerklund defeated Richard Bjerklund in round one, then defeated former champ CJ Stoakes to earn the semi-final round single. In the finals, Bjerklund left with a .068 reaction before Johnson’s unfortunate starting line foul sent the winning light on in Bjerklund’s lane. Stoakes was the number one qualifier with a .024.
Stick Shift brought forward a final round between Troy Skinner and Mike Parmenter. Skinner, who was the runner-up in Saturday’s Foot Brake class, defeated Paul Carbaugh, Mark Dowell, and Dick Arnold to reach the final round. In the finals, Skinner was able to go one round farther than the previous day when Parmenter turned on the red light, resulting in the win. Arnold was the number one qualifier with a .041 reaction time.
A/Fuel
W: Drew Austin, Tacoma WA (’13 Parker) [.039] 6.434, 216.55.
R/U: Bill Wayne, Bullhead City AZ (’06 VRC) [.219] 6.336, 215.41.
Semi’s: Mike Pawluk, Delta BC; Darrell Waters, Bonsall CA.
AA/Supercharged
W: Mitch Chamberlin, Orting WA (’51 Chevy Deluxe) [.091] 6.876, 205.47.
R/U: Monte Grubb, Tacoma WA (’33 Willys PU) [.116] 10.710, 86.28.
Semi’s: Mike Molea, Grants Pass OR; Scott White, Seaside OR.
Pro Nostalgia
W: Ralph Fox, LaCenter WA (’06 Tuttle) [.069] 7.509, 174.18 (7.50 dial).
R/U: Paul New, Boring OR (’05 FED) [.030] 6.865, 202.20 (6.77 dial).
Semi’s: DeWayne Sanders, Albany OR; Lloyd Hamilton, Forest Grove OR.
Nostalgia Eliminator
W: Nick Pruett, Eagle Creek OR (’02 Tuttle) [.069] 7.998, 142.18 (7.72 dial).
R/U: Pat Curtis, Portland OR (’70 FED) [.643] 8.754, 152.49 (7.99 dial).
Semi’s: Mike Floyd, Battle Ground WA.
Dragster/Roadster
W: Ron Austin, Medford OR (’48 Topolino) [.026] 8.922, 143.28 (8.85 dial).
R/U: Mike Ekerson, Tigard OR (’32 Victoria) [.026] 9.840, 121.63 (9.85 dial).
Semi’s: Kacee Pitts, Lebanon OR; David Cookman, Cornelius OR.
Top Gas
W: Gary Wargnier, Keizer OR (’67 Chevelle) [.051] 8.691, 156.41 (8.69 dial).
R/U: Debbie Dawson, Sutherlin OR (’76 Vega) [.019] 9.607, 139.77 (9.61 dial).
Semi’s: Dustin Schroeder, Sandy OR.
Hot Rod I
W: Ron Parks, Salem OR (’65 Coronet) [.030] 10.860, 119.33 (10.81 dial).
R/U: Cliff Waldron Jr, Portland OR (’56 Chevy 210) [.024] 11.769, 113.13 (10.80 dial).
Semi’s: Jim Carr, Salem OR; Rick Sales Sr, Eugene OR.
Street Machine I
W: John Rheinberger, Shoreline WA (’71 Chevelle) [.043] 10.361, 123.88 (10.34 dial).
R/U: Jeff Sievers, Veneta OR (’68 Oldsmobile) [.053] 11.984, 111.31 (11.96 dial).
Semi’s: Gary Wood, Port Orchard WA.
Hot Rod II
W: Jeff Enger, Newberg OR (’32 Victoria) [.024] 12.168, 106.66 (12.15 dial).
R/U: Gordon Cady Jr, Vancouver WA (’65 El Camino) [.047] 12.934, 99.49 (12.92 dial).
Semi’s: James Heriford II, Battle Ground WA; Hoppy Hopkins, Beavercreek OR.
Street Machine II
W: Tony Bombara, Sutherlin OR (’76 Chevy C10) [.060] 12.110, 106.64 (12.05 dial).
R/U: Bob Glafka, Battle Ground WA (’70 Torino) [.021] 12.284, 95.60 (12.15 dial).
Semi’s: Jessica Roberts, Monmouth OR.
Inline/Flathead
W: Michael Bjerklund, Lebanon OR (’68 Dodge) [.068] 18.605, 71.08 (18.50 dial).
R/U: Jim Johnson, Portland OR (’65 Nova) [LB3A] 15.679, 89.64 (14.50 dial).
Semi’s: Walt Skoczylas, Aloha OR.
Stick Shift
W: Troy Skinner, Dallas OR (’67 Mustang) [.052] 12.156, 104.93 (11.96 dial).
R/U: Mike Parmenter, Aurora OR (’55 Chevy) [-.031] 11.524, 103.19 (11.39 dial).
Semi’s: Dick Arnold, Washougal WA.
Travis Hilton
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