50th Anniversary World Series of Drag Racing
By Bill Pratt
History was made along the banks of the mighty Mississippi Saturday night as Scott Gardner and the staff of Cordova Dragway hosted an amazing drag race that invoked memories of the past and provided new memories for the next 50 years. Playing before an absolutely packed house, some of the legendary names in drag racing created on-track magic as hard core drag fans from both sides of the continent reunited to witness a truly once-in-a-lifetime event.
My son Jason and I boarded a plane in Washington, DC, on Saturday morning to be a part of this spectacle. Returning only last weekend from a vacation (where we in fact had driven right through Illinois), we had no business packing up and taking off again. But this was the 50th at Cordova and when were we ever going to be able to see Garlits versus Muldowney again? The answer to that question, for all but a lucky few remaining drag fans this year, is NEVER. Shirley is hanging it up after a full and storied career and Big Daddy, who plans to complete for another tour or two, is probably within his last 100 passes in a Top Fuel Dragster.
Garlits versus Muldowney was something I wanted my son to experience, not only for the present day enjoyment of seeing arguably the two best fuel dragster racers in history go at it, but also to provide him with memories and ammo for bench race sessions 20 years from now. "Garlits vs. Muldowney? Yeah, I saw 'em race. Was at the 50th Anniversary of the World Series at Cordova." As announcer Bret Kepner said repeatedly Saturday night, the only people who'll be able to say that were the people who WERE THERE.
This report is an attempt at round by round coverage, but you'll have to forgive an occasional blank spot or a missing digit or two on a speed. You see, Cordova 50 was an event one had to experience OUTDOORS, as drag racing was meant to be experienced -- not from quiet, air conditioned antiseptic environment of a timing tower and Compulink or TSI computer screen. In fact, Kepner called the ENTIRE race -- complete with detailed histories of each competitor -- from a remote mike on and around the starting line all night. You can count the number of guys who can do that on a few fingers. Anyway, we were outside in the heat and tire smoke and flying rubber and nitro fumes and noise (with occasional trips to the pits for details), so bear with us on any missing stuff. If we're lucky, somebody else will have gotten it and we'll fill in the blanks.
After an early afternoon of cruising the pits and meeting with some of our favorite drag racing personalities (Animal Jim Fuerer, Frannie Peppler, Dan Crownhart, and others), Jason and I met up with old snail mail and online friend Rocky Ausec, who ran the Midwest Injected Funny Car Association and is currently preparing two classic bodies for his blown altered in order to enter the Classic Funny Car scene. It was great to meet Rocky after more than 15 years of correspondence. After stopping at Rocky's truck for a few cold pops and packet of old MIFCA programs and promotional videos, we were off to find a seat.
Jason and I had scoped out the pit side grandstands earlier and it was no dice. They were packed solid. Rocky, Jason and I selected the third set of bleachers down on the spectator side and settled into what must have been the last three available spots.
Round one of the show kicked off with the outrageous fuel altereds of Mike Faser and Tom Motry. The burnouts were spine tingling and the crowd responded with whoops and hollers. At the hit, Motry broke something in his Drastic Plastic and Mike Faser's Chicago Fire blew threw the quarter at a 6.53 second, 99 mph clip.
Fuel Funny Cars were next with John Lawson lining up the Lawson Racing entry against the Piranha Z car of Jack Wyatt. The burnouts these cars did were amazing. As someone who primarily attends nostalgia events and smaller match races, I had forgotten the unbelievable sound and fury of these top of the line machines. The ground literally rumbles around you -- even up in the stands -- and the sonic pressure wave that hits you as these cars go past is startling. You can't know how poorly professional drag racing transfers to television until you -- in person -- see two modern fuel cars at full tilt. In this match, Wyatt couldn't find the traction he needed and smoked 'em to a 13.43 at 79.40. John Lawson found enough bite and nailed a 5.69, shutting off to 191.40 mph when he heard only one motor at 1000 feet.
Tim Wilkerson then lined up the Levi, Ray, and Shoup car against Cory Lee, who has found a ride in Dale Creasy's Craftsman Tools Special. Just as he has done on the NHRA tour this year, Wilkerson found the handle on his mount better than his fellows. A nice 5.15 at 266.00 disposed of Cory's 5.52 at 196.02.
Up next, it was Saturday's first meeting between the two living legends, Shirley Muldowney and Don Garlits. At the green, Shirley leapt to an advantage and by half-track, was a car length ahead. The pink digger began to lose traction on the top end, however, and Shirley shot up a rooster tail of tire smoke. She lifted momentarily and that's all the Swamp Rat needed. Big Daddy kept his foot planted and blew by Muldowney in the lights, 5.19, 271.73 to 5.42, 174.17. The crowed erupted in cheers!
Drag Racing Online's entertaining Quick 8 series was up next, featuring ANY type of car. The interesting class featured Top Sportsman doorslammers, altereds, and lots of dragsters. As might be expected, blown rear engine dragsters dominated qualifying and the race, although Bret Kepner reminded everyone that at the first two meetings of this circuit this year, the quickest car did not win. Sorry, we weren't able to keep up with all the drivers and cars in this class. It's a neat deal, and I expect Jeff Burk and his team will have full coverage in DRO.
Pro Modified was up after the DRO Quick 8 and things kicked off with Midwest veteran Bill Graziano and his Chevy II facing Loren Brazell and his Chevy Lumina.. In an upset, South Dakotan Brazell took his flamed red Chevy to the win, 6.73, 205.04 to 6.85, 204.17.
Scott Ray’s blown CarQuest Auto Parts Corvette then faced Doug Mills' Boss Bird nitrous T-Bird. Now hailing from Seminole, Florida, Mills returned to his hometown track with the big 711 cubic inch Ford for the World Series. Ray's Ohio 'Vette had the power today, however, and he sent Mills to visit his relatives with a crushing 6.38, 220.12 to 6.75, 213.23 decision.
In yet another upset, Dan Provenzano (who qualified number 2 at 6.62) could not fire the Purple Throbber Corvette. This sent Jeff Elam on a 6.92, 203.43 bye run in his blown '68 Camaro.
The final pair of Pro Mods featured 17-year-old sensation Zack Barklage against Vinny Bortera and his Chicago Corvette. Barklage proved that his Mopar had wicked performance to go along with its wicked looks in a 6.51, 218.72 defeat of Bortera's 7.64, 149.25.
The alcohol funny cars were next with eight of the Midwest’s best match race machines facing off. Up first was Ray Drew in Randy Henning's Starship Enterprise facing Jody Gucwa in the Pure Insanity Olds Firenza. I had never seen or heard of Gucwa before. His was the first pro car Jason and I saw in the pits. One of the special things about Cordova is the ability to walk up to a funny car you've never seen. Gucwa offered that pleasant surprise for us this year, but he offered an unpleasant surprise to Ray Drew. While the normally tough 'Enterprise car stuttered to a 7.73 at only 125 mph, Gucwa nailed a beautiful 6.35 at 219.76 mph to announce his arrival to the class!
Wayne Butler's Michigan Camaro then faced Kevin Newburgh's "The Heckler" Corvette. Newburgh's car didn't sound right after the burnout and he wisely shut off (nobody heckled, however...) Butler got WAY out of shape on his broke bye run, but reeled it back in to record a 7.95 at 115.61.
Dan Crownhart had painted his Camaro as a promotional car for the 50th World Series of Drag Racing event some ten months ago and had acted as a rolling billboard for this event. Dan's goodwill was not rewarded in round one, however, as he had to shut off his machine when it began leaking fluid. Dan dejectedly crawled out and hopped over the retaining wall to watch Minnesota's Bruce Carlson take his Hot Pursuit machine on a nice 6.26, 233.36 pass.
During the cleanup of Crownhart’s leak, Bret Kepner graciously called me up to the starting line for a short introduction and interview. Is life great or what? We all piled out of the stands and to the starting line area, where I babbled a few words into the mike with my old friend. Bret had me stay to stand between the next pair of race cars. Believe me when I tell you that I got a whole new appreciation for alcohol funny cars when I stood between Midwest veteran Larry Bakke and his opponent (it must have rattled me pretty good, because I can’t remember who was in the left lane!) I’ve been watching these cars for nearly 30 years. I’ve heard them warming up in the pits and I’ve heard them on hard launches from behind the guard wall. But you cannot IMAGINE the sound and power when you are standing between two of them, each only three feet away. Amazing! Bakke took the win with a terrific run, 6.22 at 227 mph. I hope to remember the other racer's name when I see the event photos.
Rocky, Jason, and I spent the remainder of the race right in front of the Cordova tower with a great view of the starting line. Photographer Mark Bruderle said, “Come on, Jason,” and pulled my elated son up along side him. Moments later, Jason began snapping digital photos at the World Series alongside all the pros (most of the shots you see in this story are his). More memories to last a lifetime…
Up next was an outlaw doorslammer match race between Animal Jim Fuerer and Eric Larson, who was filling in for the recently injured Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick. Eric had Arnie's "Grocery Getter" station wagon out to face Animal's wildly popular "Zeke" Mercury Zephyr. Animal swore off the nitrous for this match to allow the normally aspirated wagon a fighting chance. Larson took full advantage of the chance he was given, recording a stunning 7.91, 175.43 upset of Animal Jim, who had problems and recorded an 8.93 at only 130.
The show just kept on coming with nostalgia fuel dragsters up next. The first pair featured the legendary Speed Sport Roadster taking on the Dawes and Gladstone front engine digger. But where were they? They were at the top end of the race track being PUSH STARTED down the drag strip toward the starting line! The cars passed the starting line, turned around, swapped lanes, and lined up for battle! At the hit, the Speed Sport Roadster immediately went into a beautiful tire-smoking launch, just like 1957! The Dawes and Gladstone machine hooked up a little better and used that advantage to take a 12.26 to 13.27 second win. This run was a real treat.
Front Engine Dragsters Association president Jim Post came out next in his Junior Fueler. The mouse motored machine sounded GREAT -- high, crisp, and surprisingly LOUD, even after hearing all the nitro cars. Jim nailed it off the line but had some handling troubles. There were no shut offs happening THIS night, however, and Jim fought the beast all the way down the Cordova quarter to record an 11.34 at a never-say-die 140.17 mph.
Dominic Paris was up next in his twin-engine top fueler, taking on the deadly Beedy & Lutz A/Fuel Dragster team. Paris laid a massive holeshot on Beedy at the line, but ran into trouble and B&L screamed by to the tune of 7.65, 201.28.
Roger Lechtenburg and the famous Orange Crate then faced Joe Hendricks' Donovan-powered machine. Lechtenburg laid down a fantastic 5.92, 225.56 to defeat Hendricks’ respectable, but distant 6.49, 192.22.
After Richard Hutchins made a pass in the Chevy Rebellion wheelstander, out came the jet dragsters. The first pair featured Mark Smith in Air Force One taking on Dave Modder in Dragon's Fyre. Smith's silver machine snuffed the Dragon, 5.69, 280.02 to 5.92, 265.56.
Fran Peppler then lined up her Rock N Roll Thunder jet funny car against newcomer Scott Holdridge in his orange jet dragster. Holdridge is driving the ex-Billy Bartkus NightFire machine. Bartkus sold the car to Holdridge after suffering a mild heart attack in late 2001. Bartkus was in better health and in good spirits as he tuned the car for Holdridge at Cordova. Fran took the measure of the new guy, however, 5.98, 261.42 to 6.53, 267.91.
Three single jet exhibition runs closed out the round. KC Jones brought out the crowd pleasing Cannonball Express jet dragster and laid down a 6.35, 253.99 exhibition pass. Jim Crownhart then went 7.52, 215.93 in his great looking Diamond Jim Corvette jet funny. Finally, Jim Neilson ran 7.57 at 221.34 in the popular jet limousine.
It was time to hit the pits once again to meet and greet more drivers and fans. Rocky introduced me to Tom Motry, whom we found had unfortunately hurt his motor in the first round. We also hooked up with online pal Dan Howes, who joined our gang for the remainder of the event. After several bench racing sessions, we heard the fast cars firing up and it was back to the starting line.
The final round kicked off with Animal Jim Fuerer facing Eric Larson in Arnie Beswick's Grocery Getter wagon. Eric laid a massive holeshot on Fuerer and held on to record a remarkable 7.84 to 7.69 holeshot win to make it two straight over Jim and Zeke.
Tom Motry's Drastic Plastic was sidelined in the pits with a broken JP-1, so Mike Faser took the Chicago Fire to a 6.22, 201.52 single to win the night’s match.
The Speed Sport Roadster and Dawes & Gladstone met again. And again, they started at the end of the track and push-started towards the starting line. Both cars left before the tree came down so they received no times, but they smoked 'em all the way down the strip. That Speed Sport Roadster sounds like a sawmill possessed!
The big cars were up next as Jack Wyatt and John Lawson lined up for a fuel funny car battle. Wyatt's blue and silver Piranha Z machine took the decision, 5.42, 253.85 to 5.86, 174.46.
Tim Wilkerson then dealt Cory Lee out of the program with a 5.51 at 284.47 to the Craftsman machine's smoking 7.28, 185.68.
Shirley and Don were up next, with Shirley laying down an amazing 4.69, 314.17 that spoke volumes about her team's tuning ability and about the excellent condition of the Cordova quarter mile. Big trailed at 5.74, 169.61 after redlighting. In an interview with Bret Kepner, Shirley confirmed that this is indeed her last season. The team hinted at a bombshell announcement regarding Shirley's husband and ace tuner Rahn Tobler within a few weeks.
Nostalgia action returned with Dominic Paris and Robert Beedy, Jr. Both cars left the line too soon and got no times, but that wasn’t the worst of it. There was breakage, and the cleanup tractors rolled. The extent of the damage wasn’t known that night, but Dominic Paris later stated that he had severely damaged the front engine and might be out for weeks. A tough break for a great team. Hopefully, Dominic can rebuild soon.
About this time, the J-man decided that he had had just about enough nitro fumes and noise. Track photographers and old friends Mike and Lynn Garland have a nifty wooden shed at Cordova where they process and sell photos. We bedded Jason down on a couch in there and headed back to the starting line. Thanks to Mike and Lynn for providing us a home away from home (and for presenting us with generous gifts of an event Tee Shirt and die-cast car as we left later that night). What terrific folks.
After the cleanup, "Radar" Roger Lechtenburg made it two straight in his match with Joe Hendricks with a 6.19 to 6.61 decision. Lechtenburg was excellent as expected, but Hendricks made quite a few fans with his consistent mid six-second passes.
The Jamison Family won the DRO Quick 8 show with their Speed Racer blown alcohol dragster, and then it was time for the finals in Pro Modified and Alcohol Funny Car. Teen titan Zack Barklage took the close Pro Mod final from Loren Brazeth’s Lumina, 6.54, 217.91 to 6.67, 200.02. Ray Drew then took a close one from Dan Crownhart, as the Starship Enterprise and 50th World Series cars both found their form, 6.30, 227.77 to 6.36, 201.46.
Jets cars rounded out the show. Mark Smith took the Air Force One to another good number as his 5.60, 281.77 defeated Scott Holdridge. The Dragon Fyre then exacted a measure of revenge for the long cars as it defeated Fran Peppler’s pink Lumina jet flopper, 5.85, 260.04 to 5.96, 268.42. KC Jones took the Cannonball Express to a 6.31, 258.07 and Diamond Jim Crownhart radically improved to a 6.59, 241.54 exhibition pass in his pretty gold and black Corvette. Jim Neilson made the final pass of the day in the purple and lightning bedecked jet limo (7.50, 225.11), followed by a great fireworks show.
Scott Gardner and the crew of Cordova Dragway did history proud by putting on a terrific 50th Anniversary World Series of Drag Racing. Bret Kepner called the race as no one else could, seamlessly merging his talents as play by play man, color commentator, and historian to weave a fluid, fascinating, and above all, entertaining story of this race and its history. As with every conversation with Bret Kepner, I left knowing things I’ve never known.
The Saturday night show was only part of the story, as a full feature show took place Friday night and a full day of racing took place Sunday as well. While Jason and I missed those races, we were terribly proud to attend Saturday’s event. The history of the place was palpable – you could feel it in the air. Saturday’s show was exactly the kind of event that got me hooked on drag racing. And I got to share it all with my son. It really doesn’t get any better than this for me. For a hundred reasons, the 50th World Series of Drag Racing will stay with me forever.
Bill Pratt
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