Shop Tour - Hardcore Drag Racing

  The Lucas Oil division 1 meet was a hot one, It was 86 degrees and sunny. It was held at Maple Grove Raceway in the heart of God's country, Mohnton, PA.   The turn out was out standing, the pits were packed and people filled the stands. This shows that people are still interested in the sport. The Pro mod class had 32 cars show up for 16 spots, I haven't seen that since the late 1980's  when Englishtown had 32 funny cars.                                                                                   The staging lanes during the last qualifying session on Saturday .                                   ...

  The Legacy of Jack Chrisman Part I     Jack Chrisman was an American Drag Racer who had an active racing career that started in 1953 and ended with retirement in 1972,but he remained active behind the scenes.   Throughout his career he raced at Southern California tracks such as Lions, Pomona,Riverside, San Fernando & Santa Ana. Jack wasn’t just an inovator he was also a record setter.  In 1961 he drove the Howard Cams Twin Bears gas dragster to the first 8-second run in NHRA national event history and won the first ever Winter Nationals with an 8.99 second pass.     Chrisman won the 1961 World Championship after winning in national, regional, and divisional meets throughout the United States. In 1962 Jack joined Mickey Thompson’s team where he drove the Tommy Ivo-built A/Gas Dragster to an 8.34 second pass,giving him the Top eliminator crown at the U.S nationals.             ...

      These are some of the sights and sounds from Island Dragway located in Great Meadows ,New Jersey     It was a hot afternoon at the 61st Funny Car Throwdown presented by The North East Timing Organization (NETO), it was well over 90 degrees , and the cars were just as hot ! There were over 16 vintage Nitro & Alcohol  Funny Cars and plenty of vintage Drag Cars to enjoy between rounds . There was everything  from classic 1950's front engine Dragsters to Altered wheel base cars , and 8.90-9.90 Door Cars . Do to the intense sun shining that day filming the racing action was  difficult but we did capture some great pit action.  We shot some great photos and captured the true essence of grass roots racing . Island Dragway is one of two quarter mile tracks still operating in New Jersey , it's about 50 miles west from the George Washington bridge .  The Dazed & Confused 69 Camaro Funny Car is owned by Neil  Murley from Weymo...