"Stoplight Drags"first participant turnout unexpected
but still a great time:
After months of planning, ideas, and trial runs, the first official
"Stoplight Drags" wasn't what was expected. Every time we tested the setup,
there were nothing but good opinions. Still, the turnout was very low. We would like
to make excuses, but whether the fuel prices, the fact that Maple Grove AND Englishtown
had big events, or the Carlisle event hurt us, the turnout was still low. I see Bob
has changed the format to attract more competitors, hopefully that works to his advantage.
Bob did everything he said he would at this event. We showed up with quite a few
members to help out around the facility and almost everyone were in GC T-shirts.
Bob gave us some pretty cool jobs and we enjoyed the evening a lot. Bob set up Melissa
Aungst and Karen Doyle to write up the "pink slips" for the main event
and register everyone in the correct class. Some needed steering to the correct class,
but some of the guys helped out when there was a question.
One of the biggest questions they fielded was the fact that some racers
were worried about losing their car during the race for "pinks". (Could
this have been a factor for the low show?) I would think spectator level would have
been up if that were the misunderstanding though. Bob also
put Amy Reichert at the gate to help pass the release to entering participants.
John Shultz and Dave Lehr were stationed in the doghouse on the return road to hand
out the wins. No time slips or details were given as these were to be kept quiet
for this event. Matt Doyle took up his usual station under the pop-up with a GC banner,
table and the T-shirts. He did sign up some new members there, you can meet them
above in the new members section, but it was more fun sitting and chatting with the
people who came to visit us. Between races, Bob Zubrickie had his camera out to get
most of the stills from this event. (Thanks Bob) While I was working more for video
for our Youtube website.
After a quick driver's meeting to show operation of the stop light,
Bob made all trailered cars perform two parade laps. (From now on, it will include
ALL participants.) It was a very cool portion of the event to see all the rides in
a train. Grudge matches started immediately after.
This is when we really saw that the secret timeslips would make little difference
when there are so few cars. By the time eliminations were ready to start, everyone
pretty much who could beat them or be beat by them. The biggest mystery was who would
be picked for the "Wild Card" class, and who were the "King Streeters"?
Four GC members were in the King Street classout of the eight total.
Bob Zubrickie driving his Viper, Terry Brouse in the "Wild Thing" Z28,
Capt Ed Brady in his Camaro, and Jon Winisko in a lime green Dodge Dart. While they
made the "cruise circuit" to qualify for the "King Street" class,
Bob held some other events in between for filler. Probably the most popular activity
for the crowd was when Bob invited EVERYONE who wasn't racing to make a pass in their
street cars to see what it was like to race on the stop light.
Beaver Bob also sent all the kids to the starting line for the "Nike"
race, a foot race to the 60' mark. Probably the coolest move of the night happened
when the winner of the Kid's race was invited for a lap around the track in Bob Zubrickie's
Viper. You should have seen his face... How many kids did that over summer vacation?
What else did Beaver Bob have up his sleeve to entertain the masses? He brought out
the ever popular "Hot Dog" race. The point of this event was to stage two
cars, shut them off and have the driver AND passenger stand on the starting line.
Each racer was handed a soda and a hot dog. When the stop light turned green, you
had to down the soda, eat the hot dog, run up to the 60' line and through the garbage
in a can, then run back, hop in the car, and race the 1/8th mile.
Bob volunteered several GC members to take on any challengers. We
wound up with six carloads to participate which turned it to a free for all instead
of a team event. Flashback Bill did his usual "trash talking" to keep the
crowd wound up. The first round had Denny and Melissa beating out Bill Schoffstall
and Amy Reichert. The Dave Lehr and Craig Morgan had the edge over Matt and Karen
Doyle. Special mention has to be made of Matt's dedication. His dog fell out of the
bun right on the track, yet he scooped it up and finished the dog AND the race! The
next two competitors were in a couple imports. What great sports! I wish I had gotten
their names. Anyway, there was a disqualification of one of the cars when their garbage
fell out of the waste can onto the track. Next round went to Denny and Melissa ove
Dave and Craig with the byrun going to the remaining import. The finals were close
with the two guys in the import downing the dogs and FULL cups of soda first, but
Denny made up time by spraying his Olds in the final round to beat them down the
track. What a great event. Watch for the video to be added.
The event wound down with eliminations in each class. Garage Club
members won two of the classes. Real street or naturally asperated cars was won by
GC member Butch Markel in his '69 Road Runner. The wild card class was won by Matt
Murphy, the GC member with the idea for a street race that began it all. Matt Murphy
put his blue and black '72 Camaro into the winner's slot.
While we had four members in the King street class as mentioned earlier, we couldn't
put a GC member in the winners spot for the main event. The big evening winner was
a very cool Dodge Dart with an alcohol injected engine. He not only won the prize,
his car will be on the dash plaque for the second Stop Light Drags on July 19th.
With that, the evening was brought to a close. What was the buzz after
the first official event was put in the record books? Everyone loved the stop light.
It was hard to read and it didn't give advantage to anyone. It was as close to a
real street race we would ever get legally! Thanks to Matt for making the move to
get the ball rolling and Beaver Bob for putting together a great street racing program.
Let's see a bigger turnout next month!
