EVENT COVERAGE
The First Arlington Dragstrip Reunion
September 11, 2004
The First Arlington Raceway Reunion was held at the Arlington Airport under sometimes threatening skies in Arlington, Washington. Those skies did not at all damper the enthusiasm shown by all in attendance. This event turned into a 20-hour marathon on my part after about three hours of sleep, when Dana Winters picked me up at 4:30am. It didn’t matter to me as I had been threatened to within an inch of my life if I didn’t show for this event. Not really. Wayne King and I played some email games leading up to this because Wayne was putting me in his Doss, Clayton and King Top Fuel dragster for a fire up during a Cacklefest this afternoon. I was hyped long before I got in the car that morning. What more could a guy ask for on a Saturday afternoon?
On tap for this day was a large car show, fuel dragsters, altereds, racecars and of course lots of nitro in the air from cars starting and idling down the unused airport taxiway. For an entry fee of only $3.00, minimal advertising, and a short time frame, this was one well-organized event. The show went from 10:00am to 4:00pm and there was always someone to talk to or another car to look at. Event organizers were pleasantly surprised at the large turnout of fans and enthusiasts.
First order of business was to find Wayne and set up base camp. We found a place to park right behind his pit area and unpacked the gear. We were met by Wayne and Russ Griffith, himself a former Drag News writer and photographer. A few barbs were thrown around and then off we went to scout out the show.
A very large car show dominated one side of the unused runway and the opposite side a large number of racecars. And more coming in the gate on this first pass down pit road. Among those in attendance were Jim Crooke and Jim Green with his Assassin T/F dragster, Bucky Austin and his T/GD, Randy Bradford with his AA/FA, and Jack Williams, owner and driver with the Syndicate Scuderia T/GD, from B.C., Canada. Just walking around you could run into Jerry Ruth, Rich Rogers, Earl Floyd and Hank Coonrod, Hank Johnson, Dick Kalivoda, and Ray Hadford. Or it could be Pit Crew Pete or Nitro Steve. Everywhere you turned you got the feeling I should know that guy.
About noon I was walking up the road and a truck drove by with an open trailer. I watched it go by and thought I was seeing things. I found Dana and asked him if he had seen the John Wiebe car. His response, “What John Wiebe car? Where?” Off we went in search of Don Love and his new toy. We met don at his truck and inquired about the car. It was found in British Columbia with the frame, front axle and tin intact. The nose had been worked on so that was fixed. John Wiebe himself identified the frame by photos of the canard wing mounts. Don wanted to enjoy the Cacklefest craze going around so he did make some running gear changes to the car. Adding a transmission to give the car reverse gear was the major change made. Now he can do burnouts and back the car after. With the 40”, yes forty inch, length between the rear end and the motor it was easy to add without changing the original appearance of the car. John Wiebe supplied paint codes and was very helpful in the restoration. This being one of the first appearances for the car made it even more noticeable. For those of you heading to CHRR 2004, look for Don and the John Wiebe dragster in attendance. Tell him you heard about it on Nitrogeezers.
Don Love's newly restored John Weibe digger
Along with Top Fuel cars cruising the pits and lots of muscle cars to look at I had been given the opportunity to sit in Wayne King’s Top Fueler for a fire up. Those going to CHRR should bring cash because you to could find your way into the seat for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just ask any of the racers like Wayne, or maybe John Loukas, what they would require for a start up and you would be surprised what your money can buy. When it came time for the fire up, Wayne asked if I wanted all the gear and of course I said yes. I climbed in and put on my breather mask, Wayne’s old helmet, still bearing the flame scars from his only trip in a funny car, and goggles. Sitting in a dragster is definitely different than the family car. You sit low with your legs up and bent over the differential. Kind of uncomfortable at first but you get used to it quickly. Hook up the batteries and fuel lines, a quick run of the starter motor to bring up the oil pressure, and it is “switch up” on the mag switch and the beast starts to turn over and roars to life. Through goggles you get the appreciation of how limited your vision is with that hemi growling in front of you. The car seems to come alive, shaking and twisting under the load when Wayne burps the throttle. Hands on the wheel, your thoughts go to drag racing nirvana, feeling and seeing that other guy next to you slip back as you pull ahead of him…Oops! Sorry, lost my mind just for a moment. A few more cracks of the throttle and it is time to cool down as Wayne removes the fuel line to the car. I removed my helmet and mask and took a big breath of nitro-laden air, the wonderful smell, and burn in the eyes. All too soon it is over. So quiet, yet I can barely hear the crowd gathered clapping in appreciation. You didn’t think I would wear earplugs did you? Not a chance. Had to have the full effect. As I climb out of the seat I discover it is much harder to get out than it was to get in. I can’t imagine what it would be like after a 200mph run with all the gear on and the adrenalin running wide open. I thank Wayne profusely and we get some photos for posterity.
Herman looks like a "Happy Man" to me
The Arlington Reunion was put together fairly quick and ended up being a great show with a very large crown enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, the multitude of cars on display, and most of all the racers in attendance. After all, it is the people involved that reunions are for. It just makes it better if there are Top Fuel and Fuel Altereds firing up all around you. I hope the organizers realize what they have on hand. I can’t wait until next year…for the Arlington Dragstrip Reunion 2. I hope to see you all there.
Jim Greene's "B-Boys" B/Open Gas dragster from 1959
The story board gives the details
Nitrogeezer Fred Vosk was
on hand with one of his outrageous bikes. Here "Super Bike" checks out
the festivities.
Fred show his bikes at a lot of charity events for the Food Bank and others.
Yes, that's a Hemi with a turbo. There
is another at home with an Allison and we won't even mention the jet bike
Nitrogeezer and friend
Wayne King aka "The Peregrine" does one of his favorite things. Firing
up his beautifully
restored Doss, Clayton & King AA/FD
A"'Gathering of the Geezers"
Yet another Nitrogeezer Member, Randy Bradford was on hand with his great AA/FA Fiat
Wayne King and Russ Griffith check out Rich Rogers in George Swain's Fieler
MORE Arlington Photos
A special thanks to Nitrogeezer Russ Griffith for the following list of attendees at hopefully the First Annual Arlington Dragstrip Reunion.
Gary Parmenter, Ed Krohn, Jim Krohn and Quinton Rue of the Krohn, Parmenter and Rue series of T/F'ers. Quinten also was the Q in the PDQ T/F team.
Jerry “The King” Ruth, T/F and F/Cr owner-driver.
Gus Foster, owned and operated a series of T/F in the '60's, now Crew Chief on Ron Smith's modern back-motored T/F.
Gordy Craig, owner/driver of the White Tornado T/GD.
“Gentleman” Hank Johnson, B/G, T/F, TA/FC driver.
Jim Green, B/GD, Green Elephant F/C, Assassin T/F owner.
Jim Crooke, T/G-D w/Gaines Markley, Assassin, drives Assassin at Cackles.
Rich Rogers, warmed up George Swan's T/F, had own T/F, drove Assassin,
Austin Bros. & Rogers T/GD, Norton Bros, Rogers T/F, Wolters-Major T/F, Fuel-Cuda, owner-driver Miss Debra F/C.
George Swan, owner of T/F from Canada.
Don Love, owner of John Weibe car.
Ray Hadford, drove Green's B/GD, owns and drives his own Nostalgia injected fueler.
Fred Vosk, owner of 426/turbo'ed bike.
Earl Floyd and Jack Coonrod, representing '63 Northwind T/F and Columbia Racing Engines.
Jack Williams, owned and drove Syndicate Scuderia T/GD, from B.C. Canada
Butch Bowers, owned Green Dragon.
Loren Ott, owner of Ottrageous T/F (formerly Green Dragon.
Harold Gunderson, Jr. Fuel, A/C & twin-motored dragster.
Dave Weiss, drove twin Chevy Sweet 16 car, Jr. Fuel, Jerry Verheul's turbo-ed T/F.
Zyg Murr, Jr. Fuel.
Randy Bradford, AA/FA.
Dick Kalivoda, drove A/Mod Roadster, Jr. Fuel, Joker T/F.
Jerry Norton, owner of Joker T/F.
John Hamlin, partner with Nortons and Kalivoda.
Wayne King, owner-driver Doss, Clayton, and King T/F.
Frank Nelson, NHRA official, raced also.
Phil & Dee Morris, AA/A, Gasser Wars Magazine.
Jim Cooper, former Drag News photographer & journalist.
Paul Shager, AA/FA, Balls Out.
Steve Barker, Pro Stock.
Pitcrew Pete Starrett, has worked on Fuelers since early '60's.
Tom Riley, D/A, A/A.
Bucky Austin, '69 T/GD.
Jim Rockstad, former lease-holder at Seattle Int. Raceway.
Ken Martin, Vette F/C, and
Jim Svoboda, Ken's partner.
