The Handler's Car Club, operator's of Bremerton Raceway, Wa. put together the First Northwest "Cackle-Fest" in co-ordination with their  10th Nostalgia Drags on the weekend of Aug.6, 7 & 8,'04  Three days of action was planned, but the Jr. Dragster segment was rained out on Fr.  Saturday was the big day for the "senior" enthusiasts.  Four "Cacklers" were there, each firing up three times.  The "Cackle Crowd" included Jim Green's Ford Cammer-powered "Assassin" Don Long car, Wayne "the Peregrine" King's 1962 Ivo/Pepmuller "Doss, Clayton & King" Top Fueler, Bucky Austin's '69 CCE "Northwest Hitter" T/GD and Loren Ott's SPE "Ottrageous" fueler, the last of Butch Bowers' "Green Dragons" with the last of Jerry Ruth's 392's between the frame rails.  Sunday was Elimination Day for the fine field of Blown Alcohol Front-motored Dragsters and a great flock of Blown Alcohol Altereds. 

Kenny Logan's Sbarboro-chassisied inj. Chrysler-powered dragster was involved in a match race with Ray  Hadford's inj. Chev digger.  Ray is  a former NHRA National Record  Holder.  Brett Hordemann, son of Jim Hordemann, drove for Kenny.  Jim piloted a number of Spokane-based T/F'ers some years back.

Showing up for this first Northwest "Cackle" opportunity was Jack "the Ripper" Hensley, driver of the Gruber, Turner & Hensley "Mother Lode" T'F, John Flesher, noted for his 409-powered record-setting Nova, Kenny Martin, owner and driver of a series of Corvette F/C's, Red Gobel, who drove his own inj. gas and fuel Chev dragster, bl. alk. dragster and the late Al Swindahl's "Destroyer" T/F,  Jerry "the King" Ruth, Walt Austin, Dick "the Joker" Kalivoda, former T/F World Champ, Rob Bruins,  Bob Packett of AA/FA fame,  Jack Verhilst of the Cooper-Verhilst A/FD and Steve Barker, in his usual comedic mode, remembered for his trick 409 '60 El Camino, a very fast '66 "Vette and his '70 Pro Stock Camaro.  Many more older racers and long-time fans made the rounds to check out the historic machines and their old tenders.  Wayne put me into the seat of his set of tubes for my first fire-up.  Yow, that was a kick!  Thanks Wayne, now  I know what you were talking about when you said, of the Bakersfield fire-up last fall, that you wanted to stop at the starting line, grab some brake, bring up the revs and make a blast!

Nitrogeezers ace lensman, Dana Winters, also got his first taste of the "Nitro-Tubular Shakes".  Fun, huh Dana?

After a very nice and well-attended autograph session for the fans, held in a big "chow" tent, everyone enjoyed a great prime-rib dinner.  Coming out of the tent into the quiet, cooling evening caused some "oldsters" to mumble about naps, but Dana and other photogs quickly ordered the troops to lineup for photos.  Soon thereafter, the cackle cars headed for the starting line to fire in the twilight, all at once this time.  Wayne King invited Barbara Howell, wife of track manager Gordy Howell, to try out the cockpit of his digger on fire-up, which she did and seemed to enjoy very much.

Next big scene for Northwest "Cacklers" and other old-timers will be the Arlington Boys & Girls Club-sponsored Arlington Dragstrip Re-Union on Sept. 11th.  See'ya all then.    Russ Griffith 

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A down track look at this historic "runway" drag strip who's linage goes back to the 50's
If this track could talk what stories it could tell

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Some of the Northwest "Hitters" that were on hand for the first of what I hope will be many
Reunions at the historic Bremerton Dragway

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Wayne "The Peregrine" brought his faithfully restored Doss, Clayton & King fueler and
made a number of peoples day by putting them in the seat for a fire-up. "Thanks" Wayne, for being 
so generous. To see more on Wayne and his great car CLICK HERE

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Loren Ott's SPE "Ottrageous" fueler, with Wayne King in the seat prepares to "cackle"

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Jim Green, had the beautiful SOHC powered "Assassin" on hand to add fire and nitro music to the event

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Bucky Austin's '69 CCE "Northwest Hitter" T/GD makes some noise in preparation for the festivities.

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NitroGeezer contributor Russ Griffith gets his first cackle in Wayne King's fueler

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Barbara Howell, wife of track manager Gordy Howell seems to be enjoying her seat time. Notice the 
"Dedicated to" names on the cowl of two of Wayne's beat friends

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Loren Ott's SPE "Ottrageous lights up the night. "Nice flames"

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