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Gasser Magazine's
Gasser Reunion VI
It was year number six of the Great Gasser Revival, as measured by the annual gathering of the species hosted by Gasser Magazine at historic Thompson Raceway Park. With interest in “nostalgia racing” continuing to grow by leaps and bounds and new events popping up all over the map, this one remains on the short-list of Nitrogeezer favorites for many reasons. The relaxed atmosphere, the friendliness of the participants, the eyecandy factor of such an assemblage of show-quality racecars, the plentiful reminders of the rich history of the Gasser classes, the spectacle of the racing action out on the track.....all this and more contribute to the satisfaction of attending this annual shindig. Then there’s the “goldilocks” aspect of a perfect match between event and venue. Thompson Raceway Park is situated in rural northeastern Ohio, and has been in continuous operation since 1958. This is the heart of what was once called “gasser country” and any chronicle of gasser-class history includes the many meets and match races scheduled here during the gasser heydays. Far from showing its age, however, the track is fresh and tidy as a pin with ample amenities for both participant and spectator. It’s a place with an “old track” kind of intimacy between observer and action set in the middle of idyllic pastoral surroundings. There’s no noise curfews to be concerned with out in the remote countryside, so another great aspect of the event is the opportunity for nighttime racing into the wee hours! Saturday night Gasser racing at the Reunion rekindles old memories of similar scenes beneath the summer stars being an every weekend event.
The only thing spoiling Goldilocks’ porridge was (once again) the vagaries of Ohio spring weather in the form of precipitation. While there are certainly rain-free weekends in NE Ohio this time of year, the Reunion has had the misfortune of missing them the past few years. Rainfall again significantly impacted the scheduled activities at Reunion VI. Fans and racers arriving for Friday’s opening and time trials got in most of the day under cloudy skies before storms arrived around 4:30. Afternoon and evening sprinkles on Saturday caused a couple of unscheduled “intermissions” for things to dry out, but most of the program was concluded despite the interruptions. Overnight and morning rain on Sunday, however, caused a washout of the planned final eliminations and awards ceremonies. While this was a disappointment to many, the Reunion is first and foremost a “fun” gathering, and if it can’t include racing the sociability aspects of the gathering rise to the occasion and things become more of a “pit party.” You can dampen the racecourse, but not the enthusiasm! For those with an appreciation of gasser history, the event is a fine opportunity to meet some of the notable personalities whose names remain memorable from the headline events of the Gasser War days. Legends such as “Ohio George” Montgomery, “Bones” Balogh and Barbara Hamilton Advey regularly attend the event, as do Chuck Finders, S&S Racing Team members Gene Altizer, Dave Hales, Fred Bear and “Pork” Zartman. All are as enthusiastic about meeting and talking with their fans as their fans are in meeting them, and these opportunities afford a memorable connection with the event that is an important element of the overall experience. A special guest this year was Ed Iskendarian, whose legendary camshaft advertisements hyping the performance of Isky-equipped Gassers were a major catalyst in what is fondly remembered as the “Gasser Wars.” Through the taunts and boasts in these ads, many real and imaginary rivalries were fanned that were a publicity goldmine for the class. Match race engagements took on Armageddon proportions, enticing fans all over the country to come out to the races and bear witness. Ed Iskendarian comments on questions from an interested visitor. The organization of the event followed the familiar outline with a few refinements. The Gassers are, of course, the central focus of the event, although it is open as well to nostalgia entries in other classes to fill out the program and spread expenses. Included were index classes for both “Pro” and traditional variety gassers as well as a dial-in class for those so choosing. There was also a Super Stock dial-in category as well as a Comp dial-in category for dragsters and altereds. These divisions governed who met who in eliminations, but were not adhered to during time trials (allowing for some interesting mixed-class matchups). This arrangement has proven to work well without detracting significantly from the gasser-centricity of the weekend. A more controversial feature of the event among the purists is the inclusion of some exhibition racers for the Saturday night extravaganza. This is a business-driven decision to enable the track operator to attract a broader audience and keep participation expenses affordable. Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragsters and Nostalgia Funny Cars have been included in the past and proven to attract extra spectators looking for some Saturday evening entertainment. Several of the Top Fuelers and a couple of Nostalgia Funnies were again included in this year’s program. Another popular draw with the Ohio fans is Bob Motz and his 200 mph jet Kenworth truck, who was booked to make a couple of exhibition passes. Call it a “show within a show,” or a “family entertainment package,” or whatever, it helps contribute enough to the bottom line to keep the event afloat. There’s always something new in the way of a “showcase” gasser at the Reunion and “Homewrecker” was one example at this year’s event. Canopy in the background is Race Central at the Reunion and a convenient place for visits with race celebrities, autograph collecting and souvenir selections. Whether or not you are a rabid gasser fan, there is enough of interest here that even the most jaded racefan is certain to find it a worthwhile and entertaining adventure. Nitrogeezers keeps coming back, and we think you might too once you pay a visit to form a personal impression. It’s too late to do that now for Reunion VI, but we’ve done our best to show you what you missed in the photo collection from the meet that we’ve assembled for your enjoyment. Settle back and have a look! All you need to do is CLICK HERE and an album of over 100 images awaits you (best viewed at “large” or “original” size on a 1024x768 monitor).
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