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Welcome Drag Racing Fans... |
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2008
East Coast Drag Times
Hall of Fame Weekend |
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Henderson, NC.
Each year since this event began in
2002, it has grown in size and
stature to become a must-see
attraction for the performance car
enthusiast. However, this year's
event held over the weekend of
October 17-18-19 had to deal with
inclement weather for the first
time: a day of rain and two days of
below normal temperatures. But try
as she might, mother nature couldn’t
dampen the spirits of those who
attended. An estimated crowd of
40,000 braved the elements to view
this classic hot rod, muscle car,
restored antique, and nostalgia drag
car showcase that attracted some
1,500 entries. Lined up side-by-side
on the main avenue or in adjacent
parking lots, they turned the
downtown section of this historic
city into a hot rodder’s dream. |
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Kenny
Warren's "Virginia
Twister" '70 Challenger
and Houston Platt's
"Dixie Twister" '68
Camaro funny cars
appeared at the event
for the first time since
their restoration. |
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Each year a host of nostalgia drag
racers from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s
display cars that were prominent in
the early days of the sport, some
for the first time and others from
years past. This year was no
exception. Displayed for the first
time were Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat XII
dragster, Dave Koffel’s ‘68 Hemi
Cuda and ‘48 E/Gas Packard, Johnny
Rocca’s Iron Horse” Pro-Mod Mercury,
Kenny Warren’s “Virginia Twister”
‘70 Challenger funny car, Bob
Thomas’ “Strip Teaser” ‘64 Ford
Fairlane, K.S. Pittman’s 1933 Willys
coupe (replica with doors and other
parts from original car), Phil
Bonner’s ‘68 Mustang Cobra Jet
Fastback, and Houston Platt’s “Dixie
Twister” ‘68 Camaro funny car. All
are restorations unless otherwise
stated. The event also gives the fan
an opportunity to meet and bench
race with owners or drivers of these
cars from the sport’s golden years. |
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Rocky
Pirrone did a masterful
job of replicating K.S.
Pittman's '33 Willys
Coupe using doors and
other parts from the
original car. |
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Phil
Bonner's '68 Mustang
Cobra Jet Fastback is
one of the original 50
"lightweight" models
built by Ford for drag
racing. Initially run in
Super Stock with a 428
CJ motor, it was later
converted to A/FX using
a 427 SOHC for power.
Car is currently owned
by Don Fezell.
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In
addition to a great car show, the
East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame
also takes time to honor drag racing
pioneers for their contributions to
the sport with induction ceremonies
on the last day of the event. It’s a
day that begins at 10:00 am with
cars on display, autograph signing,
bench racing, scrap book viewing,
and a chance meet past inductees and
as well as those about to be
honored. Then at 12:30 pm,
ceremonies began with Brett Kepner
as MC. |
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ECDTHOF inductees
proudly hold their
plaques at the
conclusion of the awards
ceremony.
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This years inductees were: Dan Weis,
Dave Koffel, David Frye, the Ewing
Brothers (Ken, Gary, Wayne), Harry
Coombs, Herman Lewis, Joe Gerdleman,
Johnny Rocca, Mac Pressley, the
Pacers Team (George Snizek, Charlie
“Dodge” Hagenmeyer, Otto Qualliotine,
Ken “KB” Braun), Tommy Grove, and
Wally Bell. The Distinguished
Achievement Award in Drag Racing
went to Arnie Beswick. Posthumous
Awards went to Ron Lyles and Dick
Swecker. The Ronnie Sox Memorial
Award went to former Sox teammate
Herb McCandless. The Thomas Woody
Andrews Memorial Award went to Bobby
Starr, and the Wally Parks
Motorsports Statesman Memorial Award
went to legends Robert “Bones”
Balough and Ed Iskenderian. |
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Long
time friends Ed
Iskenderian and Robert
"Bones" Balough were
recipients of this
year's Wally Parks
Motorsports Statesman
Memorial Award.
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According to Nancy Wilson, Director
of the Vance County Dept. of
Tourism, dates for next year’s event
have already been set. They are
October 16-17-18, 2009. Mark them
down and plan to attend. Remember…
there’s only one East Coast Drag
Times Hall of Fame!
For
additional information call Vance
County Tourism at (866) 438-4565
(toll free) / (252) 438-2222 ext. 21
(local) or visit
www.kerr-lake.com
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