Texas Timing Association Announces Second Annual Nostalgia Drag Race Event

Building on the success of its highly-regarded series of Texas State Championship vintage drag races, the Texas Timing Association has announced a second, similar event, the Texas Nitro Nostalgia Drag Race and Cacklefest. The new event will provide fans across Texas with a second opportunity each year to celebrate their love of big-time/old-time drag racing.

The race, to be held at San Antonio Raceway on May 5, 2012, will feature Nostalgia Fuel Altereds and Front-engined Fuel dragsters in competition. The centerpiece of the all-day event will be a series of static fire-ups by a large group of famous nitro-fueled race cars from the 1950s and 1960s, considered by most fans to be the golden age of drag racing.

San Antonio Raceway, located 30 minutes east of the Alamo on Interstate 10, is a nationally known drag strip. It has hosted many previous major national events, including International Hot Rod Assn. ‘Nitro Jams’ and the Texas State Championships, as well as other large racing events including ‘Clash of the Titans’ and the nationally televised ‘Pinks All Out’ and ‘Pass Time.’

A line-up of historically significant Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, and Altereds from the 1950s and ‘60s will fire off their nitro motors several times during the day in the pit area behind the bleachers.  In the evening, the vintage race cars will push-start down the track in time-honored fashion to start their engines, then line up for a Cacklefest and Awards Presentation ceremony in front of the grandstands.

Scheduled to appear are two cars raced by Texas legend Bobby Langley, Scorpion I, a ‘50s-era gas dragster, and Scorpion V, which among many other honors won Top Fuel and Top Eliminator at the 1964 American Hot Rod Assn. ‘Nationals,’ then one of the most important drag races held annually.

Also slated to appear are a mix of ‘50s and ‘60s cars, including Brian Perrenot’s Gizzle Hopper fuel coupe, the Rat Patrol Hemi-powered top fueler, John Dearmore’s immaculately restored fuel dragster, Don Cobb’s competition roadster, Glenn Cupit’s Chevy-powered top fuel dragster, and Tom Pruffer’s outstanding recreation of his early ‘60s front-engined fueler.  San Antonio-based crowd favorites the CKC and Jungle Jim nitro funny cars are also expected.

Headlining the racing action will be the wild fuel altereds and front engined fuel dragsters which race under the banners of the Texas Blown Fuel Association, the Southwest Junior Fuel Association, and the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association. Also appearing will be Texas-based, late 1960’s-period top fuel dragsters and tire-smoking nitro funny cars. Already announced are Floyd Head’s as-it-was-last-raced front-engined top fueler, the Summer of Love top fuel dragster, and, appropriate to the event’s date on Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican Revolution funny car of Bobby Rex.

Traditional drag racing enthusiasts will thrill to pairs of wheel-standing Gassers and Super Stockers competing in 10 evenly-matched heads-up index-based classes.  In keeping with the nostalgia theme of the event, all entries must be 1972 models or earlier. Fans of these cars should arrive early.

The 2012 Texas Nitro Nostalgia Drag Race and Cacklefest will have an open pedestrian midway through the Show and Shine and the historic Nitro-fueled Cackle Cars on display in the Pit Area.  Adjacent to this will be the Swap Meet and Vendor Midway.

The gates of San Antonio Raceway swing open at 8 AM on May 5th.  Admission to the Texas Nitro Nostalgia Drag Race and Cacklefest is $20, with children 12 and younger admitted free.  Competitors pay $20 for a Tech Card to race.  Those who wish to run in both the Index chasses and the Bracket category may do so by buying a second Tech Card.  First round Bracket losers will be allowed to buy back in.  All winners receive an attractive traditional wooden trophy and a $100 gift certificate.