Meltdown Drags
Byron Dragway, Illinois
July 18 – 20, 2014
The 2014 Meldown Drags were like a Nostalgia Gassers Family reunion. Almost all of our members were there. Those who were not, were missed and in turn missed a huge and exciting event.
Racers started arriving Thursday morning and continued to come in thru early Friday. We had a great pit area that we shared with the Great Lakes Gassers. Our two groups have a friendly annual shootout for bragging rights and a traveling trophy. We also shared potluck dinners Friday and Saturday evening. Some of the best food to ever hit a dragstrip parking lot, was enjoyed by all.
The weather for the weekend was perfect. Not a drop of rain and the temps. were midsummer normal.
Racing started Friday with 2 runs. The first run was to establish an ET. The friendly competition started with the second run. Let the bragging begin and bring on the food. Smoked Turkey and Smoked Pork Chops were the main course, provided by the Great Lakes Gassers. They were accompanied by many outstanding sides and deserts from everyone else. Excellent!
Saturday was a great day of racing for our 2 groups. We had 2 more runs and were worked in between the many other divisions of racers. The racing field was huge. This event also hosted a car show that added to the already over the top amount of spectators. We greeted many adults and children, signed hero cards, sold shirts & caps and had a great time.
Saturday evening, more bragging(or not)and more great food. Several of our group provided & grilled the main course of burgers, brats & hotdogs. Again our two groups pitched in with everything else to complete the feast.
After dinner the results of the shootout were announced. This year the Nostagia Gassers(under dogs last year)squeaked by to take the win and claim the traveling trophy. We will proudly display and honor it until next year, when we meet up again with our friends, the Great Lakes Gassers, to defend our title.
Sunday morning brought an exciting addition to the weekend, as we had the honor of meeting Ed Iskenderian & Bones Balogh. What a pleasure it was to meet and chat with these two gentlemen and they were gracious enough to do some autographing on some of our cars.
As Sunday went on, Bz’s Rod Shop sponsored a special race for anyone who wanted to participate. Several of our group signed up and left a little more rubber on the track. Everyone who raced recieved a prize. Shirts, gift cards and several other items were enjoyed by all.
The Blasey’s super fast blue 40 Chevy Coupe was honored with an award from Gasser Wars Magazine.
It was chosen as the “Best Survivor Car” at the track for 2014. Way to go Gary, Lavone, & Brian!
The entire weekend was great with all of our friends and “hats off” to the entire Meltdown crew for hosting such a well planned event.
Jesse & Bertie James
