There were eight cars at the event. Norman-Willys Coupe and Willys Pickup, Rat-Austin and Pie wagon, Blasey ’40 Chevy, Huffman ’33 Willys Pick Up, Ted Beach, ’37 Chevy and Crude-Anglia. The weather was a relief coming from Kansas where temps have been steadily in the 100 plus range. Cloudy skies 72 degrees and light rain greeted us as we arrived about 1pm. OGB (Ron Norman) met us at the gate and we were quickly signed in and led to our premium group’s pit parking. We unloaded our cars and OGB gave us a golf cart tour of the facilities with Ted Beach at the wheel as we had not been there before. WOW! What a nicely kept drag strip. Wide smooth drag strip,long and I mean long shutdown, nice wide turn at the end that these old gassers can make easy and a return road past some spectator area that we can wave to the crowd on our way back to the pits.
Back to the pits we quickly found friendly spectators asking for Hero Cards, autographs, and yes even photos of them sitting in our cars. We then had time to introduce ourselves to our fellow members that we had not met before and were very happy to meet Ted and his crew ( one of them is really tall) and see his beautiful ’37 Chevy Gasser. WOW. What a fantastic Tribute to ’37 Chevy Gassers.
Well before long the skies cleared, the track dried and we were in the staging lanes. I must mention how honored we felt to be in the program that included Nitro Funnies,Ozark Mountain Super Shifters, Super Stockers, Jet Cars, Wheel Standers, and others to complete THE NIGHT OF FIRE EVENT!
The night went on with every moment filled with excitement. The crowd was huge. Stands full, three deep along the fence and even down the return road we found people waving and cheering as we would return from a run. One time we even all parked at the at the big end and came back together and the arms waving and people giving us the thumbs up really made us feel welcomed and appreciated.It was unlike any other event we have been to in years.
Well the night went on and the finals were held the last pair of cars went down the track and the fireworks set off in grand style from a moving trailer slowly coming down the track. Well you probably think its all over don’t ya? NOPE Now we go out onto the strip all of us and lots of others for the MEET AND GREET. I mean to tell ya there were more people out there wanting T-shirts signed and Hero cards autographed at 2am than you see on main street back home at Hi-noon. I guess what I am trying to get at is the Enthusiasm for drag racing is in good shape at Cedar Falls Iowa. We would like to thank the track owner and the track manager for inviting us up for the event, our fellow gasser members who helped make us look good, and all the terrific people that made us feel welcomed. Special thanks to brother Dave (OLD RAT) for towing the Trouble Truck to the event.
Looking forward to seeing you at our next event at EDDYVILLE IOWA .
RAT NOW RACING (THE RAT – RANDAL THE VANDAL – OLD RAT)
