It’s always a good sign when you pull into the gates at Beaver Springs Dragway and see the pits full and activity buzzing all over the place like a crazy beehive. That means there will be a full schedule featuring some of the best cars around. And this day did not disappoint. The place was packed front to back and side to side. The Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember those who we owe our freedom to and to spend time with our families in honor of that sacrifice and there were so many families at the track doing just that. To add an extra air of meaningfulness to the weekend, the Robert Craig English Memorial Race was also a part of the racing activity. Lots to remember and honor. Lots to keep in our hearts, minds, and souls.

From the youngest in the arms of their parents, to the oldest folks there, everyone was treated to an incredible show. With Pro Stick and MANDRA in the house, there was no shortage of Muscle Car iron to take in. And Jr. Dragsters. And Motorcycles. And Altereds. You get the idea, everything was there. It was good to see the amount of youngsters competing. They are the ones who will carry the sport forward and they represented themselves well.

The staging lanes were a preview of what was to come. Quite a lineup!

The sounds of high horsepower engines filled the air, the air full of the aroma of racing fuel and tire smoke. Great match-ups abounded with wonderful examples of muscle cars and hot rods in every round.

We can’t forget about the two-wheeled competitors out there. Those machines don’t have the deep rumble of a V8, but their engines sing a song of horsepower and there was a full field of tough competitors.

It was sad to see the Fiat of the English Brothers damaged, but the good news is the driver was not damaged and it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I’m sure they won’t let this setback stop them. Sorry I didn’t get any pictures to document the accident, but I was in the wrong lane (seems to happen more often than not) and had my back turned as I was focused on catching the Oldsmobile of Bill Marks.

A full weekend of racing brought out the best parts of the sport. Fierce competitors, many of whom become racing family, ran so many rounds, so full of intensity. Some would quietly admit after doing their best they didn’t really mind losing because it meant they got to go home and rest. Others broke, but took it in stride as a part of racing. All in all, everyone poured themselves into this weekend, leaving it all out on the track. Not to be overlooked was the crew who made sure the track was prepped to perfection for these races and safe for everyone. In the end, it was a big win for everyone involved.