Mason Dixon Dragway – The day started out a little dark and very overcast, but by noon, the clouds parted and the sun was shining down for a beautiful day of racing. Yes, it was cut just a little short at the end by a storm, but that was punctuated with a rainbow, a perfect ending to this special event. Saturday was the 12^th Annual Rocking Chair Nationals presented by Gary Gore and Gold Dust Memories. This has always been a very popular event as it puts on a show that’s really hard to beat. In addition to one of the best car shows you’ll find, there’s always plenty of race cars on hand, including cars in the MANDRA, Pontiac, and Pro Stick groups, not to mention the Vintage Eliminator group and their impeccable throwback style race cars.

It’s no accident this event is successful. Few (if any), have the experience that Gold Dust Memories promoter Gary Gore possesses. Freshly retired from track ownership, the vast majority of the racers and attendees of this event weren’t even born the last time a Gore family member wasn’t owning or operating a race track. For those curious, Mr. Gore’s father, Al Gore (who was quick to add he was the good Al Gore), constructed the first purpose-built drag strip in the East. I’ll mention a few of the personalities in attendance, just a few just because, quite frankly, there were too many for me to remember them all and all their accomplishments, and it was a very accomplished bunch. We all know about Don Garlits’ accident leading to his rear-engined dragster design, but many don’t know of Paul Osmond driving rear-engine dragsters (Nasty I and Nasty II) in the early sixties at speeds just under 200 mph. Mr. Osmond was just one of the personalities in attendance. His exploits are expertly chronicled in the excellent book, “Gasoline Alley,” by author Cindy Monroe. Ms. Monroe was also in attendance at this event as well.

Fred Bear and Dave Hales were there to represent the S&S Racing Team. I won’t even begin to try to list what they’ve done, because that would be a book unto itself. Spend some time and look up the S&S Racing Team and see what kind of history they made. True legends, every one of them. Former Funny Car champion, Bruce Larson was in attendance along with a car he raced at Mason Dixon over 60 years ago! I won’t leave out the exhibition teams of Dale and Lisa Broderick and Rick and Terri Osburn. These guys are the link from the past to the present, showing today’s fans the kind of cars these aforementioned legends drove in the 60s in action. If you missed this show, you missed a lot. A whole lot. Make sure you don’t miss out next year!