South Mountain Raceway – The Drag Racers Reunion Weekend started at EMMR on Saturday and the party continued on to the racetrack Sunday, with the memories of the past moving on to South Mountain Raceway to preserve the history of the sport and make new memories at the same time.

The day started out with the skies looking a bit iffy from the weather perspective, but in no time at all, the clouds parted, the sun came out, and the weather was just right for racing! Everyone in the pits was anxious for the time to come when they could start their engines and make some noise. You could feel the anticipation in the air! There were a lot of smiling faces when all those high-horsepower engines came to life and the air was filled with the familiar sounds of race cars cackling and the intoxicating aroma of racing fuel. One of the unique features of South Mountain Raceway is the banked-turn shutdown area. As I watched some of the drivers on that turn as they were warming their cars up, I swear more than one of them was fighting back the urge to play circle-track racing and throw their cars sideways on the turn. I have to admit, it’s a nice turn and it would require some restraint!

As the day unfolded, everyone was treated to some intense racing by MANDRA, some of the legends of the sport with their nostalgic cars making some passes, a number of folks doing some test-and-tune, and E.J. Kowalski and his Vintage Eliminator gang.

I ventured to the other side of the track on this visit and checked out what it was like up on the hill, and I have to say I was amazed by the view. It’s like sitting up in the bleachers at a big-time track looking down at the action. Except you can sit on the grass or on your favorite lawn chair. And you don’t get the experience of feeling like you’re in a frying pan sitting on aluminum bleachers. It truly has the feel of a old-time drive-in movie theater but it’s in the daytime and the main feature is drag racing.

Of all the different types of racing vehicles on the premises, I’d have to say the Vintage Eliminator crew with E.J. Kowalski and sidekick Liz Leggett stole the show. Each and every time one of those cars came to the line, the whole atmosphere changed to a different attitude, a different time. Although once common, these machines are now unique in their appearance, a uniqueness matched by the drivers. At one point I realized at no other place anywhere, maybe not even back in the day, would you see a vintage car at the line against the backdrop of a cornfield with a train passing by. Are they fast? No, not really, but as Liz Leggett told me, speed is kind of relative to what you’re sitting in, and I’m guessing the thrill of driving one of these things is probably equivalent to driving a top fuel dragster!

I want to finish up by giving a shout-out to the crew of South Mountain Raceway. Often the unsung heroes of any track, these guys quietly kept things going smoothly, even through car breakage and a brief weather delay. Make sure to give these folks all the respect you can, because with out them, there’s no race. If you get a chance, get out to see a race at South Mountain Raceway, it’s an experience you won’t forget!