Mason Dixon Dragway, Boonsboro, MD. – Dorothy and Toto showed up in the weather forecast and things looked bleak for the Rocking Chair Nationals. I was questioning my own sanity to go there as I drove down the interstate, hydroplaning all over the place from all the water on the road due to the monsoon I was driving through. Fortunately for the event, track owner Elmer Wachter has decades of experience reading the weather patterns at the track and didn’t blink, keeping the show on track. Those who showed up found perfect weather for racing and a lot of cool cars and cooler people. The weather did keep some people away, but attendance was dominated by quality over quantity.

A number of legends of the sport were on hand to be recognized for their part in building the foundation of drag racing in the old days. If you’ve never been to one of these, you need to go and hear the stories they have to tell. Thanks to the efforts of Gary Gore and Hayne Dominick (both legends in their own right), these folks get together at this event yearly, sharing their experiences and memories. Without what these people did, it’s just hard to imagine if anyone would be racing today.

Lots of great cars were on the premises competing in various classes, and the spectators were treated to some pretty good racing. Donnie Myers won the Pro Eliminator class, running a stout 6.53 @ 107.5 mph in the final. For the Pontiac gang, it was Ryan Ely outlasting the rest putting down a 7.56 ET in the final. The always-popular wheelstanding Pro Stick class had Codey Clites winning it all, running a 5.85 @106.5 to finish it off. And who couldn’t love the cars of the Nostalgia class? Christian Kelican came out on top there, posting a 7.19 ET to win it. The Super ET class saw Earl Lapole walk off with it all, running 5.34 @ 126.9 to win it. MANDRA always has great cars running down the track and on this day, it was Frank Giallonardo winning it in 7.92 seconds. Last, but certainly not least as this is fast becoming the most interesting group of cars and drivers out there, Vintage Eliminator was won by last year’s defending champ, Danielle Stewart, who ran a 9.86 ET to capture that class.

And if the normal racing activity wasn’t enough, Rick & Terri Osburn were on hand with the wheelstanding “38 Special” truck to match race the legendary Gene Schwartz in his ’52 Chevy. For those playing along at home, Gene started racing that very same car before most of the people in attendance at this event were born. Also putting you on the edge of your seat were the match races between Dale Broderick (backed up by wife, Lisa) and the Freaky Tiki of Doug Wood, both racing old-school modified coupes.

All this kind of makes you wish you listened to Elmer, instead of the weatherman, eh? Don’t make the same mistake again. Mark your calendars for the Rocking Chair Nationals, 2027 edition. You won’t be sorry.

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