Old Drag Racer's Reunion

02/21/2016

Sol and Ann Stewart would like to thank everyone who visited the Old Drag Racers Reunion (ODRR) page for the past two years. As you may already know the Old Drag Racers Reunion held its last Reunion on September 25-26, 2015.

Colonel Bob Tensfield has formed a new organization named "Southeastern Drag Racers Association" and is accepting membership applications. This organization hopes to continue the reunion format formally used by the ODRR. For additional information contact Bob Tensfield at 352-343-4802. Additional information can also be found on a page hosted by Johnny Jordan @ https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=southeastern%20drag%20racers%20association

We will leave this page in place however no further posts will be made to the page. Thanks again for taking time to view this page and thanks for supporting ODRR.

10/12/2015

OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION THUNDERFEST 2015

https://youtu.be/fl2AjnkVKDI

REV IT UP COMPETITION AT THE ANNUAL OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION IN PANAMA CITY, FL ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2015.

10/09/2015

Old Drag Racers Reunion Hall Of Fame
Class of 2015

First row (left to right): Dave Pybus, Ray Rappa, Larry Reyes, Jerry Turner

Second row (left to right): Sam Branch, Ed Hillman, Carlos “Bub” Klingler, Eric Mathis, Ted Vise.

09/20/2015

ODRR 2015 - ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

Friday 9/25

Registration Desk opens in the Holiday Inn Lobby at 9 am CST. The desk will remain open until 1:30 pm.

Legend's Dinner tickets and pre-ordered T-shirts can be picked up at the Registration Desk with the proper ID.

The 2015 ODRR T-shirts and the 2015 Limited Edition ODRR Group collage poster will be available for purchase at the Registration Desk.

Mr. Geoff Stunkard will have a table set up next to the Registration Desk where he will have autographed copies of his latest book (HEMI: A History of Chrysler's Iconic V8 in Competition) available for purchase.

Special videos will be playing in the hotel lobby area all throughout the weekend.

At 2 pm we will conduct our first of two Mopar Super Car Seminars in the Holiday Inn parking lot. The first seminar will focus on the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak car owed and raced by long time ODRR attendee Randy Payne. Randy will present a detailed overview of the Drag Pak program and the special racing equipment that is found in the car. Our second Mopar Super Car Seminar will feature the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat that is owned by Mr. Joe Curley of Orlando, Fl. Joe will present a detailed overview of the Hellcat and the special factory equipment that comes with the car. The Mopar Super Car Seminar’s should conclude around 3:30 pm.

At 6 pm, the Legend's of Drag Racing Dinner Ceremony will take place in the Holiday Inn Ballroom. After lining up, attendees will proceed through the buffet line and then be escorted to their assigned table. The Dinner Ceremony program will be in two parts and will conclude by 9 pm. The featured speaker at the Dinner Ceremony will be noted author and photojournalist Mr. Geoff Stunkard.

Saturday 9/26

A Car Show will be held in the Holiday Inn parking lot beginning at 9 am.

While the car show is in progress we will hold the B.E. Motorsports Ford Super Car Seminar featuring the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet that is owned by David Garton of Spring Hill, Fl. David will present a detailed overview of the Factory Stock Ford Mustang Cobra Jet and the special racing equipment that is found in the car. The seminar will begin at 10:30 am.

At 12:30 pm a Thunderfest will take place in the show car area. Select cars will be fired up and they will emit sounds of thunder from their American V8 engines.

The Car Show Awards ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm.

The 2015 ODRR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will begin promptly at 3 pm in the Holiday Inn Ballroom. We will be inducting nine new members into the ODRR Hall Of Fame. We ask that all attendees remain in the ballroom until all nine of our inductees have received their much deserved recognition.

Immediately following the induction ceremony Sol and Ann Stewart will offer their final comments about ODRR and the memories that have been created over the past fifteen years. The ceremony should conclude around 4:45 pm and the Reunion will come to a close at 5 pm.

Be There!

09/13/2015

2015 ODRR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE EDDIE HILLMAN

Eddie Hillman took an interest in all things mechanical from a very early age. At two years old Eddie tore apart every toy in his toy chest just to see how they worked. That desire eventually led him to a fascination of automobiles.

At first Eddie street raced his cars and eventually he moved into track racing. Eddie’s first official drag race was at Dauphin Island Drag Strip in Mobile, Al where he raced his 6 cylinder ‘62 Chevy II.

Eddie continued to race the cars he drove on the street and enjoyed the thrill of competition at tracks in Dothan, Al, Baker, Fl and Atmore, Al. Eddie drag raced a variety of cars during the 1960's and 1970's. After the Chevy II Eddie raced a 1965 Plymouth Satellite, then a 1967 Mercury Cougar, later a 1973 Oldsmobile 442 and finally a 1970 Plymouth Duster.

Eddie’s 302 cubic inch 1967 Mercury Cougar was one of the first cars in the Pensacola, Fl area to use nitrous oxide.

Eventually Eddie tore apart a 1952 Plymouth and installed a 440 cubic inch Mopar engine with a four speed manual transmission. That car was unbeaten on the street and was a consistent winner at both Baker Fl and Atmore Dragway.

In 1976 Eddie built his first all out drag car. His choice was a 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda and he raced it every week until the 1999-2000 season. At that time Eddie took some time off from drag racing to pursue family and business obligations.

Eddie was employed full time in the tractor and construction business but also found time to build engines and transmissions for drag racing, circle track (dirt & asphalt), street rods and hot rods. The engines and cars that he has been associated with have set numerous track records, won numerous feature races and track championships, and taken home many best of show awards.

In 2006 Eddie felt the need for speed once again and he freshened up his 1970 ‘Cuda and went racing again. The new version of the ‘Cuda sports an alcohol injected, 525 cubic inch Mopar wedge engine for go power. On occasion you can find him at the races in Florida and Alabama.

You will also find Eddie Hillman and his 1970 AAR ‘Cuda at the Old Drag Racers Reunion in Panama City, Fl on September 25 - 26, 2015. Come on out and celebrate Eddie’s induction into the ODRR Hall Of Fame. Be There!

09/01/2015

OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION 2015

The 2015 Old Drag Racers Reunion will take place on September 25-26, 2015 at the Holiday Inn 2001 Martin Luther King/Cove Boulevard, Panama City, FL.

It is with great sadness that we announce that this will be the last and final OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION (ODRR) EVENT on September 25-26, 2015. From it’s very humble beginning in 2001 at Crestview, Fl this REUNION has grown to be the largest annual drag racing reunion in the southeastern part of our country and 2015 will mark the fifteenth and final year for the OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION. We have tried hard to make this REUNION relaxing, laid back, affordable, entertaining, and enjoyable for all who have attended through out the years.

The main reason we have decided to retire from hosting the REUNION is Anne’s health. Anne’s heath issues come first with us and come this December, 2015, “Miss Anne” will be my loyal bride and my partner in all my endeavors for the past 55 years.

The primary reason for holding the ODRR has always been our desire to bring together former drag racers, racers, and race fans as a big family in a genuine reunion of friendship. The greatest result of this REUNION has been the many friendships FORMED and RENEWED yearly at this event.

A secondary reason has been our desire to recognize and honor special people who have dedicated themselves to the sport of drag racing on the local, regional, and national level. One of the ways we have accomplished this is through the creation of the prestigious ODRR Hall of Fame.

We would like to thank all the people who have assisted in making the ODRR a success for the past 15 years. It is the people who have attended yearly, supported our “LEGENDS of DRAG RACING DINNER CEREMONY”, participated and shared their prized possessions in our CAR SHOWS and participated in the ODRR Hall of Fame Ceremonies that deserve all the credit for making the ODRR a huge success. Anne and I only “rang the bell” and called the REUNION to order. The part that we will miss most of all will be not getting to see our friends who have come out each year to be a part of the ODRR.

For this last Reunion, I am having a VERY SPECIAL 24” X 24” COLLAGE POSTER made that commemorates the 15 years ODRR has been in existence. The poster is a limited edition print and is suitable for framing. The collage will show 75 great “waist up” head shots of people who attended ODRR starting with the 2001 Reunion at Crestview, Fl. It will feature old racers like J. C. Sizemore, “Snake” Austin, “Big Deal” Jacobs and many more. These posters will be available ONLY on Friday, 9/25/15, at the ODRR Registration Desk in the lobby of the Holiday Inn.

Come on out to the ODRR 2015 and help us reminisce the past and reflect on the good times and experiences we have enjoyed at this annual meeting of friends. Please join us on September 25-26, 2015 in Panama City, Fl for the Old Drag Racers Reunion.

Anne & Sol Stewart

08/19/2015

2015 ODRR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE RAY RAPPA

Ray Rappa of Cantonment, Fl will be inducted into the Old Drag Racers Reunion Hall Of Fame on September 26, 2015 because of his work as a drag racing preservationist. Ray’s love affair with drag racing and drag race cars began in 1965 when he visited Klondike Drag Strip in Pensacola, Fl and laid his eyes upon a 1962 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge called “Blue Boy.” The car was the twelfth Max Wedge Dodge to roll of the assembly line in 1962 and it was subsequently delivered to Hill-Kelly Dodge in Pensacola, Fl where Mr. Charles Edgar took ownership. Mr. Edgar successfully raced the Dodge throughout the southeast and eventually retired the car in 1966.

Ray never forgot the beauty of the car with its vivid blue interior and the factory special cobalt-blue metallic exterior. Nor could he forget the power of the 440 horsepower 413 cubic inch max wedge engine topped off with a Mopar cross-ram dual quad induction system. The fire of this love affair burned throughout the years and Ray dreamed that one day he would own Blue Boy.

Ray continued to keep an eye on the sport of drag racing throughout the years and even purchased a few muscle cars along the way but nothing could replace the feelings he had for Blue Boy. So in 1997 he set out to find his love interest and fulfill his dream to own the 1962 Max Wedge Dodge.

Be careful what you wish for is a saying we have all heard and that might have been Ray’s reaction when he found himself looking at the time ravaged remains of the once magnificent Blue Boy in September 1997. Gone was the brilliant blue exterior and former sanitary interior replaced now by a faded green and black patina and an interior that looked like a disaster zone.

Undaunted Ray began his journey to restore the car to its former glory in 1998. The process began in his back yard when he disassembled the car down to its rolling chassis. Then the search began for its original engine and eventually it was found in Munson, Fl. Next Ray hunted down the original carburetors, along with most of the original Max Wedge equipment. A professional body shop helped with the body and paint work and it would be nearly a decade before the car was driveable.

After the restoration was complete Blue Boy was inspected and authenticated by the Chrysler Historical Society. The car is one of four known Dodge Dart 440 Hardtop Max Wedge’s currently in existence.

What a shame it would have been to loose this important part of both automotive and drag racing history. How easy it would have been to walk away from the enormity of the project and simply rely on the memories in his minds eye. Thankfully Ray Rappa followed his dream and shares with us a lasting example of the golden era of drag racing. As Ray says, “It’s like a museum on wheels.”

Come on out to the Old Drag Racers Reunion on September 25-26, 2015 and celebrate Ray Rappa’s induction into the ODRR Hall Of Fame and also take a look at his dream come true “Blue Boy.” Be There!

08/17/2015

Cutoff date for ODRR Hall Of Fame Dinner Tickets Announced

The deadline to purchase tickets to the Old Drag Racers Reunion Hall Of Fame Dinner Ceremony is quickly approaching. The last day to secure your ticket to this very special event is Monday, September 14, 2015.

In addition to the southern style dinner buffet there will be a program to honor the nine new inductees into the ODRR Hall Of Fame along with the presentation of several special recognition awards. Attendees will also hear from our two featured speakers Mopar Drag Racing Legend Herb “Mr. Four Speed” McClandless and noted automotive author and journalist Mr. Geoff Stunkard.

No tickets will be available at the door and only those who have purchased a ticket by September 14th will have access to the dinner ceremony. Don’t miss out on this special ceremony. Order your tickets today by sending $35 for each ticket to Mr. Sol Stewart PO BOX 144 Jackson, Alabama 36545. If you have any questions about the Hall Of Fame Dinner Ceremony or to discuss special seating requests contact Sol Stewart at 251-262-1034.

08/09/2015

Hemi Dart at ODRR 2015

Back in the mid 1970's Johnny Burge of Mobile, AL bought Max Hurley's original 1968 Hemi Dart and raced it throughout the southeast. These purpose-built race cars were delivered new in primer with black-gelcoated fiberglass front fenders and a scooped lift-off hood, lightweight steel doors and bumpers and a trunk-mounted battery. Outside mirrors, heaters and sound deadening were deleted, and the cars were fitted with lightweight side glass and lightweight bucket seats. The Dart came loaded with a 426 CI Race Hemi engine with 12.5:1 compression, a cross-ram intake manifold with dual Holley 4-barrels, a high-flow oil pump, roller timing chain, solid-lifter cam, transistorized dual-point ignition with solid core wires, Ho**er headers and a heavy duty cooling system. The ’68 Hurst HEMI Dodge Dart – code L023 – is said to be the fastest factory muscle car of all time and only 80 were produced.

While street racing back in 1979 Johnny rolled the Dart and that was it for the car until Johnny got the bug to build a recreation of the original Dart. Johnny's Dart was built by using original Super Stock Mopar parts and has been described as being more correct than any of the originals that exist today.

Johnny's Dart is part of a private collection of rare automobiles at Dennis Lasseter Jr's Continental Classic Cars in Mobile, Al.

This beautiful car will be on display at the Old Drag Racers Reunion at Panama City, Fl on September 25 - 26, 2015. Be There!!

07/26/2015

2015 ODRR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE ERIC MATHIS

Eric started his racing career in 1967 when he took his parents 1967 Buick Skylark to the drag strip and ran in the pure stock class. In 1969 Eric began to race a 1969 SS 396 Chevelle with a four-speed manual transmission In 1970 Eric moved to Super Stock racing with a 1968 Chevy Nova called “Rapid Rat.” The SS/HA Nova had a 396/325 engine and a Turbo 400 automatic transmission.

In 1974 Eric decided to purchase a front engine dragster that was formally owned by Jim Blackshear. In his first time out with the dragster he bent the chassis and he decided to sell it after repairs were made.

Eric then purchased a second front engine dragster in 1975 and raced it as an A/ED with a single four barrel carburetor and as an A/D with two four barrel carburetors. One of the more unique features of the car was the prototype headers that were built by the Cragar Wheel Company. Eric’s dragster was used as a test bed for different extensions and collectors for Cragar.

In the fire burn out photo that accompanies this article Eric was running the front engine dragster in a match race against Ellis Milner’s Pro Stock Vega at Atmore Dragway Eric really lit it up but decided that was enough of that.

In 1980 Eric moved up to a big block powered rear engine dragster and once again competed in Competition Eliminator as either an A/ED or A/D. The engine was a destroked big block Chevrolet measuring 418 cubic inches. In 1981 Eric set an IHRA National Record at Atmore Dragway that stood for fourteen years.

Eric gained National attention with the “State Water Heater Special” as he competed in both IHRA and NHRA. Eric also ran numerous match races in the Southeast with his dragster. During those match races Eric lined up against a Top Fuel Harley, Alcohol Funny Cars, Alcohol Dragsters and Pro Stockers.

Eric always made drag racing a family affair. His dad Matt was his crew chief and his wife Beverly was the team manager. Eric’s three children Chris, Becky and Ryan were members of his crew. Eric’s volunteer crew consisted of Greg Barry, Hunter Jeanette, Mark Land, Billy Donn, Paul Eisenhaur, Joe Andrews, Randy Galpin among others. Most times the Team camped out at the track and they made their own food picnic style.

Eric always took time to talk with fans that stopped by and would even let kids sit in the seat of his dragster. Eric had a professional drag racing handout that he would autograph and share with fans.

Eric retired from driving in 2000 and remains active in the sport with the Mathis Racing Carburetor Service in Panama City, Fl.

Come on out to ODRR 2015 at Panama City, Fl where you can get to meet and talk with Eric Mathis on September 25 - 26, 2015. Be There!!

07/09/2015

2015 ODRR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE LARRY REYES

Larry Reyes was born and raised in California and graduated from Tustin High School in 1957. While in grammar school Larry took an interest in automobiles and his dad took him to his first Drag Race at C.J. “Pappy” Hart’s Santa Ana Drag Strip in 1954. When Larry was 14 years old Larry’s dad signed a liability release form so Larry could race at Santa Ana. This was two years before he would obtain a California drivers license. Larry’s first ride down the track was in his mother's VW bug.

At 15 Larry began to race his Uncle’s 1955 V/8 Chevy and a 1955 V/8 Plymouth that belonged to his friend. Larry had the knack of speed shifting and that helped to make him a very good drag racer. Larry’s dad had told him about the art of the speed shift and Larry was a fast learner.

At 16 Larry got his first car which turned out to be a V/8 Studebaker with an automatic transmission. This was a combination street and strip car. Larry earned the reputation among his friends as being a great driver and he often drove their cars. Life for a car guy in Southern California during the 1950's and 1960's was like being in heaven.

After high school Larry took a job delivering milk at the Cal-Va Dairy in Garden Grove, Ca. The Dairy was owned by the Hunt family and two of the Hunt’s were car guys. Together Larry and the Hunt boys built a 1959 348 Chevy. While racing the Chevy Larry met drag racer Tom Sturm who in turn sent Larry to Jerry Jardine (Jardine Headers) to get a set of headers. Jerry eventually introduced Larry to Dyno Don Nicholson. Nicholson did a “Dyno” job on the 348 and it was hard to beat. After that car the trio bought a 1963 413 max wedge Plymouth and continued their racing ways.

Larry's next race car was a 1964 Plymouth with a 426 Max Wedge and an aluminum front end. Larry entered the car in the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona where he took out Gas Ronda in Round #1 and Bill "Maverick" Golden in Round #2. His run came to an end in round #3 when he was defeated by the factory backed Ramchargers Team.

Larry became more serious about drag racing after he made a trip to the 1964 NHRA Nationals with Tom Sturm. Tom had Larry along as a crew member and during the trip Larry got to meet some of the Ford Racing Executives. Upon returning to California Sturm arraigned for Larry to run a 1964 A/FX Comet sponsored by Jardine Headers. Larry immediately took the new Comet to the final against Butch Leal at Lions Drag Strip then headed east were he was able to defeat Ford drivers Dick Brannan and Phil Bonner.

Larry moved to Memphis, Tn and became a regular at Bill Taylor's Lakeland Dragway. Larry continued to run the Sturm Comet and he also drove Phil Bonner's 1964 Ford Falcon. Larry was known for his lightning quick reaction times and smooth power shifts.

Bill Taylor approached Larry and asked him if he would be interested in running a Funny Car on nitromethane. Larry agreed and the partnership was formed. Together they ran a home built 1965 Barracuda called "Kingfish." Larry and the Kingfish won the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordoba, Il after beating Emery Cook in the final. The Kingfish was updated for the 1967 season and continued to be a successful race car.

In 1968 the Team built a new Logghe chassis car and named it "Super Cuda." They won events such as the Capitol Raceway Supercharged King of Kings Invitational, Detroit Dragway's Super Stock Magazine Funny Car Invitational, the Super Stock Magazine Nationals at New York National Speedway and the AHRA Drag World Championships in Kansas.

The following year Larry teamed up with Roland Leong and together they raced the "Hawaiian" Dodge Funny Car. Larry's first outing at the 1969 Winternationals ended with a top end crash and a broken race car. They came back the next year and won the Winternationals with a new car.

After parting ways with Leone Larry returned to Memphis and reunited with the Coleman-Taylor team on a new Super Cuda. During a 1971 match race at Norwalk, Ohio Larry's driving career would come to an abrupt end when the car blew a tire at speed and crashed heavily, paralyzing Larry. Larry made a brief return to driving in the early 1990s with a Super Gas Vega equipped with hand controls. Today Larry is retired and lives with his wife in the Memphis area.

Come on out to ODRR 2015 at Panama City, Fl where you can get to meet and talk with Larry Reyes on September 25 - 26, 2015. Be There!!

06/27/2015

B.E. Motorsports Becomes Segment Sponsor at ODRR 2015

Butch Engelbrecht of B.E. Motorsports in San Diego, Ca has become a proud sponsor for the 2015 Old Drag Racers Reunion.

B.E. Motorsports will sponsor the Ford Cobra Jet Seminar that will take place on Friday September 25, 2015. We would like to thank Butch Engelbrecht for helping to support one of the activity segments at this years show.

If you would like to join B.E. Motorsports in sponsoring one of our activity segments please contact Sol Stewart for additional information at: [email protected] or call 251-262-1034.