ALIVE and WELL: The Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Invitational

Article by Ryk Lee Waddell
Photos By Ryk Lee Waddell and Joe Secka

Even with the world’s present situation, while surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, skyrocketing gas and diesel fuel prices, and the spiraling, out-of-control economy, one thing still remains true to itself. The roar of high-performance engines, fast, straight quarter-mile side-by-side passes, and the avid fans packing the grandstands for a nostalgia drag racing event.

I must admit that there is no better feeling on Earth, than pulling into the drag strip on the eve before the Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Invitational, knowing that you made the trip safely. It all became a worthwhile ending to what was a six hour drive, when you have the opportunity right off the bat, to see friends that you haven’t seen in five years. After having to take a hiatus from drag racing due to medical reasons, I was blessed to travel back to Salem, OH and freely roam the property of Quaker City Motorsports Park again during this past race weekend.

This “Tour of Duty” began on Saturday evening, as three of the Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car teams took to the track for a couple of test passes. Grabbing my camera gear, I headed for the Starting Line. Representing the ranks of the Nostalgia Alcohol Funny Cars were: Doug Fassl with his “Wildly Disturbed” Mach 1 Funny Car, John Kwasnewski with the PolCal Racing Corvette along side of the 55 Chevy Nostalgia Funny Car, “Big Girl” of Wade King.

Starting things off on a pleasantly warm and sunny Saturday evening, Johnny K of Buffalo, NY rolls the PolCal Corvette through the bleach box while lighting up the meaty Hoosier slicks. As the staging beams drop and he punches the go pedal, there’s just no sound more exciting than a blower smashing air into the big block Rat’s powerplant. He passes over the stripe with a 7:06 @ 186.7 miles per hour pass.

Johnny K is all about letting the “Rat” out of the bag

Following the PolCal team, the newly applied graphics of the Mach 1 of Doug Fassl out of Sanborn, NY was up next. I myself was very excited to see this beautiful dragster in person. After talking with Doug prior to the event and seeing it before the new colors were added, I was really impressed with the Mustang’s new stance. Doug decided to make a statement with a power hit while letting the Mustang gallop. Rolling through the top end after a blistering pass with an E.T. of 6:83 @ 193.80 mph. 

Up next, from Greensburg, PA., came the Three Kings Racing 55′ Chevy with the “Big Girl” pin-up motif. An incredibly beautiful nostalgia car with a World War ll paint scheme that fit nicely with the Memorial Day holiday weekend and it was right up my alley. Wanting to make a test hit of 1,000 feet, Wade strolled across the finish line with an 8:58 E.T. @ 113.01 mph, saving the heavy punch for the upcoming show.

That concluded Saturday evenings test session while thrilling the attendees and wetting their appetites of the crowd on-hand. Now, it was time to take a walkabout through the Nostalgia Funny Car pits and see just who was here. With 11 cars of the premises, the nostalgia class was well represented. With cars hailing from New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio, it was a great representation for the nostalgia drag racing enthusiast.

Sunday began with some side-by-side passes from such classes racking up points as: the Southern Slingshot dragsters, Scott Rods AA/Gassers, Nostalgia Notions and UMTR Stick Shifters just to mention a few.

The first Funny Car passes came shortly after 1pm. with Robin Stambaugh-Schoeman’s ’74 “Generation X” Chevy Vega powered by a 498 c.i.d. Hemi lining up against Doug Fassl in the “Wildly Disturbed” Mach 1 Mustang blown big block. Robin ended up with a mild but difficult 0.223 R.T. with a 7.96 E.T. @ 99.25 mph vs Doug’s beefy 0.078 R.T. and a 6.88 E.T. @ 189.31 mph but crashing at the end of the shut down area on the top end.

“Generation X” Chevy Vega driven by Robin Stambaugh-Schoeman

The rest of the field paired with the following:

2nd Pair: John Kwasnewski: 0.071 R.T. 7.28 E.T. @ 178.22 vs Drew Sweetman’s 0.023 R.T. but broke the rearend. 

3rd Pair: Krista Massarella: 0.236 R.T. 7:04 E.T. @ 191.33 vs Jami Russell’s 0.113 R.T. 7.40 E.T @ 180.14

4th Pair: Bill Walls: -0.285 R.T. 7.35. @ 144.22 mph vs Wayne Hoffman’s 0.093 R.T. 7.89 E.T. @ 122.62 mph

5th Pair: Dana Kleinhoffer: 0.293 R.T. 7.18 E.T. @ 194.13 mph vs John Cerchio’s 0.266 R.T. 11.667 E.T. @ 132.59 mph after some serious tire shake but driving through it.

6th Pass: Wade King’s: 1.13 R.T. with an 8.59E.T. and a 175.23 mph

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