The 9^th Annual Funny Car Nationals certainly lived up to all of its promises. Anytime an event has managed to reach its ninth event, a certain level of expectation is there even before the first car pulls into the pits. Not to be denied, the nostalgia funny cars, one after one, pulled into Quaker City Motorsports Park, located in Salem, OH, until the count reached twenty-seven. Track owner, Norm Foxx and his son A.J. were certainly ready for the Funny Car Nationals.

 
(L) Although the Quaker City track has been around since 1957, the track and grounds are exceptionally clean and well maintained
(R) You always seem to get hungry at the races

 
(L) Getting youngsters familiar with the racing environment helps secure the future
(R) Many racers bring campers and their families out to the track for the weekend

Then you have to add in the Ohio Outlaw AA/Gassers, Southern Slingshots front engine dragsters and altereds, the Nostalgic Notions racers, UMTR (United Manual Transmission Racers) and more created a show that had something for everyone. The track and grounds were spruced up and hosted many overnight campers. Food vendors served up a nice variety of offerings.

 
(L) Pace Performance was the title sponsor of the Nostalgia Classic
(R) Jim Maher and Good Vibrations Motorsports are excited to work with the Nostalgia Classic

Event sponsor, Pace Performance had a display trailer loaded with eight crate engines with various options and horsepower. Tech personnel was also on hand to answer questions about Pace’s offerings. Jim Maher was there with the typical Good Vibrations Motorsports equipment and catalog information. Good Vibrations is heavily involved with this event.

Friday was a Test-n-Tune night and Saturday began the brackets and several funny cars made shake-down passes. Sunday, a nice crowd was in the grandstands as all of the big dogs headed for the track.

Alan Borowski walked away with the Gasser trophy

In the Ohio Outlaw AA/Gassers, Alan Borowski was the event winner and recipient of the Alkydigger Low Qualifier Award and the Good Vibrations Motorsports Reaction Time winner with a .518 light! Alan’s 5.596 was a hole shot win over Ohio’s Brian Spott’s 5.590 in his bright orange Anglia. It was a nine inch separation at the lights! Unfortunately, Dave Cobb got loose on his run and ended up laying his Willys over on its right side. The car suffered damage but Dave crawled out of the car in good shape.

The Funny Car Nationals bragging rights went to Jon Wall’s Fireball Monza machine. Time Bomb grabbed the Burnout Contest win and Krista Massarella received the Top BUG award for backing up her hubby, Chris (Total Insanity) and Bob Russell (Iron Outlaw) in addition to driving the Temporary Insanity funny car. The Mistress went two for two in a match races against Bunny Burkett’s funny car. There were even two Happy Birthday celebrations for Roland Leong and Bunny Burkett and an early evening picnic with the GLNFCC gang.

Jon Wall, Fireball Monza, Nostalgia Funny Car Champion

OK, Krista Massarella raced her own funny car, backed up hubby Chris, and took home the Top BUG award

The TIME BOMB driven by Bobby Toth who garnered BEST BURNOUT Honors

Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Circuit director, Dennis Salzwimmer, said his goal for the 2017 event is to put together a thirty-two car field. You won’t want to miss that one!  

Of course, I would be remiss in not mentioning “Mr. Smooth” Brent Kepner for entertaining the racers and fans from behind the announcer’s microphone. His rendition of each race accompanied by facts about the cars and racers was pretty much perfect. 

 
(L) GLNFCC organizer, Dennis Salzwimmer, said his goal for next year is to bring a 32 car field
(R) Master announcer, Bret Kepner, kept the crowd entertained with his wealth of drag racing knowledge

See ya’ there next year!

NOSTALGIA DRAG WORLD - Text by Joe Secka; Photos by Joe Secka - Wayne Gierke - Keith Hudak
www.JMSProPhoto.com