Nice Vega! I wish those kids would seat down, where I can hit the gas. This car is one my dad built along with tons of help from Clyde Mendenhall and driver Fred Turner. It was built like any other car of its day in your backyard. They raced local at Piedmont and other tracks in the south that would feature "Run What U Brung" Southern style Pro Stock. I'm thinking the car would run close to 9.0's in the quarter. Not to bad for a stock floor board, small block powered manual transmission Vega of the early '70's. I will post more photo's of the "Lil Dude" Vega of Mendenhall, Joyce & Turner.
What a big family we have in DRAG RACING........I can't thank all the folks that was able to attend my Christmas Function this past Saturday, December 18th. We had a whole new group mixed in with the MJ regulars. If you've never been, I guess it's like an old Farmington Banquet without a charge. First group through the door was Lones, Helen and Michael Combs fom Fancy Gap, VA., it's always good to see the VA Hillbilly in the house. People don't know but Lones was super good ET racer back in the day with his 1957 Chevrolet. He won and runner-up in several of our big money PRO DRAG SERIES races in the early '80's. Keep a shifting Lones your the best and Michael you get practiced up someone has to carry on the racing.
It was good to see Larry and Sandy Williams back at the function along with her brother Dan, his wife Janet and her sister Sandra. Boy Dan can still tell all the old racing stories that I love to hear over and over again. I was in some of them....lol But Sisy and Big Larry have been a main part of my family for years, seen here back in the early '80's racing their street Camaro. Larry went on in 1989 to win a TOP Championship on a long and pro tree. That will have to be another blog day.He later retired from the driving seat to let his wife take a shot at TOP racing. to this day.....Sis's 1995 IHRA Team Finals win at Maryland over "Big Daddy" Bob Harris still ranks as ONE of the best runs I've witness. She helped Farmington take their first of eight Summit Team Finals championships. It was also good to see their son's Brian "BB" Williams and Michael Shane back at the function. This past summer we nearly lost "BB" so we are all greatful to have him here with us. The total turn around award has to go to Shane...keep up the good work friend and thanks to his photo taking wife Ms. Audrey.
Another first timer in the house was North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductee Mike Boyles and his wife Wanda. I can't describe how much Mike Boyles has done for the world of drag racing. That's a story in itself that Darrin McClaugherty could tell on his "Straight Talk" Internet show on pitrowradio.com. Boyles had gear jamming friends Ronnie Flynt and James Stoneman in the MJ shop with him. Special thanks to Mike and all the Gear Jamming racers that supported my DOOR CAR jam-a-rama Stick Shift Championship this past May at Mooresville. Mike displayed his legendary "Good Ole Charlie Brown" in the town of Mooresville before that race. Also, hats off to all the stick shift volunteers that rode young and old alike down the drag strip to help rise money for Chuck Martin. Thanks again and I can't wait until this years race rolls around again at Mooresville May 27-28-29, 2011.
We have good people that dedicate their weekend's and lives working at a drag strip.....while you play. Darrin McClaugherty and Clint Atkins are just two of many, and it was good to see them for the first time at my MJ Function. "Big Mo" was as busy as usually showing off his knowledge of drag racing. I seen him talking over the good times with David and Rhonda Lambert and first time function attendees Steve and Rhonda Keller. Darrin started out coming to the races with Mike Boyles and then going on to crew for Mark "the Kid" Jones. Me and Norman talked him into doing race reports for the track and then we figured this guy needed to be on a PA (maybe not on Friday's....lol ain't that rite Cindy Wood?...lol) Big Mo announces all the Door Car style races whether it be at Farmington, Piedmont and Mooresville.
Clint, who came through for just a minute with his two children started racing at Farmington and Piedmont back in his high school days. Finished up in the points (above picture) with his Super B back in the day with all of Foot Brakes elite at Farmington. He's still good a Buick GN that he likes to take to the track. We just got to get that mailman out there now to grudge race him...lol. Anyway Clint started working for Farmington back in the day and has seen duty at every post. He still works there on Friday Nights, but also works Zmax Dragway and will help promote the big Buick show and race in May at Piedmont Dragway. PS: I can't leave Clint's wife Julie that works the computer on Sunday's.
I was especially glad to see Norman Drouillard, Jr at my function. Wife Sam couldn't make it, but Thanks Sam for the homemade bread. It had been over a year since we lost his dad Norman Drouillard, Sr. and I was glad to see Junior out about among the racing family. You don't know how much you miss someone until they have gone. I still miss my dad every day and he passed away November 25, 1986. I know I miss Norman, Sr's wisdom and wit. Norman, Jr took a good part of our pictures and I know with the tracks banquets coming up. It brought back memories seeing Howie Adams, LeAnn Flynt, James Stoneman, Ronnie Flynt and many others going through the hundreds of old Farmington and drag racing pictures. Thanks Norman, Jr your the best! (Note: Above Norman, Jr is presenting thirteen time Farmington Dragway champion Arthur Bryant yet another champion back in the late 80's). Thanks for all the memories.....MJ
Everyone has a blessed CHRISTMAS and a Great New Year!
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