Racers and fans alike often reminisce of drivers and tracks of yesteryear, "the good ol' days of racing" if you will.
This weekend, the 10th annual Musclecar Madness at the York Reunion in the York Expo Center offers attendees a chance to relive the action at the York US 30 dragstrip. The event features former drivers, drag cars, custom car show, souvenirs, memorabilia and much more before moving to Beaver Springs Dragway Saturday afternoon and the big show on Sunday.
The eighth annual York Nostalgia Nationals will once again feature plenty of racing action at the Beaver Springs quarter-mile along with some of the biggest legends who made the sport what it is today.
Former NHRA Division One Director Darwin Doll, Bruce Larson, Bud Faubel, Linda Vaughn, Carol "Bunny" Burkett and many others are expected to be at the show. In conversation with "Beaver Bob" McCardle Thursday, he is also expecting the one and only, Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins to also be in attendance, joining the many other legendary stars at the Nostalgia Nats.
This weekend's show will honor one of the greatest racers to ever strap on a helmet and bang gears. A great family man, multi-time national record holder, multi-time national event winner, an inductee into the Super Stock Hall of Fame (1997) and NHRA Hall of Fame (2005) and all around nice guy, Kenny Montgomery and his famous 555 "Triple Nickel" 1965 Plymouth Belvedere will be the guest of honor.
Montgomery bought the four-speed, Hemi-powered factory lightweight Belvedere brand new in January '65, prepared it for racing in the super stock class, and was runner-up in his maiden voyage at the Florida Super Stock Spectacular in February of '65.
Montgomery and his Jenkintown-based MOPAR has countless wins over the years, accumulated national records in every decade of racing from the 1960s through the 2000s, hundreds of match races and Hemi Challenge events and national events including the 1998 Keystone Nationals super stock crown at his home track, Maple Grove Raceway.
A strong supporter of the stick shift cars and the super stock class, Montgomery has been a driving force with "Beaver Bob" in working with the popular "Flashback Friday" show at Beaver Springs, but ill health has forced the ever smiling father of four to miss the action for the past few seasons.
Make sure you get a chance to stop by and talk to Kenny and his wife, Angie, on Sunday at Beaver Springs. Kenny is truly a winner on and off the track.
The program on Sunday will feature just a little bit of everything for the nostalgia drag racing fan. Plenty of vendors selling memorabilia, autograph sessions and driver interviews, along with racing action will fill the program.
Nostalgia Super Stockers, the East Coast Gassers, Northeast Timing Association along with funny car and AA/Gas Supercharged match races will thunder down the quarter-mile. Gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with show time set to kick off at 2 p.m. each day.
In circle track action around the area this weekend, Big Diamond Speedway hosts the United Racing Company (URC) Sprint Car Series along with the 358 modifieds tonight. The sportsman and roadrunners have the night off.
Williams Grove Speedway presents the 358 and 410 sprint cars tonight, while returning to action Saturday night with a three-division show of "topless" late models, winged super sportsman and street stocks.
Selinsgrove Speedway will offer two 358 sprint car features Saturday night along with the late models, pro stocks and roadrunners. The first sprint car feature is the rained-out show of June 4, while Saturday's program will include a complete qualifying program and features for all divisions. Gates open at 5 p.m., and racing begins at 7:30.
Grandview Speedway hosts a two card show of 358 modifieds and late models; Port Royal Speedway will feature the 410 sprint cars, late models and pro stocks; Hagerstown will host the wild AMA Grandnational Motorcycle Series and Lincoln Speedway will present 358 and 410 sprint cars along with thundercars Saturday night.
Lincoln Speedway returns to action on Tuesday night, July 12, for the first dirt modified invasion in over 25 years. The Race of Champions (RoC) Dirt Modified Series will present the "North vs. South 60" featuring a complete program of qualifying action, leading up to the $5,000-to-win, 60-lap feature event. The 358/360 cubic inch sprint cars will also share the card with the dirt mods. After winning the RoC Heath Memorial on Tuesday night at Five Mile Point Speedway (Binghamton, N.Y.), Billy Decker carries a 33 point lead over Jeff Strunk as the tour heads to Lincoln. Stewart Friesen, Bobby Varin, Danny Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Jimmy Horton, Brett Hearn and Duane Howard complete the top 10 points rundown.