Sunday, January 10, 2010

As Dragway 42 begins its 7th different decade of continuous drag racing in Northern Ohio, we take another look back at some of the historic action from the track through the lens of Todd Wingerter.

Today's photos come from the 1970 season at Dragway 42 and captures the "Hart and Soul" AA/G Austin driven by Big Wilson.


Sharp eyed Dragway42.com visitors will note that the center divider board changed at some point in the 1970 season.

The block form letters seen in this starting line photo (and similar to what is used today at the track) was changed to a more 'free form' letter style as seen in the starting line photo in our December 21st "Looking Back" posting of the "Aquarius" Corvette funny car.

While the winter-time has Ohio deep in its grasp, Dragway 42's racers and family members as well as crews and fans are looking forward to the track's annual Awards Banquet and rules meeting which is less than 5 weeks away.

For 2010 the event is a few weeks later than the traditional time, this year falling on Saturday, February 13th to accomodate coordination of the additional awards and recognition that will be occuring.

In addition to crowning the 2009 track champions in Dragway 42's various, season-long point series and classes as well at the top performers in those classes, the 2010 Awards Banquet will also be the event where Dragway 42's Scotty Phillips will be presented his 2009 IHRA Summit SuperSeries Box Class World Championship jacket and plaque.

While individual recognition is important, a tremendous team effort will also be recognized at this year's Dragway 42 awards banquet.

All 45 members of "Team 42", Dragway 42's team of racers who represented the track and themselves at the IHRA Division 3 Northstar Bracket Team Finals, will receive their championship jackets in recognition of their finish as the 2009 "IHRA Division 3 Team Champions".

The event will feature the traditional schedule of a social hour with snacks, coffee, beer, and soft drinks beginning at 6 PM. A buffet style dinner being served at 7 PM.

The awards presentation as well as a meeting outlining Dragway 42's programs for the 2010 season will follow.

A large collection of thousands of dollars worth of door prizes will be awarded as well as participants having the chance to win a Dragway 42 Special Events "Gold Card".

Dragway 42 taking over the role in 2010 as the dominant geographically located track for the IHRA Summit SuperSeries in the state of Ohio, a whole new group of racers will be wanting to take advantage of the discounts offered at the banquet for the track's 2010 point series entry as well as permanent pit parking spots for the season that the track's regulars have long known to be a bonus that is offered only at Dragway 42's Annual Awards Banquet.

With this year's expansion of Dragway 42' s geographic reach coupled with Dragway 42's racers taking the IHRA World Championship in the Box Class, the Division 3 Championships in both the Mod and the Street classes, and the earlier mentioned Division 3 "Team Championship" in 2009, there has never been more interest in the competion at the track, which has now stretched into 7 different decades of continuous drag racing action.

In these tough economic times, Dragway 42 continues to offer outstanding value to its customers, and 2010 is no exception.

Dragway 42 is holding the line on prices by having no change in the price of adult banquet tickets for a fourth straight year. In addition, for a second straight year, Dragway 42 is offering a discounted banquet ticket price for youths age 12 and younger.

One of the ways that helps Dragway 42 help its customers by controlling banquet prices is by offering tickets on an advanced purchase basis only. This allows Dragway 42 to provide the catering company with an accurate headcount a few days before the event, so an appropriate amount of food can be prepared for the event. Less waste for the catering company allows them to provide the track (and banquet attendees) with the best price possible.

Tickets are offered by mail order using a check or money order while those with a credit card may make their purchase online.

Adult tickets are $30 each while the discounted youth tickets for those 12 and younger are $20 each.

Mail orders must be postmarked by Friday, January 29th. The online order deadline is Monday, February 1st.

As it has for the past several years, Dragway 42's Annual Awards Banquet will again be held at the Barberton Moose Lodge Annex Building located at 272 31st Street N.W. in Barberton.