GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
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East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and Reunion 2004East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and 2004 Reunion My wife, Vicki, and I left for Henderson, North Carolina early Friday morning for the third annual East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion (October 15-17, 2004) with great expectations based on our experiences at the two previous reunions. Arriving early afternoon at the Jameson Inn, we began our busy weekend of fun! The three day event kicked off Friday afternoon at Superior Chrysler Dodge Jeep with a barbeque, a live band and a car show that featured race cars, street rods, muscle cars and classics. Some of the drag racing personalities on hand were Ronnie Sox, Dick Brannan, Phil Bonner, Barb Hamilton, Bill Stiles, Bogan Renfroe, FE Bob Fermier, Billy Holt, George Weiler, Dickie Estevez, Tom Sneden, 'Hemi Fred' Ristagno, Charlie Fishback, Kenny Warren, Elaine Hughes Jape, Julio Marra, Marco DeCesaris, Jack Redd, and of course, Nancy Wilson. It was especially nice to see Ronnie Sox in attendance and looking well after his recent health problems. Just a few of the race cars on display were three Sox & Martin Dusters, Barb Hamilton's supercharged Willys gasser, the Hartsoe Bros. Anglia, the Moose Too altered, Tom Sneden's Dodge S/S, and several Hemi cars. Reed Koeppe made the long trip from Nebraska again this year and brought along another rare Mopar - this time it was a 1963 Dodge Polara 500 with a 426 Max Wedge! I was also very impressed by two radical street cars that were there - a Maverick with a 427 SOHC and an injected Hemi powered altered wheelbase '65 Dodge! As it always seems when you're having a great time, the afternoon passed much too quickly and it was soon time to head back to the Jameson Inn for the reception. The host motels (Jameson Inn, Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn Express) held receptions for the racers and car show crowd on Friday evening. [More motel information for Henderson, NC.] The receptions are always fun, laid back affairs and you never know who might walk in the door next! There is usually a bench race going on somewhere with racers reliving (and probably embellishing) their races during the golden years of drag racing. I had a nice chat with Ronnie Sox, Dean Sox, Bruce Larson, and Billy Holt. I finally got a chance to see Elaine Hughes Jape's scrap books that she has spent countless hours assembling. As it is every year, the reception was fun and entertaining! A few years ago, I would have never believed that I would be chatting with the drag racing heroes of my youth! On Saturday morning, I ran into Billy Holt and his wife Jo before leaving for downtown Henderson. The Holts are two of the nicest people that I've ever met and Mr. Holt surprised me again with a gift of his personalized Hall of Fame coffee cups! The weather was cool and windy, but that didn't stop the participants or spectators from attending the Show, Shine, Shag & Dine. An estimated 700+ cars and trucks transformed downtown Henderson into an open air car museum as the beautiful machines lined the streets and filled the parking lots! Some of the finest examples of antiques, classics, muscle cars, street rods, trucks and race cars that I've ever seen were on display. Drag racing was well represented with current race cars and historic cars from the past such as the original Dick Brannan Ford Thunderbolt (the first T-Bolt built) that is now owned by Dan Snyder, Phil Bonner's T-Bolt, Marco DeCesaris' T-Bolt, Dickie Estevez's Daddy Warbucks Falcon, Bruce Larson's USA-1 Camaro Funny Car, Tom Sneden's Dodge, Dave Strickler's Chevy, Dyno Don Nicholson's Maverick, 3 Sox & Martin Dusters (see Ronnie Sox), Dave Hales' Willys, Barb Hamilton's Willys, Rocky Pirrone's Boss Hydro Willys, Coney Island Ralph Landolfi's Anglia, Dale Broderick's Fiat-bodied Competition Coupe, Sy Sidebotham's King & Marshall front engine AA/FD, Hahn & Turner's dragster and several other dragsters, gassers and modern drag cars. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s #8 show car was on display for the NASCAR fans. Entertainment was provided by Band of Oz and there was even a Shag dance contest in the street. Food vendors, diecast car dealers, photo and automotive art dealers were also in attendance Saturday. I always look forward to the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion for a chance to meet the drag racing stars that I read about in magazines, new friends and to visit with friends from various parts of the country that I see infrequently. Sam Carroll, Jack Olcott, Jim Amos, Bob Plumer, Jim Hill, Dave Hales, Jim Cagle and Wayne Blackwood are just some of the people that I was finally able to meet after, in some cases, years of email and/or phone conversations. Another highlight for me was meeting Ernie Schorb, the first NHRA Southeast Division Director and Editor/General Manager of Southeastern Drag News that was first published in the late 1950s! I also got a chance to spend some time with Bob Wilberger, Jeff Tinsley, Jack Redd, Julio Marra, Reed Koeppe, Fred Simmons, FE Bob Fermier, Michael Mashie Mihalko, Hemi Fred Ristagno, Phil Bonner, Dick Brannan, Rocky Pirrone, Elaine Hughes Jape, Kenny Warren, Billy West and Bogan Renfroe. Just a few of the well known drag racers on hand were Sox & Martin (Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin), Bud Faubel, Joe Jacono, Butch & Gene Mori, Al Gore, and the S&S gasser gang (Gene Altizer, Fred Bear and Dave Hales). A great day in downtown Henderson concluded with awards to the car show participants and burnouts in the street. Hundreds of spectators lined the street and cheered on the competitors as several cars smoked the tires up Chestnut Street! ESPN2's Brett Kepner was on hand to tape parts of the event for the Inside Drag Racing television program. Brett really got a kick out of Dale Broderick donning his original 1960s full face mask for the burnout contest! The program will be shown on ESPN2 on Tuesday November 9, 2004 at 3:00 pm. Don't miss it! More entertainment followed on Saturday evening as the Vance-Granville Civic Center became a 1950s-themed soda shop. On stage, Keith Henderson performed his award winning Illusions of the King, a tribute to Elvis show to the delight of the audience - especially to some of the ladies in attendance! Nancy Wilson came up with another winner this year as she continues to provide fun and entertaining events throughout the reunion weekend. Thanks to Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. for co-sponsoring this event. On Sunday, the weather was absolutely beautiful for the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Vance-Granville Civic Center. Many of the cars that were displayed in downtown Henderson Saturday were also set up in the parking lot at the Civic Center. T-Bolts, blown Willys gassers, 60s style dragsters, funny cars, pro stocks, super stockers, etc.... it was great! The time before the ceremony provided one more chance for bench racing, autograph signing and scrapbook viewing. Among others, Billy Holt had a nice display of scrap books, a collage of his Alabamian cars/career and a collage covering fellow Alabamian Clayton Harris' career. It was great to see four racers (Phil Bonner, Bogan Renfroe, Jim Cagle and Wayne Blackwood) from the old days in Atlanta get together again for the first time in years. One person that was missed by many was Hubert Platt, who had the flu and was not able to attend this year. I talked to him a few days after returning home and he was much better, although he was very disappointed that he missed the reunion. 1973 NHRA U.S. Nationals Super Stock winner Terry Earwood was the Master of Ceremonies for the 2004 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Terry was inducted into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame in 2002 and is currently the chief instructor at the Skip Barber Racing School. In addition to his many drag racing victories, he is also a world champion road racer. Jim Amos (Bee On Video) graciously provided a video presentation of the 2004 Hall of Fame inductees that was viewed at the beginning of the ceremony. During the ceremony, Terry was his usual wild, wacky and funny self as he introduced the new members of the Hall of Fame. The 2004 award winners were Barbara Hamilton Advey, Jersey John Anzelmo, Dick Brannan, Sam Carroll, Chick DeNino, Steve Earwood, Dick Estevez, Dick Gore, Gary Gore, Carroll Hahn, Richard Hahn, Ralph Hamilton (Posthumous Award), Jim Hill, Billy Holt, Coney Island Ralph Landolphi, Jim Oddy, Joe Pirrone (Posthumous Award), Bob Plumer, Horace Moose Reinford, Paul JR Reinford, Bogan Renfroe (GeorgiaDragRacing.com's Top Sponsor), Sy Sidebotham, Don Snyder, Johnny Walker (Al Sylvester Memorial Award) and George Weiler (Jungle Jim Memorial Award). What a deserving group of drag racers! As usual, there were both touching and funny stories told by the inductees during their acceptance speeches, but a few really stand out to me. One was when multiple drag racing championship winner Jim Oddy stated how much the award meant to him, another was seeing the embrace that Steve and Terry Earwood had on stage as Steve joined his brother as a member of the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and the third was when Ernie Schorb read three letters of recommendation that were sent in for Jim Hill. The letters were from Don Garlits, Steve Gibbs and Wally Parks! I'm not sure if Jim is over his surprise yet! Near the end of the ceremony, Fred Bear announced that Nancy Wilson has taken on another challenge - she wants to establish a drag racing museum in Henderson. I know that Nancy could use everyone's help in this monumental challenge. If you can help in any way, please contact Nancy Wilson. I fully believe that if anyone can complete this project, it will be Nancy! The 2004 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion (and the Show, Shine, Shag and Dine) continues to grow larger and be better every year thanks to Nancy Wilson, Norman Dickerson, the Vance County Tourism Department staff, Superior Chrysler Dodge Jeep, the local residents and businesses, and all of the volunteers that help make the event what it is! I also want to mention that in this day and time, it is refreshing that all of the weekends events are free and open to the public (with the exception of the Saturday evening Vance-Granville Civic Center entertainment which is open to the public, but has an admission fee)! Bring a car, bring your family or just bring yourself, but be sure that you don't miss the 2005 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion! For additional information, contact Nancy Wilson (Director, Events Coordinator/Promoter) or Norman Dickerson (Asst. & Events Coordinator) at the Vance County Tourism Department (1-866-438-4565 - www.kerrlake-nc.com - vctourism@gloryroad.net). Photos: community.webshots.com/album/180950510vnJPHf, community.webshots.com/album/205092395WeoWDG, and community.webshots.com/album/207725426NJEyML. See, also, 2004 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Inductees, East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and Reunion 2003, and East Coast Drag Times Reunion 2002.
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