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2003 Old Drag Racers Reunion September 26-28, 2003
by Ed Miles
Friday morning dawned bright on Florida's Emerald Coast as the old drag racers from the southeast area filtered into the hotel headquarters and the parking lot began to fill with vintage street and drag cars, one of which was a restored Ford T-Bolt brought all the way from the Salt Lake City area!
Meanwhile, inside folks mixed and mingled as new arrivals came in, as tables were set up with pictures and memorabilia from the various drag strips in the southeast area. Thanks to Johnny Jordan we had a sign from the old Andalusia drag strip along with a working Christmas tree from 1961! As folks assembled and visited most attendees made reservations for the dinner cruise on the Lady Anderson, which disembarked, at 7pm. Weather was great and a full course dinner along with a band and a spectacular firework presentation capped a beautiful evening.
Saturday morning brought more sunshine and as the day heated up so did the action as additional cars arrived. A large outdoor grill provided lunch selections as the car show judging got under way, meanwhile inside besides the many photographs displayed, many monitors showed either slides or videos for those desiring a break from the noonday heat.
By 2 pm all assembled in the hotel ballroom as the program got underway. After recognizing various guests and before Bobby Lykis announced the winners of the Car Show, the Southeastern Drag Racers Hall of Fame awards were presented. In honor of the thousands of participants over the years, who ran literally millions of miles, in 1/4 mile segments, time was taken to honor a few of the many with the award honorees listed below:
The Industry Award for 2003 went to - David Smith, Retired V.P. and General Manager for Crane Cams of Daytona Beach, Florida.
The Herman Moore Good Sportsman Award for 2003, presented by last years winner, Frank Moring, went to Donald 'Speedy' Ball of Anniston, Alabama.
Phil Bonner was on hand to present Mike Couch, the son of Buster Couch, the Hall of Fame Award for his father, Buster.
Johnny Jordan presented Edna Goodson, the widow of Rex, the Hall of Fame Award for Rex Goodson.
Mr. Billy 'Big Deal' Jacobs presented to Charles Moore, the son of Herman, the Hall of Fame Award for Herman Moore.
Joe Teuton came all the way from Houma, Louisiana, to present Jimmy Arnold, of Gonzalez, Florida, his Hall of Fame Award.
Garry Grimes of Buford, Georgia presented his father, Hoyt Grimes his Hall of Fame Award.
Lynne Milner of Hamilton, Georgia gave a heartfelt, emotional presentation of the Hall of Fame Award to her father, Ellis Milner of Waverly Hall, Georgia.
Dennis Bailey of Pensacola, Florida presented Aubrey Padgett, of Evergreen, Alabama his Hall of Fame Award.
And for the final presentation, 'Mr. Big Stuff', Randy Payne of Rome, Georgia presented Hubert Platt, 'The Georgia Shaker', his Hall of Fame Award.
Before the meeting concluded, Mr. James Finch, flew in from NASCAR qualifying and practice at Talladega, Alabama to add some personal accounts and to invite everyone to his beautiful shop facilities at nearby Lynn Haven, Florida to cap off a wonderful weekend with a buffet, drinks and a DJ playing oldies, with the crowd mingling among some of his custom rods and motorcycles. At the conclusion James let some of the old timers do some stout burnouts in his beautiful black turbo-charged 1965 Falcon..
In all, a total of close to 500 old drag racers along with their family, friends and fans assembled to reminisce about older simpler times, re-run old races, and remember others who were not able to be present or are no longer with us. Fond memories were recalled, old friendships were renewed, while new friendships were made, and new bonds were bridged between competitors and fans who heard accounts of events long ago, some details possibly not realized at the time, now come alive with accounts given from different sets of eyes from scenes set in simpler times. Little did we know at that time what changes lay ahead, and in no way did we realize that in many ways those times and those happenings would disappear forever, much like the wispy smoke from those burnouts from yesteryear.
In the purest sense of the word the competitors from the initial days of the sport were pioneers, forging ahead into uncharted realms, risking life and limb trying things without any assurance that what they were trying would even work, much less be successful. All the while they were doing this for the most part with components they had to make themselves, for as hard it is for the younger generation to realize, the aftermarket bolt-on parts were not readily available for every conceivable use as they are today. All this was done by most of the competitors with their own money and on their own time, while holding down a real job and striving to support their families, because sponsor money for the most part was non-existent! Outside of getting a few parts or maybe a few sets of spark plugs, all the food to feed this horsepower had to come from the ingenuity and sparse budget of these competitors who, if lucky enough to win an event, got prize money of 50 to 150 dollars.
Simply put, they did it for the love and challenge of the sport, and we the fans got all of the benefits, so for what its worth, to each and every one of you, please accept 50 years of multiple thank-yous.
