Last year was a pretty chaotic year owing to the rise and fall of the American Drag Racing Association. 2002 is a year for regrouping. So, as usual, I want to hear about all the nostalgia races I can. Please email me with planned events whether they are local or national in scope. I'd like to list them all.
One thing of particular note is the revival of the American Nostalgia Racing Association. I almost missed putting their races in this schedule, but at the last minute got a reminder that they did have a schedule this year with races in Palmdale, Phoenix, and Tucson. They hope to work up to more races throughout the country.
(Please note that I am abbreviating Flatheaders of Denver, Inc. & The Vintage Timing Association as "Denver Flatheaders" in the interest of saving me work.)
February 9 & 10 - The Sam's Town Pro Nitro Nationals and Car Show, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV . Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, 7.00 and 7.60 Blown Bad Boys.
March 2 - 1st Annual Spring Nostalgia Night, Atmore Dragway, Atmore, AL
March 8, 9 & 10 - 43rd March Meet, Vintage Racing Associates (VRA) Goodguys, Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
April 20 - North East Timing Organization, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Lebanon Valley, NY
April 20 & 21 - 14th Nitro Nationals Nostalgia Drags, Vintage Racing Associates (VRA) Goodguys, Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma, CA
April 21 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, US 13 Dragway, Delmar, DE
April 27 - Funny Car Fever, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. Includes AA/FD
April 28 - Nostalgia Super Stocks, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
May 5 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Julesburg Raceway, Julesburg, CO
May 5 - Philadelphia Modifiers Old Time Drags, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
May 5 - North East Timing Organization, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
May 18 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Western Colorado Dragway, Grand Junction, CO
May 18 - North East Timing Organization, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Lebanon Valley, NY
May 24, 25 & 26 - 12th Annual Mid-America Nostalgia Drag Race & Rod Run Series (1975 & Earlier Mfg.), Mid-America Raceway, Wentzville, MO (near St. Louis)
May 24-25 - Pro Nitro Tucson Thunderfest and Car Show, Southwestern International Raceway, Tucson, AZ . Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, 7.00 and 7.60 Blown Bad Boys.
May 25 & 26 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Beaver Springs Raceway, Beaver Springs, PA
May 26 - Nostalgia Super Stocks, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
May 31 & June 1 - Ted Hoover Memorial Classic, Southwest Summernite Madness, American Nostalgia Racing Association, Speedworld Motorplex, Phoenix, AZ. There will be a class for flatheads and one for inline engines as well as Top Fuel and many others.
June 1 & 2 - Gasser Reunion, Thompson Drag Raceway, Thompson, OH.
June 1 & 2 - 2nd Annual Hot Rod Gasser Nationals, Southern Oregon Dragway, Medford, OR
June 2 - Nostalgic Old Time Drags, Tulsa International Raceway, Tulsa, OK
June 2 - 32nd Annual Antique Nationals ('54 and earlier), Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA
June 2 - Capital Area Rodders Nostalgia Drags and Car Show, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Lebanon Valley, NY
June 7, 8 & 9 - High Altitude Flathead/Inline Nationals, Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morris, CO (Denver area)
June 7, 8 & 9 - Goodguys 13th Indy Hot Rod Nationals, Vintage Racing Associates (VRA) Goodguys, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, IN
June 16 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Numidia Raceway, Numidia, PA
June 22 & 23 - 26th Annual Oldies but Goodies, Woodburn Dragstrip, Woodburn, OR
June 23 - NE Hot Rod Reunion, New England Dragway, Epping, NH
June 29 - Nanook vs the World (AA/Fuel Altereds), Wichita International Raceway, Wichita, KS
June 28, 29 & 30 - The 1st Annual Ed "Big Daddy" Roth Run Wot Ya Brung Drag Race & Rat Fink Weekender 2002, Wendover Raceway, Wendover, UT. I'm not sure this is a nostalgia race in the traditional sense, but "Big Daddy" Roth is a nostalgic memory to many.
June 29 & 30 - Slingshot Nationals IV, Front Engine Dragsters of America, Cordova Dragway Park, Cordova, IL. Classes will be FED Top Fuel, A/FD, Jr. Fuel, Nostalgia Funny Car, Nostalgia Eliminator, Nostalgia Bracket, Flathead/Inliner. The Vintage Nitro Alliance is putting together a "Claudie Meador Shootout" for Nostalgia Top Fuel.
June 29 & 30 - High Desert Summer Classic, American Nostalgia Racing Association, LA County Raceway, Palmdale, CA
June 30 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Pueblo Speedway, Pueblo, CO
Jun 30 - North East Timing Organization, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
June 30 - Nostalgia Super Stocks, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
July 7 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Mason Dixon Dragway, Hagerstown, MD
July 12 - Friday Night Drags, Vintage Racing Associates (VRA) Goodguys, National Trail Raceway, Columbus, OH
July 19 - Friday Night Drags, Vintage Racing Associates (VRA) Goodguys, Seattle International Raceway, Kent, WA
July 19 & 20 - Mid Summer Night of Fun, American Nostalgia Racing Association, Southwestern International Raceway, Tucson, AZ
July 19, 20 & 21 - Weekend of WCTA Fremont Reunion, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. Fox Hunt on the 19th (includes AA/FD), Night of Fire on the 20th (includes AA/FD & AA/Gas), then the actual WCTA Fremont Reunion on the 21st with the full nostalgia program.
(Canceled) July 26-27 - Pro Nitro Drag Racing Hot Summer Nitro, Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, CA . Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, 7.00 and 7.60 Blown Bad Boys.
July 27 - Bent 8's Mid Valley Super Cruise, Woodburn Dragstrip, Woodburn, OR. I believe this includes a drag race, but please check first.
July 27 & 28 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Douglas International Raceway, Douglas, WY
July 27& 28 - First Annual Funny Car Reunion and 23rd "Old Time Drags & Rod Run", Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ. Email info at funnycarreunion@aol.com.
July 28 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, South Mountain Dragway, Boiling Springs, PA
July 28 - Nostalgia Super Stocks, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
South August 1, 2, 3 & 4 - Inliners International Motor City Convention, Detroit, MI. Drag racing will be held at Milan Dragway, Centerline, MI. Check with the Inliners for the exact schedule for the races.
August 2, 3 & 4 - 18th Annual Mid-America Nostalgia Drag Race & Rod Run (1975 & Earlier Mfg.), Mid-America Raceway, Wentzville, MO (near St. Louis)
August 3 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Cecil County Dragway, Rising Sun, MD
August 3 - Nostalgia & Fuel Altered Race, Southern Oregon Dragway, Medford, OR
August 4 - North East Timing Organization, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
August 7-11 - Nightfire Nationals, Firebird Raceway, Boise, ID. This doesn't really claim to be a nostalgia race, but includes AA/FD and Fuel Altereds.
August 10 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morris, CO (Denver area)
August 10 & 11 - 14th Annual Hot Rod Nationals, Woodburn Dragstrip, Woodburn, OR
August 11 - 1st Annual Nostalgia Race, Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, PA
August 16 & 17 - Thunder in the Valley Nostalgia Extravaganza, Thunder Valley Raceway Park, Noble, OK (near Oklahoma City) I'm not sure whether to call this a revival of the Heartland Hot Rod Reunion, which in my mind was the premiere nostalgia race in the Midwest, or a replacement for it, or just a clean slate new race. The Vintage Nitro Alliance is putting together a "Claudie Meador Shootout" for Nostalgia Top Fuel. Classes are advertised as Top Fuel, Jr. Fuel, Fuel Altered, Nostalgia Eliminator, Slingshot Altered, and the track's regular program. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday with fuel under the lights both nights.
August 17 - Classic Southern Thunder, Ware Shoals Dragway, Ware Shoals, SC. Associated car show August 16 at Cross Creek Mall, Greenwood, SC.
August 24 - 8th Annual Nostalgia Drags, Bremerton Raceway, Bremerton, WA
August 25 - Drag'n In The Fifties ('72 and earlier), New England Dragway, Epping, NH
August 25 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, US 13 Dragway, Delmar, DE
August 31 & September 1 - Oldies Hot Rod Nationals, Firebird Raceway, Eagle, ID. This information came from the Inliners International web page. It is not on the Firebird schedule. According to the Inliners, there will be an Inline/Flathead class.
August 31 & September 1 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Beaver Springs Raceway, Beaver Springs, PA
September 6, 7 & 8 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, at the 12th Annual Nostalgia Race ("Nostalgia Nationals"), SRCA Dragstrip, Great Bend, KS. The 6th is a test & tune night with the races being on the 7th and 8th. This drag strip is the site of the first NHRA Nationals in 1955.
September 7 & 8 - High Desert Fall Classic, American Nostalgia Racing Association, LA County Raceway, Palmdale, CA
September 13-15 - San Coble Raceway & Van Isle Dragway Reunion, Esquimalt Sports Center, Victoria, BC. I'm pretty sure this is not a race, but a get together of folks who used to race there. Check out the web page for better info.
September 14 - Governor's Cup Championships, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. Includes AA/FD
September 15 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morris, CO (Denver area)
September 15 - Old Time Drags, Tulsa International Raceway, Tulsa, OK
September 20-21 - The Pro Nitro Desert Shootout, Firebird Raceway, Phoenix, AZ. Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, 7.00 and 7.60 Blown Bad Boys.
September 20 & 21 - Summer's End Madness, American Nostalgia Racing Association, Southwestern International Raceway, Tucson, AZ
September 21 - (Rescheduled? See Oct. 6) Nostalgia Weekend, Wichita International Raceway, Wichita, KS
September 21 - Nostalgia Super Stocks/Funny cars/Mopar Car Show, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
September 22 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Numidia Raceway, Numidia, PA
September 27, 28 & 29 - 21st Nostalgia Drags and Pro-Mod Show, Mid-America Dragway, Arkansas City, KS (Nostalgia eliminations on Sunday if I understand correctly. Check with the strip.)
September 28 & 29 - Hot Rod Gasser Fall Nationals, Southern Oregon Dragway, Medford, OR
September 29 - Capital Area Rodders (Nostalgia Only - '74 and Older), Lebanon Valley Dragway, Lebanon Valley, NY
September 29 - Philadelphia Modifiers Old Time Drags, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
September 29 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
October 4, 5 & 6 - 11th California Hot Rod Reunion, Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
October 5 - American Hot Rod Reunion, Mo-Kan Dragway, Asbury, MO
October 5 - North East Timing Organization, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Lebanon Valley, NY
October 6 - Flathead/Inline Race, Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morris, CO (Denver area)
October 6 - Hot Rod Reunion, Wichita International Raceway, Wichita, KS. Will feature cars from Brent Hajek's collection of famous old drag cars - mostly funny cars and super stocks.
October 11, 12 & 13 - October-Fast Nostalgia Blast, Gateway International Raceway, Madison, IL (St. Louis area). This is not on the track's list of scheduled events.
October 12 - Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers Association, Cecil County Dragway, Rising Sun, MD
October 19 - 20 - The Pro Nitro Gold Rush Nationals, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined Top Fuel.
November 1, 2 & 3 - 3rd Fuel & Gas Finals, Vintage Racing Associates (VRA) Goodguys, Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, CA.
November 2 & 3 - Southern Nostalgia and Muscle Car Shootout, Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, FL
November 16 & 17 - Southwest Autumn Speedfest, American Nostalgia Racing Association, Speedworld Motorplex, Phoenix, AZ
November 29 & 30 - Classic Thunder Thanksgiving Nostalgia Super Show & Fun Day, Darlington International Dragway, Hartsville, SC. Car show and swap meet on the 29th, race on the 30th. All heads-up racing on a pro tree. Front engined Top Fuel, Classic Funny Cars, AA/Gassers, B/Gassers advertised.
There are a number of groups of nostalgia and nostalgia-like racers that run their own circuits or have booked-in shows. After giving it some thought, I have decided to list these groups separately. I will give a link to their web site if there is one, or if there is no web site, put their schedule as I know it on this page. With the links, changes and additions can be followed by a click of your mouse rather than me having to figure out when updates are needed and post them. You may notice some of the dates will overlap with the races listed above as these folks often participate in nostalgia races beyond their individual bookings.
Outlaw Fuel Altereds Blown alcohol and nitro altereds (center steer cars). No one would mistake these fuel altereds for late sixties fuel altereds, but if the class had carried on, this is probably what it would have evolved to. Often participate in nostalgia races. Amazingly fun to watch.
The Nostalgia Boys From Illinois Kind of self descriptive group name, these folks take nostalgia front engined dragsters on the road for heads-up racing.