| In The Pits ---- is about the
people, cars and events of Redding Drag Strip.
Got a story or photo?
Let the webmaster know and we'll put it up!
Click here
This fantastic Drag Racing article ran in the Record Searchlight
4/22/07. Here is the link.
http://www.redding.com/news/2007/apr/22/on-line/
I hope the link remains active. Let me know if it goes dead. Thanks!
to Melita Bena for bringing this to my attention.
NHRA Div. 7
Summit Racing Series 2006 - ET Finals
October 11-13, 2006
Famosa Raceway - Bakersfield, CA
The Redding Team
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Congratulations!!
Victor Silva
Galt, CA
'69 Mustang
et: 11.22, mph: 105.52
Winner of the
PRO Race of Champions
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Winner - Pro Race of Champions
"I was racing the Street category in the finals at Sears Point
Raceway back in 2000 with the same car and went out in the semis. For a very long time It
has been a dream of mine to race in Pomona. I would like to thank Redding Drag Strip
for the opportunity that was given me to participate in their points race. Everyone in
Redding has always made me feel welcome and I am proud to represent you in the finals at
Pomona."
Victor Silva
Victor, our thanks go to you for bringing Redding Drag Strip's team this
honorary distinction! |
Spring CleanUp 2006....a Great Turnout
| CleanUp Round-One: Feb 25th was a great start thanks
to the day's crew: Bob Lidell, Chris Isbell, Claudette Dickey, Dan Polk, Dean Nilson,
Denton Hollifield, Gordy Ingraham of Race Hard Souvenirs, and Paul Dickey. |
(click image to enlarge)
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CleanUp Round-Two: On Mar 4th the threat
of rain and cool temperatures did not keep away our best ever group of volunteers: Carl
Engel, Chris Isbell, Chris Kirby, Claudette Dickey, Craig Blaisdell (in front-loader) see more... |
Spring 2006 Track Improvements
Learn more...
(click image to enlarge) |
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October 17, 2004
Congratulations to Mike Hall of Red Bluff. In his
1993 Mustang he
has won 2004's "King of the Track" title and Wally. Great racing
Mike!
Check out Mike's other victories in Driver Profiles. |
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Feature Article
Street Legal or Bracket Racer or Both?
By George Lewellen
October 26, 2004
Street Legal racers can be winners in the Bracket class...learn how. More... |
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Coming to Redding Drag Strip
Warhawk Motorsports
Jet Funny Cars
The Warhawk Motorsports Jet Funny Cars are powered by Pratt
& Whitney J-60 engines. These engines are used in military trainers, private
jets and helicopters. With the help of an afterburner these engines produce 5,600
pounds of thrust.
click image for larger view
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Nitehawk Jet Funny Car is
a 2002 Camaro and the newest addition to the Warhawk Motorsports stable of Jet Funny Cars.
The driver, Richard Smith, has been drag racing since 1976. From a 1957
Chevy, to a front engine dragster, to Alcohol Funny Cars, and now to a Jet Funny Car.
Richard is from Bend, Oregon. |
Warped Speed Jet Funny Car
has a Trans Am body and is driven by Billy Hosford from Portland, Oregon. His
racing career started in a 1983 door slammer. In the mid 80's he became a crew
chief for a Northwest based Alcohol Funny Car team. In 1997, he retained his crew
chief duties on a Jet Funny Car team. In 2000, he took over driving duties as a
licensed jet car driver. |
click image for larger view
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| These cars are equipped with Phoenix Fire Suppression
Systems which is owned and operated by Warhawk Motorsports. Visit them on
the web at: www.PhoenixFireSuppression.com. |
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Bob Lidell
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Summit Racing Series
Division 7 ET Finals -
2004
Famoso Raceway
Bakersfield, CA
October 7-10th |
Michael Emmons
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Tom Crowl
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Team Redding, though small in numbers, made its presence known at
this year's event. Our handful of Pro, Sportsman and Street racers competed hard
among a huge field of over 800 racers, but the winner's circle was elusive this season in
all events. |
Byron Boyd
(front)
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Frank Gebhart
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Jeff Hostetter
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Joel Hefner
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Racers and their team members were not short on enthusiasm though
and the barbecue Friday night was a lot of fun. It allowed everyone to meet, some
for the first time, and to chow-down on Tom Crowl's home cook'in, talk shop, time trials
and race strategies. |
Mike Chadwick
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Wayne Floyd
(front)
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George Lewellen
(front)
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Congratulations racers for a great effort and hard work. And special thanks to the
last three standing...Jeff Hostetter, Frank Gebhart and George Lewellen.
As Woody Allen says..."80% of success is showing up!" |
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Click all images for larger views. More team racer
photos coming. |
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Feature Story
On the Edge of ET 10.0
August 24, 2004
Darryl Adams of Rocklin, CA jammed for eight week in the spring of
2004 to liberate a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle. See what he did to bring his hot rod to
Kool April Drags and how he's handled breaking the ET 10.0 mark. click here.
June 21, 2004, New photos of 'Crossfire's Mishap'
Funny Car Mishap, Saturday, May 15,
2004. Updated: Starting line crew scrambled out of the path
of in-reverse, zig-zagging, out-of-control Alcohol Funny Car 'Crossfire' in this rare
occurrence. The
1,600 horsepower, 2004 Camaro/Victory lost its brakes while in reverse, then accelerated.
Thirty-year
veteran racer (25 of them in a Funny Car), Sloan Taylor, of Central Point, OR hit the
'kill switch' which
broke off, then the 'fuel shut-off switch' which took some time to drain all the fuel in
the line. The car veered
back and forth between the left and right lanes, bounced off guard rails, and crashed
through a chain-link
fence in front of spectator bleachers sending some fans dashing out of the
way. No one was hurt including
the driver. The extent of damage to the Funny Car is presently unknown.
Taylor was in the process of completing a second licensing run
in his new Funny Car when the problem
occurred. Below is 'Crossfire', at the starting line earlier in the day preparing
for the first pass.
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| click images
for larger view photos by Melita Bena |
Dave helping Sloan get into the electronic beam |
Here
are some words from the Taylors
We would just like to thank the fire crew, safety crew and everyone
involved with the Redding Drag Strip for their concern and assistance in untangling our
mess and helping to load the car and making things as easy on us as possible. After
thirty years of racing, been on fire and upside down, they showed themselves to be the
most courteous and helpful track crews we have ever dealt with.
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Charles Wynia of Redding
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Charles runs in Sportsman and has been drag racing about three years. He and his
son found the car in what he describes as '...an old derby car' condition, full of mice
and not smell'in too pretty. In the backyard, they ripped out the interior and
proceeded to rebuild the car up to its present beautiful condition. His Buick runs a
12.6 ET at 104 mph. Charles never drag raced as a teen and says, "Now I'm going
to play...it's my turn". Amen to that Charles. |
'72 Buick-350 Chevy Engine, 350 Automatic
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| Mis-T is one of a handful of women racers you can find around. Although a
spectator at Redding since 1996, she says, "I've been bitten by the bug" and is
in her second-year of racing her 1981 Pontiac Formula 400. When significant-other,
Dennis, decided he wanted to go faster, which resulted in all sorts of left-over parts
laying around, Dennis says, "We had the car so we thought we'd put it together and
let her give it a try". Mis-T's reaction..."This is the first time I've
raced and I love it!" Racing in Sportsman class her Pontiac runs a 11.5 ET at
115 mph. Mis-T says the mens' cars can never go fast enough, then adds, "...I'm
like...leave mine alone!" I think her smiles show she is having lots of fun. |
 Mis-T Hayes of Montague,
CA |
1981 Pontiac Formula |
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| Josh, 19 years-old, seems to have a handle on developing a racing strategy.
Moving up in the Classes, he says, "I started out racing a regular street car...I'd
come out and race High School to get some seat time...", where, he earned two
trophies. Then, he adds, "...I decided I wanted to come up into Sportsman and
started racing my race car....it's more fun...a little bit more of a rush.....it's street
legal, but I tow it up here". In his second 'Sportsman' season, Josh's '65
Plymouth, Valiant, runs a 12.5 ET at 107 mph. Part of his strategy is getting
support. Linnet's Tire Service helps a lot. "If I can't make a race...he
pretty much helps us get to where we need to go", Josh says of his employer, who also
sponsors with a few sets of tires. Phil's Towing, Napa Auto Parts of Corning, and
organizers of 'May Madness Car Show' in Corning, where Josh does 'burnouts' also are
sponsors. Josh says, "And, my Dad, he's pretty much my biggest sponsor...he's
the one who keeps me going....we wrench side-by-side most of the time....".
Josh has plans to improve his racecar's performance but weighs the alternatives.
Sounds like a plan to me. |
'65 Valiant, with a '71 340 Mopar, 727 Trans, 425 horsepower
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Josh Boles, Corning, CA
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