As usual, I want to hear about all the nostalgia races I can. Please email me with planned races whether they are local or national in scope. I'd like to list them all.
This year there are two new nostalgia racing organizations. One is a strictly Top Fuel group called the Outlaw Nitro Alliance. They will be booking front motored Top Fuel shows at strips primarily in the middle of the country.
The other one popped up in late 2002 and goes by the name of the American Racing Hot Rod Association (ARHRA). This is the group that prompted me to get this page out early to since they have a race scheduled in January. They seem to setting up a number of classes. If it works, it could be fun.
(Please note that I am abbreviating Flatheaders of Denver, Inc. & The Vintage Timing Association as "Denver Flatheaders" in the interest of saving me work. This group includes pre-1954 inline engine racers as well.)
January 9-12 - ARHRA Winternationals, Speedworld Motorplex, Phoenix, AR. They are advertising a 16 car front motored Top Fuel show.
February 15-16 - 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, Blown Bad Boys. The series is adjusting classes for this year. Check their web site for the latest information.
March 7-9 - 44th March Meet, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Famosa Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
April 12-13 - Cool April Nights, Redding Drag Strip, Redding, CA. Inline dragsters, front engined alcohol dragsters.
April 25-27 - NHRA Western States Division Seven Race, Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, CA. Will include Nostalgia Top Fuel
May 4 - Philadelphia Modifiers Old Time Drags, Show, and Swap Meet, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
May 16 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
May 17-18 - 15th Nitro Nationals Nostalgia Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Infinion Raceway, Sonoma, CA
May 17 - Denver Flatheaders, Western Colorado Dragway, Grand Junction, CO
May 17 Rained out. Rescheduled for May 31 - Classic Thunder, Ware Shoals Dragway, Ware Shoals, SC. All classes
May 23-25 - 13th Annual Mid-America Nostalgia Drag Race & Rod Run Series, Mid-America Raceway, Wentzville, MO. 1978 & earlier. Also, Classic Thunder Funny Car vs Altered Showdown.
May 23-24 - Pro Nitro, Firebird Raceway, Phoenix, AZ. Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, A/Fuel, Blown Bad Boys, and a few others.
May 25 - Nostalgia Super Stock, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
May 30 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
May 31 - Rescheduled Classic Thunder. See May 17
May 31 - Classic Thunder, Harrell's Raceway, Fayetteville, NC. Glassic Gassers
May 31 - Blue Suede Cruise, Norwalk Raceway Park, Norwalk, OH. 8 car Top Fuel, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, Pre '72 cars
June 1 - 32nd Annual Antique Nationals Drag Race and Car Show, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. This is a flathead intensive race. 1954 and earlier cars only to race. Car show open to all. For information call Jim at (909) 788-6798, evenings.
June 6-8 - 10th Anniversary High Altitude Flathead and Inline Nationals, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO. Make plans to be at this race. This is the premier flathead race every year and in this anniversery year, the Denver Flatheaders and Bandimere Speedway promise to out do themselves. That should make this the premier premier flathead & inline race.
June 6-8 - WCTA/Freemont Reunion, Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, CA
June 6-8 - Gasser - Fueler Reunion, Thompson Drag Raceway, Thompson, OH (about 40 miles northeast of Cleveland). Gasser Grand Marshal will be Ohio George Montgomery. Fueler Grand Marshal will be Big Daddy Don Garlits.
June 7-8 - 16th BC Old Time Drags & Rod Run, Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex, Ascroft, BC, Canada. Pre 1970 cars.
June 8 - Nitro Nationals Nostalgic Drags, Tulsa International Raceway, Tulsa, OK. Rain date June 15.
June 13-15 - 15th Hot Rod Nationals, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, IN. This usually has a few flatheads.
June 15 - Father's Day Special - Nostalgia Pro Stockers, Mid-America Raceway, Wentzville, MO.
June 15 - Nostalgia Super Stock, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
June 20 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
June 20-22 - National Hot Rod Reunion, Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, KY. This is the NHRA's "east of the Rockies" inaugural nostalgia event produced by the NHRA Museum. This promises to be a really big deal and a great companion to the California Hot Rod Reunion.
June 21-22 - 27th Annual Oldies but Goodies, Woodburn Drag Strip, Woodburn, OR
June 28-29 - Slingshot Nationals, Cordova Dragway Park, Cordova, IL
June 27-29 - Goodguys 6th West Coast Hot Rod Happenin', Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Pomona Raceway, Pomona, CA.
July 8-9 - Famous Fox Hunt/Night of Fire, Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, CA. Nostalgia Top Fuel
July 11 - Friday Night Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, National Trail Raceway, Columbus, OH
July 11-12 - York U.S. 30 Musclecar Madness, York Expo Center, York, PA. This is not a drag race, but is a car show featuring many of the famous and not so famous drag racing cars of yesteryear. I was amazed at what I saw on their web page. The information I have on the event says "Don't let the title fool you as there (are) restored front engine top fuelers, funny cars, altereds, gassers, super stockers..." There is an associated drag race the next day at nearby Maple Grove Raceway (see below)
July 13 - Geezers at the Grove, Maple Grove Raceway, Mohnton, PA. This is the nostalgia race associated with the York U.S. 30 Musclecar Madness.
July 18 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
July 18 - Friday Night Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Seattle International Raceway, Kent, WA
Rained out. See September 27. July 19 - Classic Thunder, Wilkesboro Raceway Park, Wilkesboro, NC. Classic Gassers
July 26 - Denver Flatheaders Points Race, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO
July 26-27 - The 2nd Annual Funny Car Reunion, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ.
August 1 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
August 1-3 - 13th Annual Mid-America Nostalgia Drag Race & Rod Run Series, Mid-America Raceway, Wentzville, MO. 1978 & earlier.
August 1-3 - Nostalgia Weekender and Three Day Drag Race, South Butler Drag Strip, Syracuse, NY
August 9 - OFTA Nostalgia Race, Tri State Raceway, Earl, IA. OFTA Sling Shots, Nostalgia Heads Up Classes, Show & Go. Rain date - August 16. (OFTA is Old Farts Timing Assosciation)
August 9,10 Denver Flatheaders, Douglas International Raceway, Douglas, WY
Cancelled August 15-16 - Heartland Hot Rod Reunion, SRCA Dragstrip, Great Bend, KS. Lost a major sponsor. Will try again next year.
August 15-16 - Pro Nitro, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV . Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, Blown Bad Boys.
August 17 - Nostalgia Super Stock, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
August 23 - HAMB Drags, Mo-Kan Dragway, Asbury, MO. The inaugural event of the Hokey Ass Message Board of the Jalopy Journal web site. This could be the most nostalgic event of the year - hot rodders getting together to race their hot rods like they did back in the beginning.
August 23 - 9th Annual Nostalgia Drags, Bremerton Raceway, Bremerton, WA
August 29 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
August 30-31 - Time Machine Nationals, Great Lakes Dragaway, Union Grove, WI. Looks like a mix of new and old.
September 6 - Classic Thunder, Ware Shoals Dragway, Ware Shoals, SC. All classes.
September 12 - Nostalgia, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
September 12-13 - Governer's Cup, Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, CA. Nostalgia Top Fuel
September 19-20 - Pro Nitro Desert Thunder Shootout, Firebird Raceway, Phoenix, AZ. Not strictly nostalgia, but features front engined AA/FD, Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, A/Fuel, Blown Bad Boys, and a few others.
September (19?), 20, 21 - Nostalgia Race with Denver Flatheaders, SRCA Dragstrip, Great Bend, Kansas
September 20 - Nostalgia Super Stock, Funny Cars, Mopar Car Show, NESGA, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
September 20-21 - First Annual Nostalgia Drag Races, Mason County Raceway, Havanna, IL. This is being presented by The Nostalgia Boys from Illinois. Looks to be a very interesting format. Contact Bernie Leonard (847)395-5781 or Jim Gravitt (309) 475-2502 for details.
September 24 - Denver Flatheaders Points Race, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO
September 27 - Classic Thunder, Wilkesboro Raceway Park, Wilkesboro, NC. Classic Gassers. This is rescheduled from July 19 due to a rainout.
September 28 - 40th Anniversary Hot Rod Reunion, Wichita International Raceway, Wichita, KS. This is the track's 40th Anniversary year. Classes for nostalgia cars and modern cars, vintage cars from Brent Hajek's collection, swap meet, car show.
October 3-5 - California Hot Rod Reunion at Famosa Raceway, Bakersfield, CA. This is NHRA's big West Coast nostalgia race presented by the NHRA Museum. Tech and pit access available on Oct 2.
October 4 - American Hot Rod Reunion, Mo-Kan Dragway, Asbury, MO. Hardly anyone commemorates the old American Hot Rod Association, but here is your chance at some memorabilia and an interesting format for a nostalgia drag race.
October 4 - Denver Flatheaders Points Race, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO
Date Change (see September 28) October 5 - Hot Rod Reunion, Wichita International Raceway, Wichita, KS. This is the track's 40th Anniversary year.
Oct 31-Nov 2 - 5th Fuel & Gas Nationals, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Famosa Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
Nov 1-2 - Southern Nostalgia and Muscle Car Shootout, Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, FL
Nov 8 - The Day of the Drag Race, Temple Academy Dragway, Temple, TX. Presented by the Kontinentals car club. "All cars pre 1964 & older. Run what ya brung."
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. I would note that I am sure I have missed a bunch. If you aren't listed and want to be, send me an email.
Flatheaders of Denver, Inc. - Vintage Timing Association This is the only flathead drag racing organization I know about. They also accept pre-1954 inline cars as well, regardless of which direction the valves point. They have a circuit that hits the tracks of Colorado and a few in adjoining states.
Outlaw Nitro Alliance This group will book an eight car top fuel field with ten cars guaranteed for qualifying.
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.