These events may or may not include flatheads. If I know of a class for flatheads, it will be noted.
There are a couple of things of note this year. It seems that the American Nostalgia Racing Association has gotten some wind in its sails after a period of rebuilding. They have five races scheduled at Los Angeles County Raceway for 2005. And this year I went international. I received an Australian nostalgia schedule so I figured, why not? Send me more!
As usual, I want to list as many 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.
(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 18 - Cruzin Magazine Nostalgia Drags, Quit Motorplex, Perth, WA, Australia. Open to all pre '75 vehicles. The brackets are Competition, Sedan, Flathead Challenge, Individual Challenge, and Club Challenge.
March 11-13 - 45th March Meet, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Famosa Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
April 2 - ANRA Classic Opener, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. Flathead/Inline participation encouraged.
April 9 - First Annual Standard 1320 Invitational, Inyokern Drag Strip, Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, CA. This is for cars that reflect the appearance of a certain period in drag racing history and is open to vintage type cars that were built in the mid 1950's to 1971. This is being put on by the Standard 1320 internet group. Information on classes and other info is available here.
April 9 - Nostalgia Nationals, Emerald Coast Dragway, Holt, FL. Includes Ford FE Nationals.
April 9-10 - Kool April Drags, Redding Drag Strip, Redding CA. Strip manager Ron Webster says, "The Kool April Drags is not as much nostalgia as the car show that goes on at the same time. We do have quite a few nostalgia cars run though." Also, "Flathead Jack (Jack Shaffer) will be here on Sunday of the Kool April Nites week end with his twin engine dragster will be making a couple exhibition runs."
April 16-17 - Tulip Festival Drag Race, Woodburn Drag Strip, Woodburn, OR. Pro Nostalgia is part of the program.
April 23-24 - 17th Nitro Nationals Nostalgia Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Infinion Raceway, Sonoma, CA
April 24 - Cruzin Magazine Nostalgia Drags, Calder Park Raceway, VIC, Australia . Open to all pre '75 vehicles. The brackets are Competition, Sedan, Flathead Challenge, Individual Challenge, and Club Challenge.
April 30 - Hot Rod Show & Drags, Mountain Park Dragway, Clay City, KY (Tentative date)
April 30 - 2005 Rat Rod Rumble, 411 Drag Strip, Maryville, TN (Knoxville area). My info says, "...old school drag racing with flagger start and a traditional style car show." "No trailers except gasser or rail classes." '69 and older traditional style only. Five drag classes.
May 1 - Philadelphia Modifiers Old Time Drags, Show, and Swap Meet, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
May 1 - Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association, U.S. 13 Dragway, Delmar, DE
May 1 - NETO Nostalgia, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
May 7 - Denver Flatheaders, Julesburg Dragstrip, Julesburg, CO
May 7 - SNDRA Nostalgia, Emerald Coast Dragway, Holt, FL
May 14-15 - 25th Anniversary Oldies But Goodies Hot Rod Drags, Firebird Raceway, Boise, ID.
May 14-15 - WCTA/Fremont Reunion Nostalgia Drags, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA
May 15 - - ANRA Classic Spring Nationals, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. Flathead/Inline participation encouraged.
May 15 - Cruzin Magazine Nostalgia Drags, Kwinana Motorplex, WA, Australia. . Open to all pre '75 vehicles. The brackets are Competition, Sedan, Flathead Challenge, Individual Challenge, and Club Challenge.
May 15 - NETO, Lebanon Valley Raceway, New Lebanon (Albany), NY. I have not been able to confirm this race.
May 20 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
May 22 - Denver Flatheaders, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO
May 22 - Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association,, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
May 22 - Antique Drags Spring Nationals, Barona 1/8 Mile Drags, Lakeside, CA
May 22 - Southern Slingshots Match race, LaGrange-Troup County Drag Strip, LaGrange, GA
May 22 - Drag Fest, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. AA/FD included.
May 28 - Classic Gassers, Cherokee Raceway Park, Rogersville, TN
May 28 - NETO Nostalgia Drags, Skyview Drags, Tioga Center, NY
May 28 - German Hot Rod & Kustom Car Reunion, Bottrop Kirchhellen, Germany. Eighth Mile Drags. For '65 and earlier.
May 28-29 - Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association, Beaver Springs Raceway, Lewistown, PA
May 29 - Northeast Nostalgia Classic, New England Dragway, Epping, NH. '72 and older.
June 2-5 - Ignitor, Firebird Raceway, Boise, ID.
June 3 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
June 3-5 - High Altitude Flathead and Inline Nationals, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO. (This is advertised by the track as the Fineline Rocky Mountain Hot Rod Happenin') Make plans to be at this race. This is the premier flathead race every year.
June 3-5 - Blue Suede Cruise, Norwalk Raceway Park, Norwalk, OH. Cars produced 1972 and earlier may compete.
June 3-5 KCTA/Nostalgic Weekend, Kansas City International Raceway, Kansas City, MO. KCIR has partnered with the management of Mid America Raceway to host the race and rod run that was so popular at the Wentzville facility. MAR will have no 2005 season.
June 4 - Nostalgia Weekend and PID Reunion, Pittsburgh International Raceway, New Alexandria, PA. Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association has this on their calendar.
June 4 - Classic Gassers, Wilkesboro Raceway Park, Wilkesboro, NC.
June 5 - 35th Annual Antique Nationals Drag Race and Car Show, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. This is normally a flathead intensive race, but conflicts with the Flathead/Inline Nationals in Denver. Cars produced 1954 and earlier may race.
June 10-12 - 17th Hot Rod Nationals, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, IN. This usually has a few flatheads.
June 12 - - ANRA Classic Summer Nationals, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. Flathead/Inline participation encouraged.
June 11-12 - 18th Annual BC Old Time Drags & Rod Run, Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex, Ascroft, BC, Canada. Cars produced 1970 and earlier may compete.
June 17 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
June 17-18 - Nitro Nite of Fire, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. AA/FD, AA/Gas, Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars, more
June 17-19 - National Hot Rod Reunion, Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, KY. This is the NHRA's "east of the Rockies" nostalgia event produced by the NHRA Museum.
June 19 - Nostalgia Drags and Car Show, Lebanon Valley Dragway, New Lebanon (Albany), NY. Presented by Capital Area Rods car club.
June 19 - Cruzin Magazine Nostalgia Drags, W/Syd Int'l Dragway, NSW, Australia . Open to all pre '75 vehicles. The brackets are Competition, Sedan, Flathead Challenge, Individual Challenge, and Club Challenge.
June 25 - Slingshot Nationals, Cordova Dragway Park, Cordova, IL There is a flathead class. Presented by the Front Engine Dragsters of America
June 25 - Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car Match Race, Skyview Drags, Tioga Center, NY
June 25, 26 - Denver Flatheaders, Douglas Motorsports Park, Douglas, WY. Track web page notes this as July 10-11. This will be part of a bigger race.
June 25-26 - 29th Annual Oldies but Goodies, Woodburn Drag Strip, Woodburn, OR. Top Fuel, AA/Supercharged Coupes, Nostalgia Funny Cars, Cars produced 1965 and earlier may compete. Pro Nostalgia is part of the program.
June 26 - Nostalgia Nationals, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
July 3 - Classic Gassers, Head Hunters Putt-Putt, Eatonton, GA
July 3-4 - NSRA Nostalgia Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston (Stratford), England.
July 8 - Friday Night Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, National Trail Raceway, Columbus, OH
July 8 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
July 8-9 - 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. There is an associated drag race the next day at nearby Maple Grove Raceway (see below)
July 10 - York U.S. 30 Nostalgia Nationals, the race part of York U.S. 30 Musclecar Madness, Beaver Springs Raceway, Lewistown, PA. Should be nostalgia superstock and nostalgia gassers at the very least. AA/FC match: USA-1 vs Rolling Stoned.
July 10 - Great Lakes Dragaway 50th Anniversary Nostalgia Drags, Great Lakes Dragaway, Union Grove, WI
July 15 - Friday Night Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Pacific Raceways (Seattle International Raceway), Kent, WA
July 15, 16, 17 - 4th Annual Gasser Magazine Nostalgia Gasser Reunion, Thompson Drag Raceway, Thompson, OH (about 40 miles northeast of Cleveland). Usually called the Gasser Reunion. Cars '66 and older.
July 16, 17 - Denver Flatheaders, Kearney Raceway Park, Kearney, NE
July 17 - New England Hot Rod Reunion, New England Dragway, Epping, NH
July 22 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
July 22, 23,24 - Run What Ya Brung Southeastern Weekender Nostalgia Race, Silver Dollar Raceway, Reynolds, GA. The track schedule lists this as the 23rd only, but other info notes admission and start times for both days. I suggest checking the links before hitting the road. Classes will be Hot Rod, Kustom, Dragster, Gasser, Inline 6, Mini Bike, and Flatty
July 23 - Nitro Nationals Nostalgia Drags, Tulsa Raceway Park, Tulsa, OK.
July 23 - Match Race Madness, U.S. 41 International Dragway, Morocco, IN (Chicago area). Plans call for jr. Fuelers and Gassers among the "old meets new" format. Sounds interesting. The promoters ask that you go to the Match Race Madness web page or contact them about the race and not contact the track since the track does not have the information.
July 23, 24 - Sunday Niagara Nostalgia Drags, Lancaster Dragway, Lancaster, NY.
July 24 - Southern Slingshots, LaGrange-Troup County Drag Strip, LaGrange, GA
July 31 - The 4rd Annual Funny Car Reunion, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ.
August 5 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
August 5-6 - 11th Annual Nostalgia Drags, Bremerton Raceway, Bremerton, WA. Pro Nostalgia is part of the program.
August 5-7 - Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Pomona Fairplex Raceway, Pomona, CA.
August 5-7 - 3rd Nostalgia Weekender and Three Day Drag Race, South Butler Drag Strip, South Butler (Syracuse), NY. Here is all I know about this year's efforts: http://www.hotrodder.com/trackforum/messages/3402.html
August 6 - Street Rod Day, Winterport Dragway, Winterport, ME. "...'Old Time' Drag Racing... This will be heads up racing, flagman starts (no 'Tree'), pre-63 only, flatheads and in-lines encouraged." For more information 207-215-5663.
August 7 - NETO Nostalgia, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
August 7 - Nostalgia Nationals, South Mountain Dragway, Boiling Springs, PA
August 11-14 - Nightfire Nationals, Firebird Raceway, Boise, ID. AA/FA and AA/FD
August 12 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
August 13 - Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO. In addition to the flathead race, Bandimere will be having an overhead valve front engined dragster class at this race. It will be a bracket class with any tire, fuel, induction, or electronics alowed. For more information contact Wes Johnson at 303-789-8467.
August 13-14 - 16th Annual Hot Rod Nationals, Woodburn Drag Strip, Woodburn, OR. Top Fuel, AA/Supercharged Coupes, Nostalgia Funny Cars, '65 and older cars. Pro Nostalgia is part of the program.
August 14 - Maple Grove Reunion - Geezers at the Grove, Maple Grove Raceway, Mohnton, PA.
August 19-20 - Annual Nostalgia Race, SRCA Dragstrip, Great Bend, KS. Denver Flatheaders will be there. This is the drag strip that hosted the first NHRA Nationals. It doesn't get any more nostalgic than that. Originally, the Heartland Hot Rod Reunion VI was scheduled to be at SRCA this weekend, but the organizers were unable to get a sponsor, so it is postponed.
August 20 - Match Race Madness, U.S. 41 International Dragway, Morocco, IN (Chicago area). Plans call for jr fuelers, gassers, nostalgia top fuelers, and funny cars as well as some modern cars. The promoters ask that you go to the Match Race Madness web page or contact them about the race and not contact the track since the track does not have the information.
August 20 - Night of Fire, Red River Raceway, Gillium, LA (Shreveport). Eight Outlaw Top Fuel Dragsters from Outlaw Nitro Alliance.
August 21 - Cruzin Magazine Nostalgia Drags with the Nationals, Willowbank, QLD, Australia. Open to all pre '75 vehicles. The brackets are Competition, Sedan, Flathead Challenge, Individual Challenge, and Club Challenge.
August 27 - HAMB Drags, Mo-Kan Dragway, Asbury, MO. You won't find this listed in the Mo-Kan schedule because it is an event of the Hokey Ass Message Board of the Jalopy Journal web site. They rent the track for a day. This is a very nostalgic event - hot rodders getting together to race their hot rods like they did back in the beginning.
August 27 - Classic Gassers, Wilkesboro Raceway Park, Wilkesboro, NC.
August 28 - Drag'n in the 50's, New England Dragway, Epping, NH. '72 and older.
August 28 - Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association,, U.S. 13 Dragway, Delmar, DE
September 2 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
September 3 - NETO, Lebanon Valley Raceway, New Lebanon (Albany), NY. I have not been able to confirm this race.
September 3-4 - Time Machine Nationals, Great Lakes Dragaway, Union Grove, WI. Looks like a mix of new and old.
September 3-4 - 1st Northwest Nostalgia Drags, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Pacific Raceways, Kent (Seattle), WA
September 4 - Nostalgia Day, Winterport Dragway, Winterport, ME.
September 9 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
September 9-10 - NW Arlington Drag Strip Reunion, Smokey Point? Airport/Dragstrip, Arlington, WA, about 50 mi north of Seattle. 1/4 mile exhibition runs, cacklefest, swap meet, BBQ, etc. (360) 435-4442
September 10 - Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO. In addition to the flathead race, Bandimere will be having an overhead valve front engined dragster class at this race. It will be a bracket class with any tire, fuel, induction, or electronics alowed. For more information contact Wes Johnson at 303-789-8467.
September 11 - East Coast Rod and Custom Ol' Daze Drags, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
September 16-17 - Governors Cup, Sacramento Raceway Park, Sacramento, CA. Nostalgia Top Fuel
September 17-18 - NSRA Hot Rod Drags, Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston (Stratford), England.
September 17-18 - Fall Classic, Woodburn Drag Strip, Woodburn, OR. Pro Nostalgia is part of the program.
September 18 - ANRA Classic Fall Nationals, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. Flathead/Inline participation encouraged.
September 18 - Antique Drags Fall Nationals, Barona 1/8 Mile Drags, Lakeside, CA
September 24 Denver Flatheaders, Western Colorado Dragway, Grand Junction, CO
September 24 - Nostalgia Super Stock, Funny Car, Mopar Car Show, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ. East Coast Gassers are scheduled to be there.
September 25 - Hot Rod Reunion, Wichita International Raceway, Wichita, KS. Tom Hanna's amazing cacklefest top fueler will be there.
September 25 - MANDRA and NETO Nostalgia, Island Dragway, Great Meadows, NJ
September 30 - Nostalgia Series, Oxford Plains Dragway, Oxford, ME
September 30 - October 2 - California Hot Rod Reunion, Famosa Raceway, Bakersfield, CA. This is NHRA's big West Coast nostalgia race presented by the NHRA Museum.
October 1 - Postponed due to rain. See October 23 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 1 - The Day of the Drag Race, Temple Academy Dragway, Austin, TX. A presentation of The Kontinentals. Festivities start September 30 with the drag race on October 1st. Cars pre '64 and earlier.
October 1, 2 - Nostalgia Drags, Midstate Dragway, Havana, IL
October 2 - Denver Flatheaders, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison (Denver), CO . In addition to the flathead race, Bandimere will be having an overhead valve front engined dragster class at this race. It will be a bracket class with any tire, fuel, induction, or electronics alowed. For more information contact Wes Johnson at 303-789-8467.
October 2 - Philadelphia Modifiers Old Time Drags, Show, and Swap Meet, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ
October 2 - Capital Area Rods Fall Nostalgia Drags, Lebanon Valley Raceway, New Lebanon (Albany), NY.
October 8 - Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association,, Cecil County Dragway, Rising Sun, MD
October 15 - Rockabilly Rod Reunion, The Strip, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV. Pre 1965 cars for drags and car show.
October 23 - Rain Date 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 28-30 - 7th Fuel & Gas Nationals, Goodguys Rod and Custom/VRA, Famosa Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
November 5-6 - Southern Nostalgia and Muscle Car Shootout, Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, FL
November 6 - Old Time Drags, Fall Festival Car Show & Sales, Atco Raceway, Atco, NJ. 1975 and older, 65-70 Muscle Car Match Race, East Coast Gassers.
November 12 - Sandhills Street Rod Association Nostalgia Drags, Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, NC. Southern Slingshots will attend.
November 19, 20 - ANRA Classic Finals, Los Angeles County Raceway, Palmdale, CA. Flathead/Inline participation encouraged.
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. 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. The listing is alphabetical.
All American Fuel Dragsters, Inc. Strange that the first listing doesn't really run a circuit or book shows. To quote from their web page, "The purpose of the association is to harmonize Front Motored Top Fuel Teams, and coordinate goals with track operators and promoters. Our intent is to further develop and promote Front Motored Top Fuel drag racing in a safe and professional manner, and to be actively involved in the rules making decisions in which we race by." Members participate in many of the big nostalgia top fuel races in the country.
Classic Gassers Promoting heads up racing with, as the name implies, classic gassers.
East Coast Gassers Gassers in the East. The motto on their logo is "Drag racing as it used to be!!!" Their cars must look period correct - pre '68 bodies, no snorkel scoops, no aero wings, period correct wheels, and so on.
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.
Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association Pre '73 body styles with a nostalgic appearance.
Open Top Fuel This group wants to do things the way I would like to see them done - giving a venue for VRA legal newstalgia, open top fuel with things VRA doesn't allow, and real nostalgia. Even a way to race genuine classics that don't meet current certification.
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.
Pro Nostalgia Association Front motored nostalgia or newstalgia cars capable of 7.99 or quicker.
Southern Slingshots A group dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the original dragster whether short wheelbase altereds or longer front engined dragsters, paraphrased from their web site.
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.
