(Words by Bad Brad Klaassen photos by Shane Carson, Mar-Car Promotions and Bad Brad) – What do race fueled adrenaline starved junkies do for excitement in Oklahoma in January when most racing machines are in winter hibernation? Easy, they get together to bench race, relive the golden years of all forms of racing in the Sooner State, eat some killer BBQ and renew or revive friendships that have never waned after years of belonging to a very special clan most never experience. Pole Position Raceway is the perfect venue for the OKC Racers Reunion too, with an indoor electric go-kart track, radio controlled track, and all types of arcade games for kids both young and old. General Manager, Greg Slaton, and his crack staff always do a fantastic job of hosting a fun winter event in the 405. The organizer of the OKC Racers Reunion since year one, Shane Carson, was a very successful circle track racer that made a professional career out of turning left and slinging dirt in anything open wheeled, or full bodied stock cars on asphalt too. He also has a very unique tie to drag racing and the history of both Motorsports in Oklahoma, which I also greatly appreciate today. Carson also happens to be a World of Outlaws Hall of Fame inductee and his father Bud Carson was a world class race promoter, founding Mar-Car Promotions in 1957.
So, let’s go back a bit in Oklahoma City racing history when a WPA Stadium was built in Oklahoma City in 1934 named Taft Stadium, located in the heart of OKC constructed for the high school football teams to compete on. However, a dirt track was added to the field’s perimeter in 1946. With a seating capacity of 18,000 it seemed the perfect venue for post war sprint car and stock car racing. Well, as you can imagine since there wasn’t any type of race track in OKC, Taft Stadium became the host for numerous midget sprint car and stock car races until the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Speedway was completed in 1954. And that brings us fast forward to today at the OKC Racers Reunion where the restored original Taft Stadium marquee sign oozed it’s neon glow announcing the 8th annual OKC Racers Reunion. To see both modern and historic race cars at the same venue really doesn’t get any better for any true gear head, no matter the type of racing machine. If it’s fast and loud, what’s not to love?
Even though you Bangshifters know I’m a straight line racer to the core, the OKC Racer Reunion organizer, Shane Carson, a hall of fame sprint car racer, does have a very unique drag racing connection. You see, his father and lifelong race promoter, Bud Carson of Mar-Car Promotions, teamed up with fellow Oklahoman, Wally Parks, in 1957 and 1958 to host the NHRA’s U.S. Nationals at the Oklahoma City State Fairgrounds Speedway Drag Strip adjacent to the newly constructed Fairgrounds Speedway dirt track half mile course. And since Shane Carson has this unique relationship with straight line racers, he invited OKC’s Ross Howard and his historic Custom Body nitro funny car to the event to not only display, but also cackle the hemi beast for the crowed of 500 racers and fans in attendance twice on a sunny, but windy blustery cool Oklahoma winter day. Howard’s hot rod had been on display at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, California, fired to life with the help of longtime NHRA Division 4 funny car heavy hitter Larry the “Okie Smoker” Brown at the helm calling all the tuning shots and car owner Ross Howard in the seat giving many their first baptism by nitro fire ever. The former Tom Prock driven flopper was quite a sensation on the NHRA Heritage and Mellow Yellow Series in 2016 celebrating the 50th anniversary of funny cars. The Custom Body flopper was actually cackled at the current U.S. Nationals home in Indy where Tom Prock’s grandson Austin sat in the seat as NHRA World Champion funny car tuner Jimmy Prock, Austin’s dad, fired the car to hear it thunder one more time and it was epic.
And that’s the way it went down at the 8th Annual OKC Racers Reunion. Good times with great friends, both old and new, race cars, show cars, BBQ and indoor carting fun. Yes, this fun filled event always helps make those non racing months seem a bit shorter, especially if one can huff a little nitro. So, if you live anywhere near Oklahoma City, this is a must attend gig every January. I know I’ll be there in 2018 and I hope to see you there too.
Until then, See you at the drags,
-Bad Brad
