Bruce Larson’s Dragfest: Photos From The Drag Racing Event That Is Part Open House, Part Car Show, And Part Bench Racing


Bruce Larson’s Dragfest: Photos From The Drag Racing Event That Is Part Open House, Part Car Show, And Part Bench Racing

The official end to the racing season out here in Pennsylvania happens on the second Saturday each November, that is when former NHRA Funny Car Champion Bruce Larson hosts his annual DragFest at his Stoney Creek barn outside of Harrisburg. The DragFest is part open house, part informal car show, part bench racing session, and all fun. After skipping last year for obvious reasons, the 2021 edition caught some chilly, rainy, and damp autumn weather but folks still came out strong for one last day of car-related goodness. Former NHRA announcer Bob Frey was in town and played MC for a charity raffle and did some neat interviews. There was a small vendor area where you could pick up some vintage photos or some collectibles. Outside, parked in every crevice of Larson’s property were Hot Rods, Muscle Cars, and Street Machines, real nice, quality stuff. And, of course, Drag Cars.

Some favorites were the Ida Automotive’s absolutely killer supercharged 4 door Willys, a re-creation of one of Rod Ida’s early race cars. Dragster fans were dazzled by a variety of front motored cars like Brian Beattie’s dead nuts resto of Jim and Allison Lee’s Great Expectations II and a few Flathead urged diggers. A great collection of muscle cars and hot hods dared the raindrops, and we were glad they did. Hemi’s, a Boss Mustang, a few sweet station wagons, 55 Chevys and 32 Fords and so much more. Funny Car fanatics found themselves flabbergasted by the latest edition of the Frantic Ford Mustang and Rapid Roy Harris “Bud Man” Arrow roller, resplendent in its original paint and bitchin’ lettering and graphics. Add in a few late models and even a Bonneville Lakester, and there was something for everyone.

Bruce Larson Stoney Creek Barn is filled to the brim with his lifetime collection of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding mementos. Trophies, Awards, destroyed parts, vintage jackets, Fire suits, helmets, Bruce didn’t toss anything away. Larson’s shop is in the basement of his barn and it is open for all to walk through. Check out his current USA-1  ’68 Camaro Nitro burner, vintage tools, and equipment, plus current and used-up parts are all inter-mix with more drag racing artifacts throughout the shop and storage areas. It’s an honor to be able to check it freely. I did a little video throughout the day so I’ll share that also…

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF OUR PHOTOS FROM BRUCE LARSON’S DRAGFEST


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One thought on “Bruce Larson’s Dragfest: Photos From The Drag Racing Event That Is Part Open House, Part Car Show, And Part Bench Racing

  1. Michael Schwartz

    Two items are particularly interesting. One is the bill of sale for a Monza Funny car roller with the provision that the chassis is to be loaned back to Jungle Jim in ten day’s time. The other is the cover from “Jim ‘Jungle’ Liberman” from Ft Carson CO posted 12 years after Jungle Jim’s death.

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