Meltdown Drags 2017 Coverage: The First Barrage Of Awesome Photos From Byron Dragway


Meltdown Drags 2017 Coverage: The First Barrage Of Awesome Photos From Byron Dragway

(Photos by Greg Rourke and Bob Chiluk) – Once again, it’s that time of year…the Meltdown Drags! The eighth annual Meltdown might have been this biggest or best, but either way it was incredible.

The Meltdown cats endeavour to make the current year look like your local dragstrip in 1966. Obviously cars must be 1966 or older, but they stiplify that they don’t have any visible speed goodies that aren’t era correct. So no Centerlines, no snorkel hood scoops, no yellow letter slicks…you get the idea. Entries are limited to 500, and you must submit a photo of your car for review. If it doesn’t look correct, you no race. Speaking of race, there is no purse or trophy. Just bragging rights, and three days of fun.
Once again, hidden and forgotten race cars came out of the woodwork. Just when you think every old Gasser or dragster has been found, more appear. There are also plenty of new construction cars, built by guys who clearly get it. BangShifter extrodinaire David Pelissier was on hand with his badass blown IH Scout. On Friday he came down hard from a wheelie and bent his straight axle. He simply wandered over to a vendor who had the correct axle for sale. One problem, the spring perches were in the wrong location. A welder was on the property who relocated the perches and wouldn’t accept any money for his services. People helping people, it’s a beautiful thing.
Thank you once again to Paul, Koop, Smokey Moe and the rest of the Meltdown crew. They were so busy running a flawless event they barely have time to run their own iron, which is the reason the started this deal in the first place. Mark your calendar for the for the third weekend in July next year and arrange travel to Byron, Illinois. And if think you have what it takes to compete, better have a fast finger on January 1, 2018 when registration starts. And likely fills up.


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3 thoughts on “Meltdown Drags 2017 Coverage: The First Barrage Of Awesome Photos From Byron Dragway

  1. Dave Heiring

    First time racing at the meltdown won\’t be the last best time racing in long time, Not use to the frendly crew who puts this on, my hats off to you guys, could not have been better.Thanks as again!

  2. Dave Pelissier

    Fast finger to pre-register – Damn right !! I received a confirmation my pre-registration was received at 12:00.00.78. That’s 78/100 of a second after midnight – and I was number 38…

    That axle swap was epic. We started the thrash Saturday morning and by 1 pm it was on a check out drive around the pits. We waited until the evening to make a run… which went perfectly. The set up was bang on – I never had to move the steering wheel on what I categorized as a “Cautiously-Stupid” pass of 10.13 / 130

    Huge thanks to Bill Carlson / WAC Customs for being there with an axle that had the correct king to king width and for taking well over an hour of his time to help the welders set it up.

    Thank you to Besson Welding / Welder’s Supply for being there and committing 4 guys to the task. Thanks to the Meltdown Drags Association for having the welding guys on site. They helped at least 5 other racers

    Thanks to my friends and fellow racers for helping to turn wrenches, offer assistance and even just for the support.

    The 9th Annual Meltdown Drags – Byron IL. – July 20, 21, 22 – 2018

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