It was a great day of action at Hot Rod Magazine Drag Week 2013 sponsored by Gear Vendors and Pep Boys Speed Shop on Monday as racers attacked the quarter mile at the historic Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There were stunning runs made in many categories but the two show stoppers were made by Dave Ahokas and Tom Bailey. The tandem of Unlimited competitors reset the lowest elapsed time and highest mile per hour marks on Drag Week twice within a few minutes of each other.
Dave Ahokas unleashed a titanic 6.83 shot early in the first session of the week and that, for the moment was the quickest Drag Week pass in the history of the event. About 20 minutes later, Tom Bailey driving the twin turbocharged big block Camaro that was originally built as the “Project Sick Seconds” machine then set the world on its ear, running an absolutely ludicrous 6.72/214mph shot that rotated the Earth backwards. The wild part? That car is far from done as the sixty foot time was in the 1.20s. Morris and Bailey softened it up to get it off the line. Just awesome stuff.
Jeff Lutz and Joe Barry struggled as did Dave Schroeder. The three familiar cars did not record anything close to the numbers of Ahokas and Bailey with Lutz running a 7.30 lap after pushing a head gasket out. Schroeder was battling electrical issues all day and Joe Barry had violent tire shake end his sprints early. All of the major Unlimited cars are still in the game, with Barry getting to the hotel at nearly 3 AM after a long ride from Kentucky. Lutz swapped the head gasket and made the drive to the hotel, arriving in the dark of night.
Some 15 competitors have dropped out for various reasons already. The carnage count is mounting already!
Here are some photos from the first day!
wow… the Aussie Charger made me do a double take!!
Hey Brian, How about that Smokin’ Joe at Beech Bend, is that guy fun or what ? Really enjoyed listening to you two yesterday.