{"id":525531,"date":"2016-12-16T01:39:15","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T09:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=525531"},"modified":"2016-12-15T05:17:35","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T13:17:35","slug":"dead-drag-strip-file-more-action-cool-cars-and-racing-from-the-long-gone-montgomery-dragway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/bangshift1320\/dead-drag-strip-file-more-action-cool-cars-and-racing-from-the-long-gone-montgomery-dragway\/","title":{"rendered":"Dead Drag Strip File: More Action, Cool Cars, And Racing From The Long Gone Montgomery Dragway"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) –\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Local support for racers came from places like FAST auto parts (did a bunch of machine work and built motors), Bucky\u2019s transmission, and SECO performance out on the Eastern By-pass.\u00a0 Stan Webb was the manager out there and he with his wife were some of the nicest folks I ever dealt with at a speed shop.\u00a0 These days there aren\u2019t many speed shops left and I understand SECO is no longer there.\u00a0 They had a former drag car (1st<\/sup>-gen Camaro named \u2018pinky\u2019) that had been converted to street duty and ran a potent small block with plenty of new go-fast goodies.<\/p>\n

The whole time I was there rumor had been spread about a new, NHRA track being built off the Northern by-pass.\u00a0 Word was that city leaders and economics kept getting in the way.\u00a0 The new track started construction just as I was being stationed elsewhere.\u00a0 It seemed everyone wanted a modern, top-notch facility in which to race, but I can\u2019t help but feel something has been lost as the old 1\/8th<\/sup> mi track was left to fade into history.\u00a0 These small tracks are what fostered the sport back in the day and gave exposure to generations of new fans and racers.\u00a0 The racing there was rarely boring which many folks considered brackets to be.\u00a0 The surface was fairly smooth and, other than being narrow, wasn\u2019t a bad place to run.\u00a0 I\u2019ve ran at bigger tracks, some national event venues, that weren\u2019t prepped as well and the atmosphere not near as friendly.\u00a0 Everyone there seemed to help each other and most folks just got along.\u00a0 I was even witness to one driver having his car fail, but he won that round and one of his competitors lending him his ride.\u00a0 Though he didn\u2019t turn on the win light in the next round, it was a testament to the spirit there.\u00a0 Good driver, but running an entirely different setup and expecting to cut a light and run the number is a bit much to ask as the box-class racing was usually tight with the vast amount of local talent.<\/p>\n

Enjoy this group of shots from a fun little Southern track.<\/p>\n

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