Day 3, Drag Racing
Although some had broken their cars during the previous two days, the real abuse doesn't happen until the last day of racing: on the quarter-mile. Running on an extra-sticky track, there were a few smoked clutches, and two different competitors broke their rear axles. One entrant was last year's Overall Top Dog Prepped winner, Rich Pickels, and the other was Stacy Pendergrass--a Run & Gun veteran whose history with the event goes back to the '80s!
With clear and sunny weather predicted all day, racers got an hour of practice in (one gent actually made 11 full passes with his car) before they topped off their tanks, checked their tires' air pressure, and got in their racer's mindset. Racing action was hot and heavy, with the King of the Hill bracket racing contest coming down to a 12-second quarter-mile car driven by Steve Pass, and Cliff Speck's Fiero-based kit, which would cover it in 16 seconds! After the race, Pass commented in jest that, "There is just something wrong with having a 16-second King of the Hill winner--I just couldn't let it happen." And he didn't. Cutting a great light against a seemingly invincible Cliff (who turned in a 16.45-second run on a 16.45-second dial-in earlier!), Pass pulled it off and was named this year's King of the Hill winner.
Keith Craft, whom many kit and replica owners know because of his Texas-based engine-building company, obviously knows how to build 'em right, as he walked away with both Low ET (10.528 seconds) and Top Speed (138.07 mph) of the event with his Kirkham-bodied entry. But the fact is, many racers moved down the quarter-mile at a brisk pace. Three entrants were in the 10s, three in the 11s, seven in the 12s, three in the low-13s, with the balance of the racers making up the rest of the field. By the end of a short day of racing, competitors were ready to collect their trophies and head on home, but not without giving each other a good-natured hard time at the trophy presentation. (It seems all here are friends.)
Run & Gun Wrap-Up
So even though the occasional downpour stopped the racing action throughout the first two days of the three-day event, it looked like none of the participants really minded all that much. They simply slid their cars into the covered carport or covered their cockpit with an oversized umbrella, pulled their lawn chairs into a circle, and chatted with new and old friends about the days' events, their cars, and their experiences, waiting for the clouds to clear and the track to dry.
Sometimes you'll find folks who complain about the weather (if not that, then it's usually something else), but most hard-core car people don't worry about it too much. They know there'll be other days, other chances to beat their friends' times and walk away with a certain amount of bragging rights--all the way up until next year's Run and Gun!
One of the good things to come out of the event's drivers' meetings this year was that a Web site/Yahoo Group (autos .groups.yahoo.com/group/Run_N_Gun) would be created by some of the racers so that future entrants, as well as those who want to find out more on the event (everything from results to next year's registration forms), have a place to talk amongst themselves. Whatever is decided on how the event will take shape in the future, KIT CAR will be committed to covering the unique event, so we'll see you there next year, too!
 Day Three's drivers' meeting...  Day Three's drivers' meeting was held on the drag strip itself. |
 That's not a trophy John Meyers...  That's not a trophy John Meyers is holding up--it's his engine belt, which let loose on a run. Other racers helped him out and got him back on the track, enabling him to take Second in the Drag Top Dog/Pro class and First in the Overall Top Dog/Pro class. |
 Although you can't see it...  Although you can't see it in the photo, this is the precise moment the rear axle in Stacy Pendergrass' Texas-based roadster broke in two. Stacey, a veteran of many Run & Gun events, had run 11.988 at 117.47 earlier in the day. |
 James Yale was a machine at...  James Yale was a machine at the drags! He cut multiple .001 lights (including one in the finals) on his way up the racing ladder. His abilities netted him First in both Drag/Street and Overall Top Dog/Street classes. |
 Why is Cliff Speck smiling?...  Why is Cliff Speck smiling? Because despite running only 17.381 at 75.33 mph in the quarter, he consistently hit his exact dial-in number! That brought him First place in Bracket 4 and Second place in King of the Hill. |
 Bill Scholl launches his Factory...  Bill Scholl launches his Factory Five roadster like no one else--into the sky... |
 ...A blistering 10.760/122.97...  ...A blistering 10.760/122.97 run made him the second fastest on the quarter-mile, First in the Drag/Quick 8 Prepped class, First in the Bracket 1 class, Fourth in the King of the Hill division, First in the Drag Top Dog/Prepped class, and Second in the Overall Top Dog/Prepped class. That's a lot of trophies! |
 James Pass (Steve's dad) did...  James Pass (Steve's dad) did extremely well with his homemade racer. He was fifth-fastest on the track with an 11.893/116.73-mph run, which gained him Second in the Drag/Quick 8 Street class, First in the Drag Top Dog/Street class, as well as Second in the Overall Top Dog/ Street division. |
 Did we mention Keith Craft...  Did we mention Keith Craft builds hi-po motors for Cobra roadsters? He proved it by recording an amazing 10.528/137.32-mph run to net him Top Speed and Low ET honors. He also won the Drag Top Dog/Pro class, but not before making one hairy ride down the quarter (showing his incredible driving ability so as not to wreck his car). |
 This marked the fifth year...  This marked the fifth year Steve Pass has competed at the Run & Gun, and he put his FFR through its paces, too. Steve won his bracket, was First in the King of the Hill competition, and received First in the Overall Top Dog/Street class, too. |
 The covered pits located on...  The covered pits located on the infield of Gateway's road course was the place to be, especially when the rains came down! Racers helping other racers, liars telling racing stories, hot dogs cooking on the Hibachi--who could ask for anything more? |
 Recognize Jerry Eddens' KIT...  Recognize Jerry Eddens' KIT CAR cover car from the Sept. '05 issue? Jerry won his autocross Street/4-6 Cylinder class as well as First in the Road Course Street/4-6 class. He also ran a respectable 12.896 at 106.66 in the quarter. Way to beat on that cover car, Jerry! |
 Racing one of the new Hurricane...  Racing one of the new Hurricane roadsters (which he outfitted with a 427 motor), Dean Lampe ran a 12.006 at the drags, which helped him nab Second in the Drag Top Dog/Street class. He also won Second in the autocross event and another Second in the Road Course Street/Big-Block class earlier in the week. |
 Dan Doerer is a regular at...  Dan Doerer is a regular at the Run & Gun with his Artero. Though not too fast at the drags, Dan did have fun competing against the other racers during the three-day event. (Dan proves you don't have to be Michael Schumacher to race at Run & Gun, either!) |