Joe
Club Member
Auto racing enthusiasts and classic car buffs from throughout the area may want to put their pedals to the metal this weekend at two events that take place in the Thumb and at The Ubly Dragway.
The Thumb Cellular Nostalgia Drag Race blasts off and lays hot, smoking rubber on Saturday and Sunday at the dragstrip. It features races between classic vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s, including Willys, Anglias, old Fords and Chevys and high-powered dragsters.
"We expect somewhere between 75 and 100 vehicles to participate in the races," said Sam Patrick, an organizer of the event who would like to see it become an annual fall attraction. "Racers all across the region own nostalgia cars and they're looking for a place to run.
"The Ubly Dragway started back in 1962 and it still has that nostalgia feel to it. We'd like to see a big turnout and make this something that racers and race fans look forward to every year. I've seen where nostalgia races have become big-time events in other states and I think the same thing could happen here. Ubly would be a great place to see it happen."
Spectators pay $10 per day. Time trials are at 2 p.m. Saturday with races beginning at 5 p.m. An entertainment tent featuring 1950s and 1960s music gets started after a burnout contest at dusk. On Sunday, time trials are at 10 a.m. with racing at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit www.theublydragway.com.
The other event is the Thumb Nail Rally, which is a combination cruise, show and rally. It starts Friday and finishes at noon on Sunday at Ubly Dragway.
"The great thing about the Thumb Nail Rally is that you don't have to have a classic car to participate," said David Clabuesch, rally organizer. "You can run anything - any kind of car or vehicle or motorcycle. It's all just for fun, and it benefits a great cause - children."
All proceeds from the three-day rally and events benefit the Huron County Child Abuse and Neglect Council and the Foundation for Children.
Entry fee is $40 per vehicle. Starting at noon on Friday, entrants can begin their poker runs at any of 27 sponsoring merchants in the Thumb. Prizes, which were donated by 10 Thumb businesses, total more than $35,000.
For a complete list of the poker run rally stops and sponsors, visit www.ramchargers.com and click on Thumb Nail. It's where you also can find complete rules and an entry form.
In addition to the rally stops, the event also features three special stages: Two trips down the Ubly dragstrip, two laps around the Owendale Raceway and a Backseat Driver competition in the Ashley Furniture parking lot in Bad Axe.
"I think this could become a major fall event that people look forward to every year," Clabuesch said. "It's a way to get people out into the Thumb, enjoy their cars and each other and have a great time. People in Michigan love cars. Look at the Woodward Dream Cruise and the big car show down in Frankenmuth. We can do the same thing up here and make it a last hurrah of the fall."
http://blog.mlive.com/bctimes/2008/09/ubly_to_host_drag_racing_car_r.html
The Thumb Cellular Nostalgia Drag Race blasts off and lays hot, smoking rubber on Saturday and Sunday at the dragstrip. It features races between classic vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s, including Willys, Anglias, old Fords and Chevys and high-powered dragsters.
"We expect somewhere between 75 and 100 vehicles to participate in the races," said Sam Patrick, an organizer of the event who would like to see it become an annual fall attraction. "Racers all across the region own nostalgia cars and they're looking for a place to run.
"The Ubly Dragway started back in 1962 and it still has that nostalgia feel to it. We'd like to see a big turnout and make this something that racers and race fans look forward to every year. I've seen where nostalgia races have become big-time events in other states and I think the same thing could happen here. Ubly would be a great place to see it happen."
Spectators pay $10 per day. Time trials are at 2 p.m. Saturday with races beginning at 5 p.m. An entertainment tent featuring 1950s and 1960s music gets started after a burnout contest at dusk. On Sunday, time trials are at 10 a.m. with racing at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit www.theublydragway.com.
The other event is the Thumb Nail Rally, which is a combination cruise, show and rally. It starts Friday and finishes at noon on Sunday at Ubly Dragway.
"The great thing about the Thumb Nail Rally is that you don't have to have a classic car to participate," said David Clabuesch, rally organizer. "You can run anything - any kind of car or vehicle or motorcycle. It's all just for fun, and it benefits a great cause - children."
All proceeds from the three-day rally and events benefit the Huron County Child Abuse and Neglect Council and the Foundation for Children.
Entry fee is $40 per vehicle. Starting at noon on Friday, entrants can begin their poker runs at any of 27 sponsoring merchants in the Thumb. Prizes, which were donated by 10 Thumb businesses, total more than $35,000.
For a complete list of the poker run rally stops and sponsors, visit www.ramchargers.com and click on Thumb Nail. It's where you also can find complete rules and an entry form.
In addition to the rally stops, the event also features three special stages: Two trips down the Ubly dragstrip, two laps around the Owendale Raceway and a Backseat Driver competition in the Ashley Furniture parking lot in Bad Axe.
"I think this could become a major fall event that people look forward to every year," Clabuesch said. "It's a way to get people out into the Thumb, enjoy their cars and each other and have a great time. People in Michigan love cars. Look at the Woodward Dream Cruise and the big car show down in Frankenmuth. We can do the same thing up here and make it a last hurrah of the fall."
http://blog.mlive.com/bctimes/2008/09/ubly_to_host_drag_racing_car_r.html