CLICK HERE FOR THE NHRA Heritage Series Speed Spectacular Photo Album NHRA Heritage Series - Las Vegas Speed Spectacular By: Christy Thom Gallery Photos by: Brian Kelshaw & Graham Karr The NHRA Heritage Series Las Vegas Speed Spectacular was off to a rocky start with the nitro nostalgia Funny Car controversy, but the prerace celebration at Monaco Las Vegas changed the tone and the weekend was off and running. Beach Racing, Estrus Racing, team Pisano Matsubara, and team Future Flash displayed their beautiful cars at the Monaco Las Vegas showroom where Las Vegas locals, race participants and hot rodders joined in the prerace festivities. Graham Karr, Editorial Director of Las Vegas based Extravagant Style Magazine came by for his first introduction to nostalgia drag racing. After touring coaches and “oh and ah’ng” over race cars we knew we had him hooked on Nostalgia! Friday was windy and racers started loading in to get their shot at a couple of test and tune passes. As trailers came in and parked I started to realize how massive LVMS is compared to many of the tracks nostalgia racers run. Wide open pit spots, spacious areas to park campers, tow vehicles, pit vehicles and more, plus roomy pathways that made maneuvering incredibly easy. But, with all of that comfort you get the appearance of a poor turnout. Around 5pm lanes opened for test and tune. Dragsters, altereds, Funny Cars, door slammers, and hot rods filled the lanes. For at least three hours racers made passes down the finely prepped track getting a feel for what they would need to get in the show. Many racers had problems adjusting to the revised indexes. One nostalgia eliminator competitor said it was easier to get the car to run the 7.60 than slow it down to the altitude adjusted index of 7.70. Unfortunately for Vintage Fuel, we spent $60.00 for a single pass down the track! Luckily for us George Striegel of Clay Smith Engineering took us under his wing and the path to hitting our number becomes clearer. Saturday we could not have asked for better weather. In Vegas you have two seasons…hot or cold, the race fell on a weekend with the one day out of the year that was moderate, sunny, and slightly breezy. Spectators steadily came through the gates, but as I feared, the stands looked as if there were no more than a handful of people. Although light on the spectator side the energy was positive. Competitors got three qualifying rounds and the track was constantly active. Biggest complaint in the staging lanes…I can’t seem to get the car slowed down to run the adjusted index! After the pin up girl contest and last band on Saturday night crews headed back to their cars to get race ready. Just after 7pm the Monaco Las Vegas/Vintage Fuel Racer Appreciation Fiesta kicked off! Eric Christianson manned the Cabo Wabo bar and Dwight Garland from Helter Skelter racing along with Jeff and Guy of Bedrock racing helped keep the BBQ going and everyone fed. We had such an incredible time enjoying the company of fellow competitors. It is so rare to get such a big group in one place for a roaring good time! If you missed this BBQ, be sure to see us in Bakersfield. Sunday the winds went wild but that didn’t keep the fans away. Round after round of eliminations went smoothly until the last pass of Funny Cars. The Future Flash experienced a mechanical malfunction sending pilot Mendy Fry into the wall shortly after leaving the startline. Mendy got the car slowed down and safely escaped but not without bruises. Future Flash owner Gary Messenger said the car will come back good as new but the entire team needs a break. All said and done it was a fantastic event and I am thankful for the racers who supported the series and made the trek to Vegas. Our young (yet old) sport is going through growing pains and I hope all racers work together to make sure we can continue to run our unique cars. NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR Winner: Nathan Bugg (Orange, Calif.) Barracuda .199 7.528 sec./165.76 mph. Runner-up: Mendy Fry (Aliso Viego, Calif.) Charger .168 13.679 sec./62.73 mph. (accident) NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR I Winner: Ronnie Lennon (Sonoma, Calif.) 1932 Bantam roadster .001 7.730 sec./169.96 mph. Runner-up: Richard High (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.) .067 7.818 sec./185.15 mph. NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR II Winner: Cecil Molina Jr. (Fresno, Calif.) 1923 Ford .018 8.753 sec./145.59 mph. Runner-up: Gary Ryan (San Francisco) 1932 Bantam .015 8.744 sec./140.44 mph. NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR III Winner: Lindsey Lister (San Pedro, Calif.) 1972 Shoemaker dragster .054 9.574 sec./138.30 mph. Runner-up: John Lyon (Overton, Nev.) 1967 Gilmore dragster -.034 (foul) 9.671 sec./137.26 mph. A/GAS Winner: Dave Matson (Grass Valley, Calif.) 1967 Camaro .016 7.712 sec./171.73 mph. Runner-up: Ken Ratzloff (Idaho Falls, Idaho) 1953 Studebaker .033 7.760 sec./179.04 mph. B/GAS Winner: Randy Armstrong (San Ramon, Calif.) 1957 Chevrolet .046 8.778 sec./155.31 mph. Runner-up: Casey Treur (Santa Maria, Calif.) 1933 Willys .092 8.701 sec./152.87 mph. C/GAS Winner: Mike Wortman (Santa Paula, Calif.) 1969 Mercury .029 9.759 sec./140.11 mph. Runner-up: Doug Araiza (Santa Paula, Calif.) 1969 Camaro -.019 (foul) 9.732 sec./142.91 mph. D/GAS Winner: Alan Ross (Atascadero, Calif.) 1965 Mustang .022 10.693 sec./126.51 mph. Runner-up: Ed Carey (La Jolla, Calif.) 1971 Camaro .022 10.691 sec./125.12 mph. HOT ROD Winner: Josh Conrad (Bakersfield, Calif.) 1967 Nova .109 10.217 sec./135.73 mph. Runner-up: Dale Thomas (Chowchilla, Calif.) 1968 Dart .061 11.806 sec./112.45 mph.