York Reunion and Nostalgia Nationals at Beaver Springs Dragway

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Nostalgia drag racing. Those three words alone immediately conjure up mental images of metal flaked front-engine rails with polished zoomies, Moonie discs, and hopped up factory Super Stockers and lightweight altered cars. There's nothing quite like it, and for those of you who love it as much as we do, we had to get our fix at the York Reunion and Nostalgia Nationals.



Click HERE for the full gallery

This annual show dedicated to the lamented York US30 Dragway, the race cars, the legendary drivers, and the spectators who used to watch it all. Not only will you find some of the very same race cars (or, perhaps, "tributes" if the original is not around) at this event, but you'll also find a smattering of the "Legends of Drag Racing" to sign autographs and spin a yarn about the good ol' days. And after two days of reminiscing, you can catch racing action at Beaver Springs Dragway.



Now I'm not a "Baby Boomer," so I never grew up with Willys gassers and other popular straight-axle rods. However, two years ago, I stole away from the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and was completely blown away by the neat examples of drag racing history at this event. For a purist like me, there are muscle cars interspersed with funny cars, T-buckets, factory racers, and the like, but the muscle cars end up being the least interesting ones of the bunch. Take this 1940 Willys as an example.


The "Filthy Forty"

This car has "the look" down pat! It's lightweight and is loaded with horsepower - the perfect specimen where form follows function yet form hasn't taken a back seat. Pork Zartman was the driver of what is arguably the most famous un-blown gasser in history. Sponsored by S&S Parts Co. out of Falls Church, VA, this car owned NHRA records from 1962 through 1964. Like many race cars from the period, it was eventually sold to another team and ended up in race car heaven.

So why were Willys so popular among the racing set? Because they were slightly smaller than your typical Ford or Chevy, which meant they weighed less too. The brand "downsized" its cars starting in 1933 when the Depression was in full-force. Here's one of the earlier Willys, which had adopted the streamlined, Art Deco styling that was emerging during that time.


Another member of the S&S Racing Team

Willys were not as plentiful as 1955-57 Chevys, which is one reason why Bow Ties were popular with racers. Of course, they weren't terribly heavy, parts were plentiful and they too have "the look" that can make city slickers and town folk drool.


One for the racetrack...


...and one for the blacktop!

Do you recognize the above car? If you've ever seen Two-Lane Blacktop or even American Graffiti, you know this car. But it doesn't take a movie to give a car a claim to fame, right? Chrysler's 392 HEMI was a racer's choice in the 1950s, and when it was introduced on the RB block in '64 (426 HEMI), it became the motor to which all others were compared. This HEMI Dodge is a great example of how racing enhanced the image of a brand.


Excuse me, does that thing have a, um, HEMI?

Ditto for the the Superbird, which had the added feature of the stylists' pen to enhance the brand's image. This car stands out because it was built to compete with Ray Allen's LS6 Chevelle convertible in the NHRA's SS/EA class. The team's plan was to eliminate the Chevy, then red light in the next race so as to not create suspicion with the officials since the car was not quite kosher, so to speak. As it happened, Ray Allen's car red lighted, so the 'Bird did the same in the next race, giving other Mopars the chance to win the SS/EA title.

Some of the stock muscle cars that were at York once had racing histories too. This 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 convertible was a record-holder at one point, even appearing in a Monroe Shocks ad like many winners did back then. It's race-day regalia can be seen on the display in the background.


Only 96 convertibles were built with the W-30 4-speed combo

Contrast that with this 1966 Fairlane 500 with the 427. Ford made 57 of these street cars to compete on the drag strips around the country. All were white with that nifty fiberglass hood without hinges.


Ford - not Mopar - invented the hinge-less, lift-off hood

Before mid-size cars carried the performance torch, cars like this '61 Starliner were quite common at dragstrips. This one has a 390 rated at 401 horsepower with tri-carbs.

But you probably want to see these cars race, right? I'm with ya, but here's a few more items that we absolutely must show you before we hit the drags!


Jungle Jim's Vega


The Moonkist T-Bucket rod


This is the NHRA AA/Altered record holder Tasmanian Devil by Pacers Automotive

On Sunday, July 11, many of these cars could be found at Beaver Springs Dragway. Sure, there was a car show too, but why bother? The racing's what this nostalgia reunion is all about, right? Max Wedges and HEMIs, Hillborn-injected coupes, altered wheelbase factory terrors; they all were here!


Mopars and more lining up at Beaver Springs


How can that car be inside, yet outside?


A '56 Chevy sparkles in the sunlight

An authentic feature that was added to the mix was the flag-man to start the races. If you've never observed this ritual before, you'll learn it's a job full of coordination and grace. How can there be grace when you're surrounded by two chopped-up cars running nitro-methane? Look at his form and see - it should be an Olympic sport!


1967 Plymouth Belvedere II gets the jump on a '64 Dodge


1962 409 versus '64 Max Wedge

Besides Willys, Shoe Box Chevys, and Kaiser's Henry J, racers were eager to snap up foreign jobs due to their small size. As Ford had one of the strongest import networks before the advent of the VW Beetle, it was relatively easy to find this British Ford called the Anglia.


A Henry J


A Ford Anglia from the UK


Another Anglia!

Combine a wonderfully sunny day with just a smidgen of humidity, plus the most hardcore racing this side of the nether regions of Brooklyn, and you have something that demonstrates the excitement, unpredictability, and gee-whiz factor that makes me which I was born earlier - thanks for nothing, Mom and Dad!






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