GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
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Atlanta Dragway Results
RACE DATE: February 28, 2003FROM: Tim Glover EVENT: Hayes Fan Fest / Fast Friday race at Atlanta Dragway GREAT TURNOUT FOR HAYES FAN FEST / FAST FRIDAY EVENT AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY (Friday, February 28 - Atlanta Dragway) "What a great beginning. If it's like this all season, this will be a fantastic year," said event sponsor Mike Hayes of Hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep about tonight's Hayes Fan Fest / Fast Friday race. Racers and spectators alike were not disappointed with what turned out to be opening day for the Atlanta Dragway 2003 racing season. Fans lined up early outside the gate tonight at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA to get their first shot at the track since November, 2002. Due to the rainout of last Saturday's scheduled Hayes Fan Fest, this Friday night was the first chance for many North Georgia racers to get their drag racing "fix". All kinds of fast machines were on the premises tonight. Lots of Hondas, an inter-cooled Eclipse, six Impala SS', Mustangs, motorcycles, Jr. Dragsters, bracket cars and many other cars all took several trips down the track. Even an ATV showed up to race (they are a new addition to the Motorcycle class for 2003) and ran 17 second, 60+mph passes. More and more import cars are converging on the dragstrip to see how fast they can go. Later this year, look for the Hayes Import Challenge on selected Fridays during May through August. In a harbinger of how the times are changing, a 1992 Civic CX owned by Commerce resident Peter Heu lined up against a traditional muscle car, a modified, V-8 powered 1968 Camaro. Heu took a slight reaction time advantage at the starting line, but to the surprise of the Camaro driver, Heu also crossed the finish line first, with a 13.53 second (all motor, no nitrous) pass to the Camaro's otherwise quick 13.62 pass. The fans in the grandstands were cheering Heu's Civic on, and let out a roar when Heu took the win light. Heu said he was running all motor tonight because his nitrous system was acting up. Look for him to be one of the major players in the Hayes Import Challenge. Another special treat for spectators was Jet Dragster exhibition runs by Paul Miller from Watkinsville, GA and Jeff Rice from Lavonia, GA. The newly licensed Rice made his inaugural run in his Georgia Firefly machine, and created a little more excitement than he intended. A fuel solenoid valve hung open, spraying fuel into the afterburner section of his J-85 jet engine. Even though he closed the throttle at the end of the pass, the flames coming out of the afterburner burned through his main parachute, forcing him to use his reserve chute to come to a safe stop. Miller's Next Generation U.S. One dragster treated the crowd to a 5.59 second, 250mph shot on the first try, and then came back later for an even better 5.49, 302mph blast. Many new racers got to experience the drag strip for the first time, including Adam from the PTI team (which consists of three Jr. Dragsters, two full size dragsters and a Super Gas Camaro) and Regina McKelvey, daughter of dragster racer Jim McKelvey. Both enjoyed the experience. Adam is driving a Jr. Dragster, and McKelvey is driving her dad's '96 Spitzer dragster. The next Fast Friday event on the schedule is March 7, 2003 at Atlanta Dragway. Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2003 events, including the 23rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac on May 1 - 4, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301).
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