Dragsters, hot rods invade Arlington again
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, September 8, 2005
ARLINGTON – The days of funny cars, burnouts, crackling nitro and cruising hot rods are back.
The second annual Arlington Drag Race Reunion and Car Show begins today, with the main event on Saturday at Arlington Airport.
This is not your typical car show. In the 1950s and ’60s, Arlington Airport was a regular stop on the big-league drag-racing circuit, the National Hot Rod Association.
An unused runway was turned into a drag strip for some of the biggest names in the sport, including Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney.
Last year’s inaugural reunion was a big hit, organizer Bill Kinney of the Arlington Boys and Girls Club said. About 4,500 spectators came through the gate last year, he said.
“The way the phone’s ringing, we anticipate more this year,” he added.
Local and regional star drivers of the era are expected, including Ray Hadford of Everett, Jim Green of Lynnwood, and Bucky and Walt Austin of Seattle.
This year’s reunion has been expanded with activities tonight in addition to the main event. A hot rod cruise will start at 6:30 tonight at the airport’s west entrance, 18800 47th Ave. NE.
The hot rods will make a run of five passes up and down Olympic Avenue in Arlington, with a playing card passed out on each pass. The best poker hand wins a prize.
Back at the airport, a barbecue is planned, and after dark, videos of old drag races at Arlington will be shown.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday at the airport’s west side for the car show on the old runway. Last year’s show drew 300 cars, everything from top fuel dragsters and funny cars to superstocks and street cars.
At 2 p.m., an open microphone session is scheduled, encouraging tales of Arlington’s glory days.
Admission is $3 for spectators and $25 for car show entrants. Proceeds benefit the Arlington Boys and Girls Club.
Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.
