Post by dragnews on May 25, 2010 21:26:03 GMT -5
I often associate the years 1977-1987 as Ardmore Dragway's
Boom years. Now I am not going into a lengthy discussion on the
evidence to prove this opinion of mine. Lets just say that Drag Racing was becoming main stream. The first oil boom was on,
there was not an active dragstrip within 100 miles. The track ran under the NHRA sanctioning body and on any given Sunday the
old dirt pits were packed and Corporate America had arrived.
Turn on TNN the Nashville Network and drag racing was on at least once a week. Local racers were receiving sponsorship from
local merchants outside the case of oil from the local parts stores. Drag racing had become big business even in Ardmore Oklahoma.
Around 1979 two local hot rodding entrepreur's Darryle Modesto and Charles Cathcart would soon change the image for local back home racers.
Darryle hit the strip early that year sporting the Silver Bullet paint scheme and financial assistance from the local Coors brewing distributor Double (HH) distributing. Weeks later Charles showed up at the strip flying the Budweiser colors and support from the Midwest Beverage company of Ardmore. Soon Johnnie was refering to them as the Prudhomme and McEwens' of Ardmore Dragway. Soon Team uniforms followed, colorful tow rigs,and even more sponsors joined this latest fad the two had started.
Soon Care Motor Oil, Karry Out Korner, Radio FM92,and a up and coming engine builder named Tom Conway joined the now growing rivalry.
Bounty money was awarded and free beer to a racer who could put out the other brewery car during eliminations. The Beer was flowing and the money was good. Then in 1985 it all but came to a end. The oil fields dried up, Corporations had purchased the local distrbuting companies,and I won the last $2000 points fund Coors would put up.
It was a never ending party during the boom days!
Our local beer warriors even had hero cards to handout during events.
Hand me a Coors Light,and This Bud's for you!
See you at the races......Rob
(story and photo's courtesy of the Ragland collection 2010)
Boom years. Now I am not going into a lengthy discussion on the
evidence to prove this opinion of mine. Lets just say that Drag Racing was becoming main stream. The first oil boom was on,
there was not an active dragstrip within 100 miles. The track ran under the NHRA sanctioning body and on any given Sunday the
old dirt pits were packed and Corporate America had arrived.
Turn on TNN the Nashville Network and drag racing was on at least once a week. Local racers were receiving sponsorship from
local merchants outside the case of oil from the local parts stores. Drag racing had become big business even in Ardmore Oklahoma.
Around 1979 two local hot rodding entrepreur's Darryle Modesto and Charles Cathcart would soon change the image for local back home racers.
Darryle hit the strip early that year sporting the Silver Bullet paint scheme and financial assistance from the local Coors brewing distributor Double (HH) distributing. Weeks later Charles showed up at the strip flying the Budweiser colors and support from the Midwest Beverage company of Ardmore. Soon Johnnie was refering to them as the Prudhomme and McEwens' of Ardmore Dragway. Soon Team uniforms followed, colorful tow rigs,and even more sponsors joined this latest fad the two had started.
Soon Care Motor Oil, Karry Out Korner, Radio FM92,and a up and coming engine builder named Tom Conway joined the now growing rivalry.
Bounty money was awarded and free beer to a racer who could put out the other brewery car during eliminations. The Beer was flowing and the money was good. Then in 1985 it all but came to a end. The oil fields dried up, Corporations had purchased the local distrbuting companies,and I won the last $2000 points fund Coors would put up.
It was a never ending party during the boom days!
Our local beer warriors even had hero cards to handout during events.
Hand me a Coors Light,and This Bud's for you!
See you at the races......Rob
(story and photo's courtesy of the Ragland collection 2010)