Ahra (1969)

[Bret Kepner]

The Wikipedia account is reasonably accurate but fails to include a few key developments which hastened the death of the AHRA as a National Series.

No mention is made of the fact many of the members of the AHRA Regional Vice Presidents board secretly courted Ruth Tice to gain the entire association for themselves. The infighting was ferocious and Ruth was trapped in the middle. This was the main reason Garlits advised Ruth to sell to Mike Grey. Garlits had nothing to gain and knew the AHRA would be in better hands if it was sold to a party outside the circle of turmoil created by the AHRA RVP board.

Also, no mention is made of the fact the AHRA RVP board, phenomenally mad at Ruth for selling to somebody else, created the ADRA with the express purpose of running Mike Grey out of the business. Since the AHRA lost the opportunity to race at KCIR, Spokane, Tulsa and Dragway 42, Mike Grey had very little with which to work and his 1984 "half-season" consisted only of races at St. Louis, Gary (IN) and Eunice (LA).

The biggest factor in the AHRA dying at the conclusion of the World Finals at Eunice was not just the lack of attendance at the event but the fact every check paid from the race was bad paper. Grey covered some of the debt but the track owner, who was liable for the majority of the expenses, actually dug the grave.

Mike Grey was so disenchanted he dumped the whole mess only a few weeks after the event.

...and that, as they say, was that.

[doolie]

Rod Saint, a very poorly named man.