What was your best moment in racing

[Wade Mahaffey]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. On this day most folks give thanks for special things or times in their lives. We all know that the greatest gifts are health, family and friends. But somewhere down the list are cars and racing. If you could, share with us your best moment or moments in racing (on track, in the pits, awards etc). Toot your own horn a little bit and share some great times and memories (photos and/or comments), the ones you give thanks for! I'm sure reflecting on your success can provide some motivation and happy thoughts. You can help develope and/or re-enforce a positive attitude as we begin to prepare for next season!


Wade Mahaffey

[danny waters sr]

I can say without a doubt.......

I had to run my son in the finals in H/R at a IHRA div at our home track.
Both cars (68 Camaros ) were painted with the exact same scheme with every decal in the same places, only diff was my car was a 9"tire slapper bar and small block.
His was a 4-link back-half big block...
He won that race and went on to win the 1998 IHRA world championship back when you chased points at nats and div races... He was also inducted in the Carcraft Magazines 1999 All-Star drag racing team...Another one was when i won two IHRA iron men in 1991 and finished 5th in the world....VERY PROUD DAD HERE !!!!!

[Mike Bassin]

Most of you know that my deal in drag racing has been mostly as an announcer in Md. and Pa. though I still occasionally race my street / strip '68 Firebird in the footbrake classes. This spring when I grab the mike in the first event of 2012 it will be my 50th year as announcer or drag racer. I guess the first biggest thrill was sending Ronnie Sox in his '63 Z-11 427 down the track at 75-80 Dragway. He was a local Carolina / Va. racer til Bill Wilcom brought him north for the first time, his career shot upward big time and became a nationally known racer after the '63 season. Here I was, 17 yrs old sending Ronnie down the track in front of a big crowd several times that year. Other cool stuff has been the 4 years I worked at Maple Grove, 2004 to 2007 working the opens and divisionals there, usually with Lewis Bloom, what great racing. The chance to meet so many of you that visit this site has been the best. In 2008 George Case had me come down to Palm Beach International Raceway to announce the Nostagia race on their newly renovated track, what a place! Don Garlits was the grand marshall, I got to spend a good bit of time with him that weekend and give him an award on the starting line in front of several thousand people, that gives me goose bumps just recalling that day. There's lots more but I'll bore everyone if this keeps going. Let me leave it with this. A couple years ago at a dinner out with a group of NHRA tech guys and Stk / Super Stock racers Dave Ley kind of said it all for us drag racers, quote " You know for us this isn't just a hobby, it's not even a passion, it's a lifestyle we live 24 / 7 and we embrace it!" I believe that's us! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Mike Bassin

[Lee Valentine]

For me it was my son Bryan winning the Div. race at Orlando in 2002. I was home following the race on DRC, He said I wish you could have been here. Then later that season he won the div. race at E-town and I was there. Special moment for a proud Dad.

[The Hawk]

Two things come to mind for me. First was winning the 2003 Summit National Championship in Super Pro. After winning the race and driving back in front of the crowd was pretty thrilling for me.
Second was winning the 1996 Division 5 Stock Championship in my old V/SA Skylark. During the season I went to only 5 races and had a win,two runner ups,a semi and a first rounder. I beat out Kevin Helms by 4 points,376 to 372.

[Jeff Teuton]

I have only won two races; the US Class Nationals in Byron IL, and Indy this year: Take your pick.

[vic guilmino]

winning class D/S at the summernationals in1973 and winning stock elim. at charlotte this year

[tim worner]

A lot like Lee mine was being present when Bryan won @ Charlotte being the first ever champ @ that track. Also when I ran dead on with an egg against Billy Leber @ Norwalk finals. Have yet to be present when Byron wins a big one.

[Dick Butler]

1) When Brian , Melissa and I all won Class at Indy the same year.
2) Winning the Indy Points meet without making a time trial.(Used my daughters run to dial)
3)Winning Class at Indy GT/AA over MANY top racers 1996. My last Nationals.
4) Any time I won a Class trophy. ( 30+)
5) Working with Ralph Truppi as a friend and engine builder.
6)Organizing TOP/SS and TOP/Stk in Div 3 and running the events.

[Brian VP]

I have quite a few but I would guess that there are 2 that stick out in my mind. The first is a lot more than a moment because it consisted of about 5 weeks but it was 5 weeks that changed my life forever. In 2001 I decided to, all by myself, drive across the country and do the western swing. I drove to the Dallas National, then to the Las Vegas National, Divisional, and then to the Finals at Pomona. Along the way I made some great friends, had some great experiences, and ended up starting a relationship with a friend who would eventually be my wife, Kati. So many key things happened along that trip that changed my life, not just for me but for everyone in my family. It is so hard to believe how one decision can change so many peoples lives.

The second thing was the next year when I won the Cecil Points race. I had won other races before but this was a race that is 35 minutes from my house and everyone was there. For the first time, I won a race that my father was able to stay til the end, my wife, my best friend. It was a great day.