I bought the contents of a Hoarders ho me and a brother of the hoarder left a box of trophy's behind of races he won I Arkansas and surrounding states. Carlisle,AR. had a drag strip for years as I heard the commercial every weekend in the '60's and 70's on the radio station KAAY. I'll try and post pics in a few days of these trophy's.
http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=2222 Beside George Ray's dragstrip at Paragould, which is on National Register of Historic Places, there were tracks in Fort Smith, Carlisle, Newport. George Ray's and Newport still in business, as 1/8 miles strips now. Other 1/8 mile strips still in Arkansas include Centerville and Bee Branch Mt Ida and Stuttgart also had dragstrips in the past.
Here are some of the trophy's that I told you about. The man that won these trophy's is alive living in Alabama. The last trophy has a light in it.
The car club I'm in just made a trip to George Ray's Drag Strip yesterday. It was sketchy to say the least. Here's a shot I took of the starting line and what they use as guardrails. They even have a sign that says "Run at own risk." From what I understand, they're no rules except for a helmet and a seatbelt if your car's fast enough. This Chevy coupe had an injected SBC and was FAST (cool), but also had a "rollcage" that was made out of tubing that couldn't have been more than 1 1/4" O.D. with some questionable welds (not cool). What amazed me the most was what looked like a kid no more than 12 years old racing a rear engine dragster with a SBC that ran 110 MPH in the 1/8. What was REALLY scary about that, was that the car was set up for an adult, so it had a cage that was way to big for this kid. He also couldn't reach the pedals, so they moved the seat forward so half of his body was in front of the cage, but he was wearing a motocross helmet so it's all good. It was a weird experience at the dragstrip for me
I'm trying to find out more info about a couple of strips in Little Rock for my Drag Strip List website. In about 1959-63 there was a strip about 10 miles south of Little Rock that went by the name of Excell-a-Rating Drag Strip or Little Rock Drag Strip. I-30 Raceway was a 1/8th-mile NHRA-sanctioned strip running in the 1970s. I would like to pinpoint its location and learn more about it. And I'd like to hear from anyone who raced at the State Fairgrounds Dragway.
Well you are entitled to your opinion. But we like George Rays just fine like it is. Its affordable and not a bunch of bull.
George Ray’s drag-strip is my kind of playground. Folksy, homey, good old boys style. Just love the history behind the place. Should go well into the future hopefully. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
Yes and they also had to move the starting line foreward because the concrete was worn down. When I was a youngster they didn't have a Christmas tree. George Ray wearing a pith helmet would stand in front and point at each driver they nodded to indicate they where staged. And He would flag them off and run between the cars as they launched and spin around so he could see the race. And it looked like he was having the most fun of anyone. I also think he got great joy in telling the NHRA where to go. Once a NHRA guy pointed all the things wrong with a white hooptie and stated it was unsafe. It was Georges personal hot rod. George told him it had only gone down that track a 1000 times. And It was a pretty fast vehicle.
Ran the strip out on the old airfield (East of LR) many years ago in my 69 SS Chevelle. Thanks for the post, it brought back a lot memories.