Event Coverage The Invitational at Five Seven Delta

Last Saturday hosted the inaugural run of the 57D Vintage Drags at Ray Community Airport in Michigan. The day started with a fog that blanketed the airfield with cars rolling in and getting ready to race. Music floated through the air as a mixture of bangers to belly tankers crackled to life. As soon as the fog melted away the races were on and it was non stop all day. With the speed trap at the end of the 1/8th the grudge matches were hot and personal bests were beaten.

My own clubs car found its personal limit and tore up first gear but we still wouldn’t have traded the day for anything else. (a few other racers put a hurt on their transmissions as well)

Everyone involved (myself included) had an absolute blast and are looking forward to next year, The quality of cars was top notch and the events organizer, Darren Clor, truly created something awesome.


Heres some of my own pics as well as some my friends took (posted with their permission since we spent a chunk of the day trying to get the car back together)

 

I appreciate the photos, I really do but I think it is a bit insulting to the fairer sex not to get a better picture of the flag girl (not the dude in the top hat). She works hard and deserves some quality screen time and recognition on the HAMB. Disparate treatment in today's workplace is a dangerous and slippery road. For equalities sake we should remember these hard working gals that without, we would have no idea of when to leave the line or who won in many instances. They are as important or perhaps more so than the cars themselves.

 

So cool! I saw a video this afternoon posted on Dan Podobinski's (dans_hot_rod_photo) instagram account of a roadster and pickup coming off the line there today. He shared a few other cool pics as well.

Looks like a good time.

 

This was an absolute blast! It has reignited the fire on my roadster project so I have something different to bring next year!! Thank you to Darren and all of the people who helped put this event together!

 

too cool of a shot not to take at the end of the day

 

very Cool

 

Cool old time drags! Thanks for sharing!

 

Great stuff……thanks for sharing.

 

Looks like fun!

 

Awesome pictures, thanks.

 

Real Hot Rods Rule

 

Some more killer shots from Dan Podobinski for HopUp

https://www.hopupmagazine.com/blog/2022/10/9/the-invitational-at-five-seven-delta

 

Looks like a cool time...is this going to be a annual event in the future? If so I'd like to bring my old 1957 dragster down for a few passes next year.

 

That is the hope, it is being discussed. But also to keep it period, and fun.

 

The 2023 event was canceled.
Does anyone know whether there will be a 2024 event?

 

Sadly, egos and/or political infighting at the airport shut down the ‘23 event. And the airport won’t or can’t host such an event again. There has been a search for an alternate location, but nothing certain yet.