ONE GEORGIA STRIP CLOSES; ANOTHER TO OPEN

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The Agent was sorry to hear that yet another old-time dragstrip has fallen to land developers. Savannah Dragway operator Jeff Harris confirmed that his NHRA-sanctioned eighth miler built just outside the city limits will host its final Wednesday night grudge race on Dec. 21.

The good news is that Screven Motor Speedway operator James Griffin is currently constructing Savannah River Dragway about 40 miles northwest of the coastal Georgia town. The yet-to-be-sanctioned Savannah River Dragway will feature an eighth-mile concrete racing surface and is slated to open Apr. 1, 2006. Griffin says he'll start with a weekly Saturday night program for bracket and grudge racers, but plans to eventually host Outlaw 10.5 and Pro Mod races at the new track. (Ian Tocher photo) [12-13-2005]

A FEW PROPS FOR MR. BADER

The current Burk’s Blast may have inadvertently given the impression that Fuel Funny Cars were dropped on Bill Bader’s watch. That isn’t the case, as that class last ran a full season in the late 1980's, way before Bader and Aaron Polburn purchased and revived the nearly dead IHRA. It also should be noted that under Bill Bader the IHRA first implemented National Divisions and Division races. A tip of the Agent’s fedora to current IHRA prez Aaron Polburn for bringing those items to editor Burk’s attention. [12-13-2005]

ANOTHER CHASSIS BUILDER IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA

The Agent got these photos of a pretty zoot carbon fiber bodied ’57 Chevy Pro Mod built in the High Ridge, MO race car shop of Andy McCoy. McCoy heads up the operation and will be driving the Pro Mod which was built to take advantage of the new IHRA body rules that gives a 25-lb weight break to "shoebox" Chevys that retain stock body dimensions. McCoy’s ’57 has made some 60-footers in testing, but hasn’t yet made a quarter mile pass. Word has it some new 10-wide cars will be coming out of the new shop. [12-13-2005]