Bobby Joseph, 46, has been a regular at Southeastern Dragway since 1976, alongside brother Mike and racing partner Charlie Holmes, and says the track “looks the same as it did 30 years ago.” Joseph, from Marietta, GA, now drives a stock 360 Mopar-powered 1990 Mazda pickup in Pro competition where he’s gone a best of 7.65 at 86.85 mph.

Donald Burge of Kennesaw, GA, has owned his ’89 ‘Vette “Soul Shaker” Funny Car for five years, but just completed it last year. He attempted to make his first full pass in it for SED’s golden anniversary show, but clutch problems shut him off at the line.

Now racing a 377 Chevy-powered Strickland dragster, Austell, GA’s David Bragg started at SED in 1962 with a 1954 Chevy “when they were still starting the races with a flagman.”