Words and Photos by Bret Kepner
The American Drag Racing League’s fourth stop on the 2006 Flowmaster tour was the first at which heat and humidity was in overbearing force. Although held well before the first day of summer, the event was contested in Memphis, Tennessee’s typical mid-season atmospheric oppression which kept the corrected elevation above 3000 feet during daylight hours and only allowed the evening airto fall to 2450 feet. The monumental 3.839/197.42 effort of Jason Scruggs’ 1963 Stingray notwithstanding, every run by every competitor was a battle against track temperature, water grains and a lack of oxygen.
Regardless of the conditions, fifty-three entries were on the Memphis Motosports Park property to verify that, at least currently, the Flowmaster/ADRL series is still the best spectator bargain in doorslammer drag racing. Here, then, are a few of the machines which comprised “The Rest of the Story” at Memphis.
Tom Ashley’s Pro Street-legal 526-cubic inch Alan Johnson Chevy-powered ‘67 Deuce was a hit with the crowd. With bone-stock body dimensions and functional headlights, the Florida Nova shook hard enough during Friday night qualifying to knock the bulbs right out of the front end forcing a hasty front-end revision for the final session. A best of 4.32/165 failed to make the Pro Extreme field.
Jerry Bridgeforth’s magnificent ‘66 GT350H Shelby Mustang never came to grips with conditions with the 705-inch nitrous Georgia-based Ford hitting a best of 4.35/166.93 during Friday’s test session.
Extremely rare western appearance by “Bad Bob” Scott’s slick 540 Olds-powered Camaro was dashed by gremlins but the Florida racer plans to attend more ADRL events in ‘06.