Story and Photos by Bill Swanson Thu, 2018-07-26 14:32
The highly anticipated 9th Annual Meltdown Drags Association began under circumstances no track owner, promoter and racer wants. Heavy rain was forecast throughout the weekend. And so it began that way on Thursday set-up day, when Byron Dragway was drenched with 2-1/2” of the wet stuff.
Some would (and have) thrown in the towel before the event even starts. Not these guys. Byron Dragway staff worked day and night to dry the track. Meanwhile 375 entries from across North America rolled through the racer gate.
With that true vintage drag racing was underway. Make no mistake. This is not “nostalgia” drag racing, where the latest go-fast hardware is tucked under “old” bodies. Adherence to authenticity is the name of the game here. That authenticity, the mind boggling variety of cars and the people behind them, is what makes the Meltdown Drags unique and special in the world of drag racing.
The Byron Dragway crew got the track dried after yet another storm rolled through on late Friday morning. As final preparations were taking place, Meltdown Drags leadership team along with Byron management held the driver’s meeting on the starting line. There it was announced the finish line would be at the 1/8th mile to keep racers safe from weepers beyond the 1/4 mile mark.
Paul Brown owns an incredible reproduction of the Doug Thorley Corvair Funny Car. Here is Brown suited up and at the controls, ready to take part in a Friday night cackle fest in the pits.Greg Porter returned to Meltdown Drags with his "Night Stalker". Porter has so much fun at the Meltdown Drags, he brought along several friends, including Travis Martin. Martin's 'Sucker Punch" Ford Falcon features a stick shifted blown small block Ford and paint artfully applied by Porter at his Highway 123 Speed Shop.Eric and Jeff Koopmeiners opened Saturday's action with the first pass of the day. The brothers are founding members of the Meltdown Drags Association, and are instrumental in planning and staging this event.The "Big Iron" A/FX Plymouth Fury lays down a burnout so furious that smoke pours from the side and rear window openings!The Meltdown Drags is known for attracting drag racing royalty. A surprise guest this year was Funny Car legend Ron Colson. Making the moment even more memorable was the appearance of the car that set Colson's career in motion. Colson and partner Gary Wood campaigned this 301 CID Chevy powered 1941 Studebaker in 1962, setting the Drag News C/GAS National Record. After a fifty year search, the Colson & Wood Stude was located surprisingly intact. It will begin an authentic restoration in the coming months by close Colson friend Gordy Buetsch.Bob Buckley drove the beautiful and fast "Rock & Roll Express" to low ET and top speed of the meet, carding a 4.691 at 150.78 MPH in the 1/8th.
Vintage parts, such as a quartet of blowers could be had in the vast swap meet, and event sponsor Competition Products not only had new parts available, but distributed gift certificates to dozens of racers.The unpredictable nature of a lightweight Altered is what makes them so much fun to watch.Dan Hradisky's "Home Wrecker" is part of a growing contingent of early Super Stock cars at Meltdown Drags. Dan and his father Bob have campaigned the 409, 4-speed '63 Chevy as a drag car its entire life.
The Meltdown Drags honored the memory of the late Dorothy "Dee" Morris. Known and loved throughout the drag racing community, Dee, was an accomplished racer, and with her husband of 55 years Phil Morris, published Gasser Wars Magazine. As the sun was setting, Phil, with Dee riding along in the custom Moon Tank urn beside him, led a procession of nearly every Gasser on the grounds.Bob Cook took home the Scott Rods Best Showman and Best Burnout awards. No doubt wife and B.U.G. Pam was instrumental in the former.
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The wildly popular Miss Meltdown is also a growing part of the event. So much so that Ron Leek donated the used of one of his big flatbeds to be used as a stage. 19 contestants took part, with the Miss Cassandra Hicks earning the honors of Miss Meltdown 2018.
The highly anticipated 9th Annual Meltdown Drags Association began under circumstances no track owner, promoter and racer wants. Heavy rain was forecast throughout the weekend. And so it began that way on Thursday set-up day, when Byron Dragway was drenched with 2-1/2” of the wet stuff. 
