Clay Hair was having a tough time adjusting to the Christmas tree at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC. He just couldn’t get the hang of getting a good reaction time.
When you’re a world champion, and you won that title with a Lenco transmission, cutting a good light ought to come as second nature.
Hair, who resides in Mt. Pleasant, NC, has returned to drag racing after almost 15 years of oval track racing on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Legends Series.
Clay Hair was having a tough time adjusting to the Christmas tree at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC. He just couldn’t get the hang of getting a good reaction time.
When you’re a world champion, and you won that title with a Lenco transmission, cutting a good light ought to come as second nature.
Hair, who resides in Mt. Pleasant, NC, has returned to drag racing after almost 15 years of oval track racing on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Legends Series.
“I bought this car for the Pinks show,” said Hair, who now drives a 355-inch Chevrolet-powered 1972 Vega purchased from bracket racer Jimmy Hall.
“I had been looking for a car for about a year. Me and my son went down to Greer South Carolina, ran into Jimmy Hall and he had this old Vega and I’ve been wanting one for quite a while. Came back down there, watched them make a couple passes with it and brought it home. Been doing a little bracket racing; just having some fun. Ran the Pinks all out here in Charlotte.
“I love the car. I’m having fun. I am having to learn a lot of the new electronics they got. Today, we aren’t allowed to run any electronics. No shifting aid or not starting line aid, so I am struggling a little bit on the tree.”
When Hair won the 1993 IHRA Modified eliminator title, he raced a 1979 Camaro with a small-block Chevy built by Gene Fulton. He raced in both B/Altered and A/Gas. The car he’s racing today defies everything he stood for back in the day.
“I’ve never been a fan on the automatic, but that is what you have to have these days,” admitted Hair. “I’m not trying to make a living doing this; just trying to have some fun.”
Renewing old friendships has been a blast.
“I’ve run into some people that I haven’t seen in 15 to 17 years and it’s kinda neat,” said Hair, smiling.
Hair admits his competitive nature might lead him to work on sharpening his skills but he’s keeping his pursuit in check.
“I don’t think I am going to run any of the professional classes, unless someone gives me a car,” said Hair. “I wanted a small block Vega. I got what I wanted. The car is perfect. It’s exactly what I wanted it for. We get to go to Bristol and run Pinks. That’s going to be a lot of fun.
“If I could just get this tree down, I’d be alright.”
He’s not ruling out an appearance on the NHRA or IHRA schedules.
“I might,” said Hair. “The car is a 9.90 car. I don’t know. I’ve been helping Doug Herbert with his top fuel car when he runs here at zMax. As far as running my car, I might. Might go to an eighth mile event. There are a couple of door car bracket races. The IHRA, I keep track of where they’re running in case I want to show up. It’s all just fun”
He’s flirting with drag racing but roundy-round racing still remains a priority.
“Still doing my Legends cars,” Hair said. “Just doing my own thing now. We use to carry six customers on the rig. Then we had another trailer that held three. That was good. That was big business. I’ve sorta cut that back and playing a little bit. Getting to do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
