Story Mashie Mihalko and Phil Hutchison

Images: Mashie, Phil, and John McCartney

It’s winter and on the East Coast, there’s no racing to speak of. Everything moves indoors for the winter months with car shows and banquets dotting the drag racing scene. A perfect time for the annual Drag Fest Indoor Racing Showcase.

Strong winds and below normal January temperatures did not deter nostalgia devotees from attending the Lebanon Dragfest – Indoor drag racing and custom car show. The event was held at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center in Lebanon, PA.

Attendance at the Saturday show exceeded the number that were there in 2024. The spectators were able to view a variety of vehicles: nostalgia race cars, competition cars, Pro Street, street rods, classics, and pick-up trucks.

The Big “T” Ford pickup made its first appearance at the Expo Center. Many attendees reminisced about assembling the Monogram scale model of this iconic Bucket T as children.

Pro Modified drivers, Andy Jensen and Kevin McCurty did a mini seminar on the inner workings of Jensen’s 1968 turbo charged 1968 Camaro. Andy was the 2024 Pro Modified Winner of the Yellow Bullet race at Cecil County Dragway, MD this past Labor Day weekend.

The show vendors were interspersed throughout the five halls of the Expo Center. They sold a variety of items including racing memorabilia, die cast collectibles, car related apparel, and non-car related items. Local dragstrip personnel were present to pass out their 2025 racing schedules. Maple Grove, Beaver Springs, Numidia, and South Mountain were part of this year’s Dragfest.

Jeff Lear fired up his twin hemi engined dragster outside of the Brightbill hall three different times. A Kawasaki drag bike was also part of the outside exhibition of sensory overload.

The Legion of Honor Induction Ceremony was the climax of Saturday’s program. Mike Dunn, Jack Kulp, John McCartney, Joe Morrison, Sandy and Pete Robinson, and Dave Sano were inducted. These seven individuals were honored for their life long contribution to the performance history of drag racing. The honorees received a unique trophy, and their names will be inscribedon a plaque that is displayed at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing located in York Springs, PA.

The first of the six new members to the Legion of Honor was long time NHRA driver, TV commentator, and former vice president of the IHRA, Mike Dunn. Dunn who is primarily known as “Big” Jim Dunn’s son and a Southern California resident said, “Although I grew up in California and most think of me that way, in the early 90’s I got a chance to race with Pennsylvania businessman Ed Abel on a car sponsored by Snickers.”

“I moved to South Central PA and thought it would be for a short time while I drove for Abel, but I fell in love with the area and have lived here for half my life.”

Next to enter the Legion of Honor was Jack Kulp, a pioneering racer in the Gasser and dragster ranks who’s engineering ability kept his cars on the top of the East Coast scene back in the 50’s and 60’s.

Accepting the award for Kulp was long time Funny Car racer Rocky Pirrone. While accepting the award, Rocky said, “I was honored to accept the Darwin Doll Legion of Honor award for Jack Kulp. Jack was not only a hero to me but was also a hero to my late father Joe Pirrone Jr.”

“Jack was one of the original hot rodders with his roots going back to the early 1950’s. Jack raced many cars in both the AA/GS and AA/FD class.”

Long time Raceway Park photographer John McCartney was next up. McCartney was in the right place at the right time as he shot images at Englishtown during the heyday of the track and was lucky enough to capture all the big races and pros that made E Town the premier track on the East Coast for decades.

During his acceptance speech McCartney said, “I was very honored to be selected to join the Legion of Honor. This is a very special prestigious organization which I am proud to now be a member.  The Legion of Honor was started by Darwin Doll makes it even more special as I worked with Darwin many times over the years from his time as NHRA Division One Director as well as his running of the annual York Reunion.

“The Legion of Honor does so much to keep the history of the sport of drag racing alive and well. I was overwhelmed when I learned that I was joining all the past talented people that are members as well as of those that will become members in the future. I am honored being selected based on my photography work that i have done over my fifty plus years of taking photos at many drag strips over the country. However, it is my thirty eight years at Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey serving as their track photographer that stands out most.

“Being able to record a photographic history of that time frame at famous Raceway Park makes me very proud. Thank you to everyone at the Legion of Honor for selecting me to this very important group, a honor I will always cherish.”

Multitalented racer Joe Morrison was next with his years of driving everything from a gasser to Top Fuel being recognized.

The husband-and-wife team of Sandy and Pete Robinson were recognized for their lifelong support of some of the best tracks on the East Coast. York Dragway being the focus of most of their love and dedication.

Finally, it was fabricator and painter Dave Sano receiving his entry into the Legion. Dave who currently campaigns a nostalgia Funny Car at tracks on the East Coast said.  

John McCartney, Legion member Steve Bell and Dave Sano 

“I am honored to be inducted into the Darwin Doll Legion of Honor,” Dave said. “This recognition is just not about my accomplishments but is reflection on the incredible support I have received in my life.”

“I’ve always believed that you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with and l have been lucky to become close friends with people who have the same passion for drag racing as I do. Track announcers, photographers, sign painters and fabricators.”

Dave Sano says,”When I was growing up, I knew I wanted to drive a funny car and paint race cars.”

“This pretty much sums everything up – coming off a win at the funny car reunion in 2005 with the Grande Am we took the car out to go test at Atco. Had a transmission failure that destroyed everything. When the pile of what was left of my car got back to the trailer my good friend, Steve Bell said – What are you gonna do now? I looked at him and said ” I’m going to put it back together.”

“I glued the body back together, sent the chassis out to get straightened out and rebuilt the engine.Things really started heading in the right direction now with the repairs made – we started to win awards from different companies and also landed a magazine cover.”

“At that point, I was lucky enough that one of my acquaintances Ray Noonan stepped in to help sort things out and we started heading in the right direction.”

“It was time for a change, so I spoke with another friend Bob Rossety. We worked out a deal for the Challenger body that’s on the car today. Now along with crew chief Wayne Celko the car is one of the fastest on the east coast.”

“It’s an honor to be recognized for doing what I set out to do and fortunate to have the support of family and friends.”

Former NHRA World Champ and member of the Legion of Honor Bruce Larson nabbed 2nd Place  in FC with his USA 1 Chevy Funny Car

Sunday’s schedule allowed the attendees to once again view the show cars and renew acquaintances with those they have not seen since the summer months. The two day event closed with the presentation of trophies and prize money given to the show car winners.