Story and Photos John McCartney

Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun Maryland once again turned back the hands of times as they presented the 16th Annual Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drags. An event which features funny cars and dragsters much like back in the days when these cars would draw fans of all ages to the track to watch wild side by side racing action.

Rocky Pirrone brought together a great selection of funny cars to do battle at the event. Some of which included Chris Massarella’s Total Insanity, the Frantic Ford out of the Sweetman family racing stable, Frank Barnard’s Poison Arrow, George Reidnauer’s China Syndrome and Pirrone’s Super Camaro. Fans were treated to smokey burnouts, back up girls and great side by side racing action. In addition to the funny cars a pair of blown altereds of Bob Hill and Mike Geroni entertained the fans as well.

Two icons in the sport of drag racing Jungle Pam Hardy and Rocky Pirrone who put the funny cars together check out the racing action

Rocky Pirrone said after the event. “Awesome time at Cecil County Dragway Nostalgia Show! A BIG THANKS to Jim Halsey and the Cecil County staff for giving all the racers a first-class track to race of. Three of the teams set personal all time best runs with the Sweetman family Frantic Ford recording their first 6.60 run! Mike Geroni and Frank Barnard also set personal best ET’s.

“It was also the return of George Reidnauer and his China Syndrome making passes for the first time in over a year. The Bill Hodgson tuned hot rod recorded two impressive 6.40 time slips!

“The Joe Pirrone driven Super Camaro was thumping running a low ET for the entire event 6.25 second run and then backed it up with a 6.29 run! Chris Massarella got the consistency award running two 6.56’s back to back! All the teams did a fantastic job”

It’s  always a great pleasure to see drag racing royalty in the form of Jungle Pam Hardy who was on hand with her husband helping out George Reidnauer and his China Syndrome Funny Car. Pam even sported a original Jungle Jim crew shirt from back in the day. 

“One of the smoothest running events we’ve ever been part of,” fellow racer Chris Massarella adds. “From the entrance gate to the guys at the top end turnoff, all a well oiled machine. Jim Halsey and his team had the track prep on point as always, as half of our cars had career best runs. On a hot summer day with temps in the 80’s, that’s impressive.”

Ed Bliss Jr. heats up the tires in the River Rat dragster as part of the East Coast Fuelers

For fans of slingshot dragsters there was plenty for fans to check out. A pair of East Coast Fuelers filled the air with smoke as the pair did super burnouts. Bruce Hacker driving the Revolution dragster and Ed Bliss behind the wheel of the River Rat provided all the fun for the East Coast Fuelers.

Big Winner in the Back Seat Drivers class was the Spencer Brothers entry driven by Mike Giovinazzo 

Not to be outdone the Back Seat drivers came out as well to take part in the event as well. When all the smoke cleared the winner in this Back Seat drivers outing was Mike Giovinazzo taking the win in the Spencer’s Brothers entry over Charles Hooper. In the final Giovinazzo ran just a little closer to his dial in as he ran a 8.52 on his 8.50 dial at 151.34 miles per hour to Hooper’s losing run of 8.67 at 154.99 on his 8.61 dial in.

Also for the fans, a giant car show called bELIeve which benefits the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation was held on the spectator side of the track. A great selection of customs, hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods all sorts to cool cars came out to help raise money for this special foundation.

Paul Matthews, President and father of Eli Matthews said. “The 16th Annual Nostalgia Drags / Car Show & Swap Meet was such an amazing show! So many in attendance all for one mission to help the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation, find a CURE for Childhood Cancer in my HERO in life my son Eli’s memory!”

“As the Father and President of Eli’s foundation I cannot thank Jim Halsey, his wife Cathy and every single person at Cecil County Dragway for your continued support in this FIGHT! You all are a blessing to me and the children we FIGHT for! For more information, or to join the FIGHT please visit www.BraveEli.com

As fans walked the car show they could check out the automotive swap meet which was on hand with all sorts of great automotive goodies for folks to pick up to start of finish a project which they may have planned.

In addition to all the great racing classes which took were included in the event, a good ole time test and tune also took place. Inside of this test and tune all sorts of vintage cars took to the track to get dialed in and see what they might be able to run. From vintage pro stocker cars, gassers, dragsters, muscle cars they were all on hand to take part.

Jim Zamiaty drove his Plymouth Duster to the runner up spot in the United Super Stock class

Cecil County Dragway continues each year as they have done for the past 16 years with their running of the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drags. There is no doubt it will be back again next year allowing fans to once again take a step back in time and enter the drag racing time machine for a great trip.

The very cool Tokyo Rose Chevy once driven by 1967 NHRRA World champ George Cureton, took part in the racing action and came complete with vintage decals from the past. 

Test and Tune at the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Nationals featured all sorts of cool stuff from classic looking Chevy Gassers to wild burnout out surfing wagon