DRAGFEST

Words/Photos Michael “Mashie” Mihalko

The annual Dragfest – Indoor Drag Racing Showcase & Custom Car Show had a successful outing considering the weather conditions and the latest covid variant.

A few weeks prior to the two-day event, all the vehicle and vendor spaces were filled. A five-inch

Steve Gibbs

snowstorm blanketed the Lebanon Valley Fairgrounds and Expo Center located in southeastern PA a day before show set-up. A number of car owners and vendors cancelled their reserved spaces. Temperatures in the teens kept spectators home till late Saturday morning. Sunday’s low temperatures and freezing rain had car enthusiasts caught in a dilemma. Despite all the aforementioned problems the event staff rose to the situation. Car owners who were on the waiting list were contacted to fill the vacant spaces. The parking lots were plowed and salted and the faithful gathered for another nostalgia happening.

Nancy Wilson

The Legion of Honor was the highlight of Saturday’s program. Eight deserving candidates were honored for their contributions to the Performance Heritage of Drag Racing. Ray Barton, Steve Gibbs, E. J. Kowalski, Jon Little, Leonard Long, John Presley, Nancy Wilson, and Greg Zyla received commemorative trophies. Steve Gibbs was also presented with a custom watch. All the honorees will have their names inscribed on a plaque housed in the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing located in York Springs, PA.

During the two-day event autograph sessions were held.

Leonard Long

This was an opportunity for the attendees to have “hero cards” signed and photos taken with Linda Vaughn, the First Lady of Motorsports, Dan Glover, former Hurst Performance Engineer, Bruce Larson, World Champion Funny Car Driver and Brett “Big Swag” Wagner, well known host of Fast Times and Monster Garage TV shows. The five halls of the Expo Center were filled with a variety of vehicles. Car enthusiasts were able to view nostalgia and current drag racing vehicles, muscle, classic, antique, motorcycle, and Hurst Performance Oldsmobiles. Vendors throughout the facility were selling drag racing

John Presley

memorabilia, models, magazines, books, photos, and other car related items.

Sunday afternoon closed with the award ceremony for the show car winners. Plaques, trophies, and checks were presented to the deserving owners. Hopefully, next year Mother Nature and the covid situation will not be a factor in the 2023 edition of the Dragfest – Indoor Drag Racing Showcase and Custom Car Show.