Biloxi Dragway
The Biloxi Dragway was a NHRA/AHRA-sanctioned Quarter-Mile Drag Strip located in Biloxi, Mississippi, United States and operated from August 18, 1957 to July 1, 1967.[1][2][3]
History
Many drag racing pioneers raced at Biloxi. "Big Daddy" Don Garlits,[4] Tommy Ivo, Art Arfons, Chris Karamesines, Ronnie Sox, and Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge. Locals, Paul VanderLey, Candies & Wale / Hughes, and Joe Teuton. 101 Hall of Fame associations are currently documented with the Biloxi Dragway.
Built by Earl C. Nolan for $30,000,[5] the strip operated under the name of the "Gulf Coast Drag Strip" from 1957-1964.[6] On May 8, 1960 an incident took place with a dragster crashing in to the fence toward Hwy 67 caused the ownership to change hands, with events being canceled in 1962. From 1962 Harvey & Bill Walther operated the venue till its closure in 1967.
Early on Keesler field men under the name "Keesler Coasters" competed in a dragster representing Keesler Air Force Base.[7]
On Dec 22, 1963 A Nationally Ranked Match for Drag News took place for number 4 in the United States. Albert Waits vs Vance Hunt.
Many Championship Events were held at the dragway, such as the yearly Mississippi State Championship, three Gasser Championships, and a B/Stock Championship.
Classes included: Motorcycles, Gassers, Super Stock, Funny Cars, and Dragsters[8]
Since 2006 Gulf Coast Historian Michael "Cory" Evans[9][10][11][12] has extensively researched the history of the Biloxi Dragway. Local and national racers have since shared there experiences[13][14] for the website, and upcoming book. In 2018 Cory Evans recreated the Biloxi Dragway for the video game BeamNG.drive as it appeared in 1967.[15]
References
- ^ "Biloxi Dragway » Official Site » NHRA Hall Of Fame". biloxidragway.com.
- ^ Davis, Larry (2010). Super Stock: Drag Racing the Family Sedan. CarTech Inc. ISBN 9781934709481.
- ^ "Mississippi Drag Strip History". dragstriplist.com.
- ^ Holmstrom, David Newhardt, Darwin. Hemi Muscle Cars. MotorBooks International. ISBN 9781616730116.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Biloxi Daily Herald Newspaper Archives, Sep 7, 1957, p. 12". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 September 1957.
- ^ "QUARTER MILE NOTES DEC 1957-DRAG RACING FANZINE-RARE VG | eBay". eBay.
- ^ "Obituary for SMSgt Ret. Victor Javan Oder, Jr - Anchorage, AK". www.akcremation.com.
- ^ Post, Robert C. (2001). High Performance: The Culture and Technology of Drag Racing, 1950-2000. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801866647.
- ^ "Biloxi Dragway » Official Site » NHRA Hall Of Fame". biloxidragway.com.
- ^ "Biloxi Dragway". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Flashback Friday: Mississippi's Biloxi Dragway - Dragzine". Dragzine. 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Back on the ghost-track trail - NHRA.com". NHRA.com. 7 November 2008.
- ^ Bennett, Joseph E. (2009). My Life: My Fault: A Personal History. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781465324375.
- ^ Garlits, Don (2013). Tales from the Drag Strip: Memorable Stories from the Greatest Drag Racer of All Time. Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. ISBN 9781613213490.
- ^ "WIP - Biloxi Dragway (1967)". BeamNG.