The markers of autumn's start in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley are evident every year. The leaves are beginning to turn, and the harvest has begun. And unlike the migratory birds that are headed South, Midwest vintage drag racers head North to Rock Falls Raceway and the annual Fall-Out Vintage Drags.
Organized by Vintage Drag Racing 101, the 5th edition of The Fall-Out enjoyed its best car count yet at 160 cars. Unseasonably warm weather contributed to spectator attendance that surpassed all previous years at the spectacularly upgraded quarter-mile facility just outside the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Featuring period-correct pre-1967 dragsters, gassers, and stockers racing in a classification format, The Fall-Out also included a car show, which enjoyed strong participation on both days, and the swap meet featuring many vendors trading in a wide assortment of vintage race car parts.
In drag racing's formative years, car clubs were at the forefront in organizing the sport in the post-war era. The Fall-Out shares that tradition, with several organizations participating, including Meltdown Drags Association, the Brew City Gassers, the Gopher State Timing Association, the Scavengers Car Club, and Who Are Those Guys? Car Club.
As an added bonus, VDR101's "Uncle Sam's Pie Eating Contest" was incorporated into this year's program. A true throwback, USPEC requires all cars to be shod with pie crust slicks and water box burnouts are forbidden. Class eliminations took place on Saturday, with the following winners:
Stock: Jack Kluge 63 Chevy Impala Hot Rod: Bryan Fortier 61 Chevy Impala Super Stock: David Zielsdorf 63 Chevy Biscayne "King Braeger Chevrolet" A/Gas: Paul Zielsdorf 41 Willys "Hairy Hauler" C/Gas: Mark Kluge 40 Willys Coupe D/Gas: Joe Maresh 38 Chevy "Blue Dago" E/Gas: Jamie Mealy 66 Chevelle
"Uncle Sam's Pie Eating Contest" wouldn't be complete without an actual pie-eating contest, where racers and spectators pitted their speed eating prowess against one another, gorging upon apple pies. In the Youth Division, the winner was Ayden from Baldwin, WI. Ham Lake, Minnesota's John Holmn, from the Scavengers Car Club prevailed in the Adult Division.
Of course, none of this could have occurred without the support of companies that racers depend on. They included CTech Manufacturing, National Fleet Graphics, Suburban GM Parts, and Stanke Motorsports.
The Fall-Out #6 is scheduled for September 17 and 18, 2021 at Rock Falls Raceway.
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