SOUTHEAST GASSERS SET FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL BROADCAST WED, FEB. 27

 

 

CAPTION - Southeast Gassers Association founder Quain Stott (with microphone) believes Wednesday's appearance of the strictest period-correct Gasser series on the Discovery Channel will be a shot in the arm the series has needed despite steady growth since its inception (Caleb Sewell photo)

For years past Pro Modified champion turned Gasser perfectionist Quain Stott has sought to make his brand of period correct racing a household name in drag racing. It appears as if the headstrong Stott is well on his way.

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 10 PM, EST, the Southeast Gassers Association will be featured in a one-hour episode of Moonshiners: Full Throttle Throwdown on the Discovery Channel.

Stott said he will tune in on Wednesday for the first time with what he hopes will be a large audience who shares the passion for this style of old school racing.

"Hopefully this will be something that Southeast Gassers Association fans all over the world can be proud of," Stott said. "I haven't seen anything from it so it will be a surprise to me also. If viewership is high, there is a good chance of a spin-off in the future."

Stott said there had been talks with television producers for the last two years to create a series based on the behind-the-scenes happenings with what is regarded as the strictest period-correct Gasser series in drag racing. He said in the last six months is when the banter began to get real series.

"We struggled with contracts and whatnot," Stott admitted. "I got happy with the contract because I want them to do it in real form, not scripted. Like one of the things in the contract is the racing is not allowed to be altered in any kind of way. The shop scenes I had no control over. But the racing is real."

Stott is hoping for a ratings windfall which could lead to the group getting a spinoff show to promote their unique style of Gasser racing. Wednesday's show will feature competition from the Carolina Dragway SGA event, located outside of Aiken, SC.

"We’re just excited that they’ve spent this kind of money, which there’s no telling. I ain’t got a clue, but I know they flew camera people here," Stott explained. The shop scenes, they’ve had as many as 10-15 camera people fly in and spend two or three days, go back, then come back, come back. That doesn't include the editing and all that."

Stott sees the exposure as a major shot in the arm for the series which has been a significant challenge for him at times because of his stubbornness to stick to his guns on rules and regulations.

"I think it’s going to be a shot in the arm for what we’re doing because I’ve been trying to get this message out," Stott said. It’s like I told somebody the other day, we are trying our best to preserve the history of not only how the cars looked but how they raced also. See all these other gasser groups are just going for the look, the raised up front end. Everybody’s like, this big gasser craze, the front end set high. The hell with all that.

"The important part about the gasser’s was how they were raced. They were raced weight to cubic inch, they had to run gasoline, and they raced first to finish line wins. These other groups have got some kind of crazy index."

Stott promotes his shows as a trip back to 1967, and minus the black and white television screen, hopes audiences worldwide will get a look behind the scenes.

"What we’re trying to do is recreate the whole picture," Stott said. "The way they were raced, the way they looked, the way they performed, you know and try and recreate the whole thing. Well, hopefully, this show will get our message out and let people see what we’re trying to do. We do not need more cars; we’re not doing this for that reason."

The whole master plan is to expand their spectator experience, both in person and abroad.

"If you look, our ads are always directed at spectators, which is what I think drag racing is losing today," Stott explained. "Drag racing has forgotten about the spectators because now they just charge a big entry fee to the cars and they don’t care if spectators show up or not. Well I don’t charge a penny entry fee because I want the spectators to be there, and that’s what we focused on. And hopefully, this TV show will give us that.

"We probably do it better pound for pound than any other racing organization there is. We still could always use more."

And being on primetime television, Stott understands the opportunity is there.

 

 

 

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