Armdrop May 23, 2015
The air was thick with the smell of burning rubber and racing fuel at Picton’s Historic Airfield for Armdrop’s season opener on May 23, 2015.
Start to Finish
For the spectators the day officially began at 11:00 am. when the gates opened. Most of the participants had been making final preparations for the big day over the last week or two. But for the group who proudly wear their red Armdrop shirts, led by their intrepid leader, Glen Conway, Kingston Ont. the work began months ago with planning and organizing.
Signs went up the night before to help direct traffic and beginning around 8:00 am. final preparations began in earnest. The timing system, courtesy of Steve Wyatt, was set-up and checked, fences were erected and bleachers for the spectators were placed. Vendors were in place as the first cars began to roll in, one after another, after another, after another.
Old street racing; no timing, no slips, armdrop start. Run what ya’ brung racing was the original plan for the event, but nobody had any idea what that really meant. Many of the volunteers for Armdrop had been involved in the Kingston street scene and wanted to create a safe place for themselves to run their friends. Little did they expect the variety of racers that would arrive, tuners, hot rods, rat rods and purpose built drag cars all came out for a day of friendly competition. Even a few members of Ontario Nostalgic Drag Racers get in on the action.
As well as drag racing, there is a car and motorcycle show. This year Miss Mandy Mae, often seen dropping arms for the dragsters sponsored a trophy: The Miss Mandy Mae Choice.
All the season openers for Armdrop Drag Racing have drawn good crowds. The weather Gods helped to assure this years start would be the best yet. Nearly 3000 spectators and almost 300 cars were present, making this possibly the single largest one-day event in Prince Edward County.
Maximum use of horse-power is the name of the game. So logically more horse-power is what every participants tries to achieve. Their are many ways to achieve this; super chargers, balance and blueprinted engines, exotic racing fuels are just a few of the ways racers use. All are relatively expensive and give incremental results.
Cormier’s Auto Repair’s team decided that they wanted twice the horsepower in there 1999 Pontiac Gran Prix. There solution is simplicity itself, two identical engines and drive-trains. Though they did experience a few problems with control, the overall result gave them a best time of 11.5 seconds.
The next date is; JUNE 20 & 21, A full weekend of Drags, Car & Bike Show, along with the County Truck & Tractor Pulls. Gates open at 930am, Drags start at 11am.
The Miss Mandy Mae Choice Award
(photos by rbr photography)
Sponsors and Vendors
Thanks MOM!
“I love to see the different cars,” said Wendy (MOM) Conway. “and meeting all the people.”
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“I have been coming to Armdrop right from the beginning,” said Lee Burton, Havelock Ont. “It’s the only legal spot for street racing and you won’t get arrested!” |
| “I have had a love and passion for the cars all my life,” said Joe DaSilva, Kingston Ont. “I’ve been coming to Armdrop Drag Racing for 7 years.” |
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“I just love the smell of racing fuel and burning rubber,” said Brian Lindensmith. “I love helping at the show, I’ve been doing it right from the start.” |
quintecar.ca Best Car
quintecar.ca would like to thank ALL the spectators, participants, vendors and the great folks that volunteer for making this Armdrop Drag Race the best birthday present EVER for Glen Conway!
Photographs by Juanita McMahon, RBR Photography and quintecar.ca.
story by bill samuel