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{{Short description|Drag strip in Mississippi}}
{{AFC submission|||ts=20131021041825|u=EvansRacing|ns=5}}
{{Orphan|date=May 2015}}


The Biloxi Dragway was a NHRA/AHRA sactioned Quarter-Mile Drag Strip located in Biloxi, Mississippi, United States and operated from August 18th 1957 to July 1st 1967.
The '''Biloxi Dragway''' was a [[National Hot Rod Association|NHRA]]/AHRA-sanctioned Quarter-Mile Drag Strip located in [[Biloxi]], Mississippi, United States and operated from August 18, 1957 to July 1, 1967.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biloxi Dragway » Official Site » NHRA Hall Of Fame|url=https://www.biloxidragway.com/|website=biloxidragway.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Davis|first1=Larry|title=Super Stock: Drag Racing the Family Sedan|date=2010|publisher=CarTech Inc|isbn=9781934709481|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RYGA8YxPpxoC&dq=biloxi+dragway&pg=PA208|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mississippi Drag Strip History|url=http://dragstriplist.com/mississippi|website=dragstriplist.com}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==


Many drag racing pioneers raced at Biloxi. Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo, Art Arfons, Chris Karamesines, and Ronnie Sox. Locals, Paul Vanderley, Candies & Wale, Joe Teuton, Around 50 Hall of Fame Drag Racers currently documented.
Many drag racing pioneers raced at Biloxi. [[Don Garlits|"Big Daddy" Don Garlits]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Holmstrom|first1=David Newhardt, Darwin|title=Hemi Muscle Cars|publisher=MotorBooks International|isbn=9781616730116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UWBSOG7vqIMC&dq=don+garlits+biloxi&pg=PA158|language=en}}</ref> [[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, the strip operated under the name of the "Gulf Coast Drag Strip" from 1957-1964. 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 it's closure in 1967.
Built by Earl C. Nolan for $30,000,<ref>{{cite news|title=Biloxi Daily Herald Newspaper Archives, Sep 7, 1957, p. 12|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-sep-07-1957-p-12/|work=NewspaperArchive.com|date=7 September 1957|language=en}}</ref> the strip operated under the name of the "Gulf Coast Drag Strip" from 1957-1964.<ref>{{cite web|title=QUARTER MILE NOTES DEC 1957-DRAG RACING FANZINE-RARE VG {{!}} eBay|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/QUARTER-MILE-NOTES-DEC-1957-DRAG-RACING-FANZINE-RARE-VG/312129028751|website=eBay|language=en}}</ref> 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 the Keesler Coasters competed in a dragster representing Keesler AFB.
Early on Keesler field men under the name "Keesler Coasters" competed in a dragster representing [[Keesler Air Force Base]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituary for SMSgt Ret. Victor Javan Oder, Jr - Anchorage, AK|url=http://www.akcremation.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=656370|website=www.akcremation.com}}</ref>


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.
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.
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Many Championship Events were held at the dragway, such as the yearly Mississippi State Championship, three Gasser Championships, and a B/Stock Championship.
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: [[Motorcycle]]s, [[Gasser (car)|Gassers]], Super Stock, [[Funny Car]]s, and [[Dragster (car)|Dragsters]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Post|first1=Robert C.|title=High Performance: The Culture and Technology of Drag Racing, 1950-2000|date=2001|publisher=JHU Press|isbn=9780801866647|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sY-hMMjU3msC&dq=biloxi+dragway&pg=PA412|language=en}}</ref>
Classes included: Motorcycles, Gassers, Super Stock, Funny Cars, and Dragsters

Since 2006 Gulf Coast [[Historian]] Michael "Cory" Evans<ref>{{cite web|title=Biloxi Dragway » Official Site » NHRA Hall Of Fame|url=https://www.biloxidragway.com/|website=biloxidragway.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Biloxi Dragway|url=https://www.facebook.com/biloxidragway/|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Flashback Friday: Mississippi's Biloxi Dragway - Dragzine|url=http://www.dragzine.com/news/flashback-friday-mississippis-biloxi-dragway/|website=Dragzine|date=23 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Back on the ghost-track trail - NHRA.com|url=https://www.nhra.com/news/2008/back-ghost-track-trail/|website=NHRA.com|date=7 November 2008}}</ref> has extensively researched the history of the Biloxi Dragway. Local and national racers have since shared there experiences<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bennett|first1=Joseph E.|title=My Life: My Fault: A Personal History|date=2009|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=9781465324375|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZ-PAAAAQBAJ&dq=biloxi+drag+racing&pg=PT105|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Garlits|first1=Don|title=Tales from the Drag Strip: Memorable Stories from the Greatest Drag Racer of All Time|date=2013|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated|isbn=9781613213490|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HgPcMgEACAAJ&q=Tales+from+the+Drag+Strip+with+%22Big+Daddy%22+Don+Garlits|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=WIP - Biloxi Dragway (1967)|url=https://www.beamng.com/threads/biloxi-dragway-1967.53199/|website=BeamNG}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
*http://www.biloxidragway.com
* [https://www.biloxidragway.com/ Official Site]

[[Category:Racing]]

Latest revision as of 21:23, 14 April 2024

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  1. ^ "Biloxi Dragway » Official Site » NHRA Hall Of Fame". biloxidragway.com.
  2. ^ Davis, Larry (2010). Super Stock: Drag Racing the Family Sedan. CarTech Inc. ISBN 9781934709481.
  3. ^ "Mississippi Drag Strip History". dragstriplist.com.
  4. ^ Holmstrom, David Newhardt, Darwin. Hemi Muscle Cars. MotorBooks International. ISBN 9781616730116.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Biloxi Daily Herald Newspaper Archives, Sep 7, 1957, p. 12". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 September 1957.
  6. ^ "QUARTER MILE NOTES DEC 1957-DRAG RACING FANZINE-RARE VG | eBay". eBay.
  7. ^ "Obituary for SMSgt Ret. Victor Javan Oder, Jr - Anchorage, AK". www.akcremation.com.
  8. ^ Post, Robert C. (2001). High Performance: The Culture and Technology of Drag Racing, 1950-2000. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801866647.
  9. ^ "Biloxi Dragway » Official Site » NHRA Hall Of Fame". biloxidragway.com.
  10. ^ "Biloxi Dragway". www.facebook.com.
  11. ^ "Flashback Friday: Mississippi's Biloxi Dragway - Dragzine". Dragzine. 23 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Back on the ghost-track trail - NHRA.com". NHRA.com. 7 November 2008.
  13. ^ Bennett, Joseph E. (2009). My Life: My Fault: A Personal History. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781465324375.
  14. ^ Garlits, Don (2013). Tales from the Drag Strip: Memorable Stories from the Greatest Drag Racer of All Time. Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. ISBN 9781613213490.
  15. ^ "WIP - Biloxi Dragway (1967)". BeamNG.
[edit]
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