ST. GEORGE – Saturday morning’s rain did not did not deter racers or spectators but caused some change-ups in the nature of the racing at the season opener of the BlackRock Motorsports Drag Race at the Ridge Top Complex, 998 South Airport Road in St. George.
The rain played havoc with the 25-year old electronics that are used to time the racecars as they go down the measured quarter-mile drag strip. So, without any electronic timing available, the weekend became old-school arm-drop drags with no real winners or losers.
“Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate with us. It rained us out all night last night,” Jason Hall, from BlackRock Motorsports, said. “It rained out our electronics a little bit. But we are having fun anyway. We are making the best of it”
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Videocast by John Teas, St. George News
Anybody that has a driver’s license and has access to a car that will pass a standard safety inspection can race in the BlackRock Motorsports drag races. The drivers can run as many passes down the quarter-mile as they want and can pick whomever they want to race against in a safe and controlled environment.
BlackRock Motorsports with the help of sponsors St. George Lions Club and Speedtech Performance, as well as Bryce Christensen Excavation, are working together to bring drag racing to Southern Utah, building the event into something that will be good for St. George.
The surface of the runway is ideal to land planes on but it is not the best surface to get the best traction for drag race cars to get a quick start. Future plans include milling down 200+ feet of the starting area and pour a concrete base. This will enhance both the performance of the cars and improve the safety of the competitors.
“We think that if we stay with it and add a bunch more sponsors – we think this will be something big,” Lions Club Drag Race coordinator Dean Jones said. “Help the city put some people in the motels, the restaurants and it will be good for all of us. The Lions are up here working hard.”
Lions Club offered hot dogs and hamburgers. Komatsu of Utah in Hurricane provided a sweeper to prep the track before the races and to help dry the track after Friday night’s showers. The City of St. George provided bleachers for the spectators.
Sunday’s weather looks like it will be substantially improved with racing set to resume at 10 a.m. Tech inspection starts at 9 a.m. Registration to race on Sunday is $20. Spectator admission is $5 per person or $20 for a family pass. Children 10 and under are free.
The next race is scheduled for the end of May with two more later in the year.
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Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
A good crowd braved the cold, wet weather and were treated to some great drag racing. Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
A good crowd braved the cold, wet weather and were treated to some great drag racing. Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
Saturday's races featured some very quick diesel pickup trucks, alcohol dragsters, American muscle cars and imports of all kinds. Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
FILE - Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
The rain played havoc with the 25-year old electronics that are used to time the racecars as they go down the measured quarter-mile drag strip. BlackRock Motorsports trailer. Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
Blackrock Motorsports - St. George Lions Club sponsored drag races at the Ridge Top Complex, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News
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