50th San Diego Antique Drags

When most people talk about antiques, they talk about rickety old grandfather clocks with faded wood grain, or a table with one missing leg, a huge crack down the center, but you can't throw it out because it's been in the family for over 100 years. But when we talk antiques at Barona 1/8th Mile Dragstrip, we're talking about cars from the 50s rocketing to over 100 MPH in the eighth mile
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The Antique Drags rocked Barona Dragstrip last week, and it did so with cars old and slightly-less-old. The open Gambler started things out, as George Chatterton the Third lined up against Tracy Perez, with Tracy's 70 Nova getting a early 2 second head start against George's 37 Fiat, and it's monster 5.45 dial and 120-plus MPH. However, as Tracy started toh ea down the track, George could not wait for his turn, leaving 2 thousandths of a second early, giving the bracket to Tracy Perez.

The Antique Drags proper started with the AFX Shootout,as a pair of early 60s cars lined up to settle it all, Jerry Keller's 63 Dodge lining up at the start against Cleyon Loonsfoot and his 62 Plymouth.Jerry got the start with his 7.30 dial, finishing first with his7.272 E/T, disqualifying himself so long as Cleyon can make his time. But Cleyon would also break out, but by getting a 6.480 on a 6.50 dial, he was still closer to his dial then Jerry was, granting him  and his Plymouth the win.

Finally, the Y-block Challenge would bring a pair of real antiques to the finals, , with Al Radcliff and his 1930 Ford up against Joe Cebe and his  1957 Ford Ranchero. As the lights went green, Al got the head start with his .055  reaction time against  Joe's .109, and he would ride that lead all the way to the finish, Al's 8.792 E/T on a 8.70 dial landing around 5 hundredths of a second closer than Joe's 10.34 on a 10.20 dial.

With the Antiques wrapped up, we can look forward to the 4th race of the Renegade, as well as Barona's 10 Ten  Big Tire Small Tire showing up up. See you there!

Photos: 1, Al Radcliff's 1930 Ford (Near) waits against Joe Cebe's early launch i the Y Block final. He'd win the round.

2, Jerry Keller's 63 Dodge burning out before the Gambler final. He'd win the bracket on his rival, Cleyon Loonfoot, breaking out.