r e m m u S Nitro s l a n o i t a N 1 2 0 2 k c o R e AHDRA At Th
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The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine
Story and photos by Alan Dockery
Carolina perfect at Rockingham Dragway, NC, for the All Harley Drag Racing Association’s Nitro Summer Nationals. Then rain showers came Sunday right before some of the final rounds. It may have frustrated racers who wanted the win and trophy, but fans at The Rock still enjoyed lots of thundering Harleys putting on a great show. I saw several riding buddies from all over the Carolinas in the stands and hangin’ on the fence down close. Craig Tharpe, who ran the AHDRA from North Carolina back in the day, was at the starting line Sunday with a big smile. Dane Miller, who ran it way back in the day, was there, too. Some famous retired racers and their families were down front with the fans who remember them. The All Harley Drag Racing Association is now owned by Pulse Marketing and run by veteran drag racer Bill Rowe Jr. and family, With so many Harley race teams in our area and such good drag strips and so many fans, I heard he weekend weather was just about
Andy Simon ran a 7.886 second pass Bill might be house hunting and move on down here. There was a good ride and drive in crowd Saturday of fans who needed that fix of Harley Thunder and some nitromethane in the air. Several vendors with some cool event shirts to old bike parts were at The Rock. With no major issues on the strip during the day, qualifying was done before sundown. Racing at The Rock in late Spring had my internal clock off a little since the sun is up longer. But it gives folks a little more light for hanging with old friends ain’t seen lately. The Nitro Fuel Bikes always put on a flame belching show for third round qualifying. The Wood Pile was back at The Rock. Saturday, I noticed a group of folks in the stands cheering. I remember the Wood Pile cheering for teams from that Goldsboro shop years ago. They were at the race to remember Country Maines, a popular racer who passed away last year. Country’s ashes made one more pass down the Rockingham Dragway as a Rocket Booster strapped to Tii Tharpe’s Top Fuel Harley wheelie bars. Eliminations and Winners
Eight Top Fuel Harleys qualified for the AHDRA field at The Rock. Sadly a few of my favorites didn’t make the field. It was tough since there were some of the best Top Fuel Harleys in the country there. Tyler Wilson, Walnut Cove, NC; Jay Turner, Julian, NC; Tii Tharpe, East Bend, NC, and Tracy Kile, Asheville, NC made up half the Top Fuel field. Bummer though since I think the only one to make it out of the first round was Tii. Mike Beland, Maiden, NC, keeps getting his Top Fuel Harley better. I really want to see Mike and that Maxx ECU controlled machine make some great passes. Armon Furr, Orangeburg, SC, qualified second in Nitro Funny Bike running way down in the sixes and more than 200 miles an hour. Sam White, Chapin, SC, also The Nitro Granny, Jeanette Thornley had Keith Kelley, of Mocksville, NC, riding her Pro Fuel machine. Continued On Page 16
