The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine
16
AHDRA Returns To The Rock Story and photos by Alan Dockery es, it was
hot the firstweekend of August. But fans and racers were at Rockingham Dragway, NC, for the long awaited return of the All Harley Drag Racing Association and the delayed Nitro Spring Nationals. Originally planned for mid-May, folks were glad to see the race go down safely even if it was hot. This also marked the return of the All Harley Drag Racing Association to action. Now owned by Pulse Marketing and run by veteran drag racer Bill Rowe Jr. and family, AHDRA was a well-known sanction by Carolina Race Fans for many years. I saw former owner, Craig Tharpe, who ran the association from North Carolina back in the day,
at the starting line Sunday with a big smile. The camping crowd was down. I expect between that Bitch Rona wiping out folks’ budgets and the fear of big events, some folks didn’t come for the weekend. That left some open field for the kids riding dirt bikes and minibikes to have fun. I got photos of Craig’s boy, Gavin 12 years old, riding Dad’s Hardtail Sportster solo for the first time. Shade was available and campers were hanging out and having fun at the strip. It was cool and comfortable at night to visit. There was a good ride and drive in crowd of fans on Saturday who needed that fix of Harley Thunder and some nitromethane in the air. Several vendors with some cool event shirts and old bike parts were at The Rock. Saturday afternoon there was a bike show and sound contest in the pits. With no major issues on the strip during the day, qualifying was done before sundown. Racing at The Rock in MidSummer 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. And I made some new friends in front of the tower. Mitch Dibble told me a couple times Saturday that he was marrying Kim after qualifying. As the sun set down the famous Rockingham Dragway, two Top Fuel Harleys rolled into the Winner’s Circle. Mitch and his buddies gathered around. Then Kim arrived on a Harley chariot piloted by Paul Watson. A bunch of us witnessed the racetrack wedding. “Thanks to Bill Rowe and the Rock crew for helping us get married,” Mitch said. “Also a very special thanks to Dan Grinde and Rich Vreeland for bringing their beautiful bikes to be in the ceremony. Jim Doyle and Carl Mogilka Sr. thanks for standing up for me. And Rich Vreeland for performing the perfect ceremony. Thanks to Susan Jerrries Bartlett for standing
