Jun 17, 2011 2 min read

WAYNESBURG — Flashlight Drags, the legal alternative to street racing, will get motors revving Sunday at the Greene County Airport in Waynesburg.

Produced by Altered Gas Performance Events, LLC, Flashlight Drags consists of a 1/8-mile race along the airport runway.

Drivers can race as many times as they want and against any of the other racers, all for fun. The format is heads-up, meaning that both vehicles leave the starting line at the same time. The name of the event refers back to the early days of drag racing, when a flashlight was used to signal the start.

?The Flashlight Drags series of races began in Greene County in 2007 and ran again in 2008 before PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation mandated that municipal airports could not host non-aviation events. The Greene County Commissioners appealed this decision and received a waiver from the bureau allowing the county to again host the drag racing events at the airport, which began again in 2010. The county receives a portion of admission, and the events are considered a unique draw for recreation and tourism.

Gates open at noon, and the races are set to run from 2 to 6?p.m. There is an admission fee for those who want to watch and an entry fee for those who want to race. Children under 12 are admitted free.

Street-legal cars, trucks and bikes are eligible to race, and all drivers must have appropriate paperwork, including a valid driver’s license, current state registration and proof of insurance. Passengers are not allowed. All racers must sign a waiver, and minors must have a waiver notarized to race.

For drivers wishing to race convertible cars, the top must be up, or the driver should wear a helmet. Mufflers and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation-approved tires are required. There will be no refunds.

Flashlight Drags will be held three more times in 2011 — July 10, Sept. 10 and Oct. 2.

Rain dates are planned in the event of inclement weather.

In other Department of Recreation news, swimming classes at Alpha Aquatic Center in Waynesburg and Carmichaels Pool in Carmichaels are still available to join. Classes begin Monday and run through the first week of August.

For more information, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.