Local racers showcase cars, skills in Waynesburg
On select summer and autumn days in Waynesburg, the roar of engines can be heard bellowing amidst a sea of cheers.
Flashlight drag racing has become a tradition in Waynesburg. Held at the Greene County Airport, the races draw in numerous spectators and drivers from around the region.
The airport hosts five drag racing events per year, starting in May. These races are made possible by the organization Flashlight Drags. They try to hold one event per month until September, unless rain determines otherwise.
Such was the case for their most recent event on Sunday. Despite operating on a rain date, Flashlight Drags still welcomed 150 racers.
Jake Blaker, director of Recreation for Greene County, says that he enjoys the drag races because it “gives something to the people on a Sunday where they don’t have to leave the county.” The people he refers to are the faithful crowd in attendance from Greene County and beyond.
”I like all of the different cars,” said Caleb Lemley of Washington. “They have such a variety.”
Blaker agrees that the wide range of cars racing adds to the excitement.
”There are brand new Corvettes out there and there’s a 1939 Ford running too, and everything in between,” said Blaker.
Drivers are welcome to take part in all five races throughout the summer. Blaker said there are some regulars as well as racers that only come once or twice.
To be eligible to compete in the Flashlight Drags, drivers must show a driver’s license and proof of insurance. Their cars must be street legal and have appropriate tires. Once cleared to race, there is a $30 racing fee to participate.
It is up to the drivers to choose their opponents. Matches are usually made in the pit area, and soon after, the drivers line up two-by-two on the runway.
For Art Miller, racing has been a way of life. Following a tradition set by his father, Miller has been drag racing since 1995.
Miller owns a 2014 Corvette and a 2010 Shelby GT500. He drove the Corvette two hours from Youngstown, Ohio to race Sunday. He heard about the event a few days prior and decided to come down with friends for the last race of the year.
He said he enjoys the competition, but more importantly, the camaraderie.
”When I had my [old] mustang, it was all about winning,” said Miller. “Now it’s more about hanging out with everybody. They are good people. If anybody was broken down on the side of the road, somebody would stop. Obviously I want to win and I want to go fast, but [losing] doesn’t bother me as much.”
Printed on pamphlets and trailers at the airport was the tagline: “Street racing without the jail time.” According to Flashlight Drags owner Michael Schindel, the slogan carries an important message.
”If you do this out on the street, you’re getting arrested, you’re going to jail or you’re going to hurt somebody. If you do it here, it’s a very controlled environment,” said Schindel.
According to Schindel, Flashlight Drags chose to make their racing strip an eighth of a mile because that is the approximate distance of a city block.
Many racers taking part in these races grew up competing in the streets and are used to that distance – racing from traffic light to traffic light.
Schindel has been a part of Flashlight Drags for 14 years. While he oversees the operations that take place at the Greene County Airport, he still makes time to race in his spare time. Schindel also teaches road-racing courses in Elwood City, instructing techniques such as escape and evasion and anti-terrorist driving.
”It’s a great escape for the everyday racer,” said Schindel.
Schindel encourages families to attend the drag races and tries to appeal to all audiences.
”The venue is family-focused. You don’t hear language, you don’t see drinking and you don’t see fighting. We run a tight ship,” said Schindel.
While the winners of the early races throughout the day only drive off with bragging rights, the champions of specific car categories ride away with something much more memorable.
Trophies are given to the winners of specific groups, but they are anything but shiny. In fact, these trophies most likely look familiar to the racers because they are old, broken car parts welded together. One trophy may be a piece of a clutch with a plaque on it, while another may be a muffler.
”If you win enough races, you’ll have enough parts to build your own motor,” said Schindel. “Or you’ll have enough parts to sell to the scrapyard.”
Aside from the exhaust and the tire rubber, a sense of joy and satisfaction is evident in those involved in the Flashlight Drags.
”If we’re not having fun,” said Schindel, “we won’t continue to do it.”
While Sunday marked the end of Flashlight Drags’ races at Greene County Airport for 2015, they will begin accepting applications as soon as January for the next year.
Whether it is viewed as a weekend hobby or a legal escape for car enthusiasts, Flashlight Drags in Greene County provides an outlet for camaraderie and old school racing, and is poised to do so for years to come.