East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame

It is hardly a secret that the sport of drag racing set its earliest roots in California. Sources peg the year at about 1938 or 39, perhaps even earlier, but just as the new shoots began to reach skyward, the dark clouds of war postponed such frivolities as the hot rodders found themselves in uniform, off to fight for their country’s survival. It was during that time of war that these same young men acquired new knowledge and skills that they would utilize for the design, building and competition of automobiles. They returned with their skills vastly improved in the ways to make engines roar and chassis handle the power produced. In the process they met other military servicemen with an equal thirst for the thrill of speed in a machine built, maintained and driven with their own hands. It was from this that a nationwide, coast to coast hot rodding culture was spawned. But five years ago, in 2002, one individual gathered about her a small yet determined group of eastern based drag racers, media types and fans and formed the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame. The site chosen for this pioneering effort, Henderson, North Carolina, was selected because of the efforts of one Nancy Wilson, a devoted fan of drag racing and Director of the Vance County Tourism Department. Nancy provided the location and the official support of the Vance County officials who were keen on the prospects of having such an organization make its home in their community. Along those lines Mrs. Wilson and her colleagues created the entire East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame weekend. Held each year in mid-October, this event has grown to become one of the Southeast’s largest car shows. The show part of the weekend literally closes down the main street of Henderson, forming a pedestrian mall that showcases hundreds of rods, musclecars, antique vehicles and race cars for a crowd of 20,000 plus eager spectators. Each year’s list of honored inductees gather on Friday evening at three different Henderson motels to enjoy cocktails and re-establish old friendships and racing rivalries from days past. A cruise-in that same night gives the car show participants the opportunity to show off their rides and return to the hallowed cruising scene of the 1950’s and 60’s.