New Exhibit Opening Nov. 13 - Four Brothers Racing 40 Years Apart
October 22, 2009
POMONA, CA - “Making personal connections is what museums are all about.” Said Tony Thacker, executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. “Consequently, we’re excited by a new exhibit featuring a Honda CRX FWD drag car alongside the famous Pierson Bros. Coupe and tell the story of four brothers racing: The Pierson brothers Bob and Dick in the fifties and Ed and Ron Bergenholtz in the ninties. They were two teams doing exactly the same thing 40 years apart and with no knowledge of each other’s exploits.
In 1947, Rusetta Coupe Club members Bob and Dick Pierson of Inglewood, California ran their 3-window coupe at the dry lakes. It was their daily transportation—their mother thought it would be a safe car for them to drive—eventually, over the ensuing years they sneaked it up to 140.40. It was no longer their daily driver. For the 1950 season they stood the hot rod world on its head when they figured out how to chop the top, lay back the windshield and yet still meet the SCTA’s 7-inch windshield height regulation. Powered by a Bobby Meeks-built, Edelbrock equipped flathead Ford the Pierson Bros. 2D coupe consistently ran 150 mph. The car ran at the lakes, the drags and at Bonneville consistently through the seventies.
Fast forward 50 years and two more brothers, Rod and Ed Bergenholtz. Working out of a very humble garage in Orange County, California 20 years ago, their ride was a buddy's 1988 Honda
CRX. The vehicle was driven on the street and then, as it got faster, was converted into a professional race car in the late 90's and raced at NHRA racetracks nationwide. Driver Ed set numerous records but gained historic notoriety in 1999 when wheely bars were mounted to the rear of the car. The wheely bars forever revolutionized front-wheel-drive drag racing and the CRX set numerous records. It also became the catalyst for other front wheel drive drag racers to run even faster. From this first racecar, the Bergenholtz Racing Brothers were the only race team to win back to back PROFWD NHRA Championships as well as claim the World's Quickest FWD record for an Import vehicle. Today, Ron and Ed Bergenholtz still operate the same as they did 20 years ago from a very humble Orange County garage doing amazing things in the professional motorsports community.
The exhibit will open to the public on Friday, Nov. 13th, in conjunction with the annual fan-favorite Night of Champions during the NHRA Finals.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST. During the NHRA Finals and Winternationals, the Museum has extended hours and admission is free. Tram service is available from the Auto Club Pomona Raceway to the Museum during the weekend of the NHRA races. Current NHRA members are admitted free and Auto Club members enjoy a $2 discount. Admission for non-members is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 and older, $5 for juniors six through 15, and free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com.
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