– Third’s a charm!

After the overwhelming success of the NHRA Museum’s popular Hot Rod Reunions in Kentucky and California, organizers elected to add another event to the 2013 Hot Rod Reunion calendar. The inaugural New England NHRA Hot Rod Reunion will be held in September (dates to be announced soon) of 2013 (Thursday through Saturday) at the new NHRA member track, New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.

Produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California and located in Pomona, Calif., the Hot Rod Reunions are a part of the museum’s “living history” philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture. Unique among motorsports events, the Reunion honors some of the top names in hot rodding from the past and features a fabulous array of fast drag cars, hot rods, street rods and cool customs.

“The NHRA Motorsports Museum is thrilled to have the opportunity to put together an annual Hot Rod Reunion at the historical New England Dragway,” said Larry Fisher, Executive Director of the NHRA Museum. “The northeastern region is a hotbed of rodding activity, it made perfect sense to host a Hot Rod Reunion at New England Dragway. The track is the perfect venue and the planned upgrades to the parking and pit areas will only make it better.”

New England drag racing legend and Rhode Island native Jimmy King has been named grand marshal of the inaugural event. King and the late Don Marshall made up one of the best NHRA Top Fuel drag racing teams in the eastcoast during the 1960s and 70s. King & Marshall visited many winner’s circle but none more memorable than their 1971 win at the NHRA Gatornationals. Today, King continues to relive his glory days of drag racing as crew chief of the Helger Bros. Racing team of Little Compton, R.I.  King, along with the Helger Bros. team, is eager to head to their favorite track, New England Dragway for the first-ever New England NHRA Hot Rod Reunion.

            “I’m so honored and excited to be a part of the inaugural Hot Rod Reunion in September,” said King. “The New England region is the perfect place to host the Reunion. We have some of the most passionate hot rodders; not to mention well-established drag racing roots in this part of the country. It’s going to be a great time catching up with old friends and remembering the good old days.”

The reunion will feature the customary 3-day festival of speed, hot rods and American automotive enthusiasm. Plus, fans can get acquainted with several racing legends including grand marshal Jimmy King, heart-pounding nostalgia drag racing, a Show ’N Shine area featuring hundreds of classic cars in the region, and the spectacular Cacklefest – a show for all your senses! There will also be a big party welcoming the Reunion and many racing luminaries to the area with a free Honoree Reception (details coming soon).

“All of us at New England Dragway are thrilled about hosting a NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in 2013.  It is without a doubt the most prestigious nostalgia event in the country and we’re honored to be chosen as a stop on next year’s tour,” said New England Dragway General Manager Joe Lombardo. “We are in the process of making some significant improvements to our facility.  Our goal is to ensure everyone who takes part in this event comes away with a positive experience and eager to return.“

The New England area has a long and storied drag racing history, with the sport making its debut at the old Newington Airport in 1953. Eventually, and after much due diligence, New England Dragway was opened in September 1966. The facility has been active ever since, becoming an NHRA member track in 2011.

Ticket sales for the inaugural event begin May 9, 2013 online at www.nhratix.com or by calling 1-800-884-NHRA (6472). Stay tuned to the Museum’s website, www.museum.nhra.com, for further details on the inaugural New England NHRA Hot Rod Reunion.

Housed in a 28,500-square-foot building on the edge of the historic Los Angeles County Fairplex, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum’s mission is to celebrate the impact of motorsports on the American culture. The museum collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets the vehicles, stories and artifacts that represent America’s affection for, and the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms. The museum is the place to view and learn about hot rods, customs, racecars and speed records and the West Coast’s role as the historic center for the past and present development of hot rodding. Log on to http://museum.nhra.com for more information.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

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