WAYNESBURG, PA — With the smell of burning rubber and the sound of motors revving filling the air over the Greene County Airport runway, one thing is certain — Flashlight Drags is back in Greene County.
After a year’s absence, the street-racing event officially returned with races on May 16 and June 20. Flashlight Drags is halfway through its 2010 season in Greene County. The next two races are scheduled for Sunday, July 11, and Saturday, Oct. 30.
Gates open at noon, and the races are set to run from 2 to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 to watch and $25 to race. Children under 12 are admitted free.
"We are very pleased to continue to host Flashlight Drags in Greene County,” said Commissioner Pam Snyder, chair of the Board of Commissioners. "We are especially happy that we can open up our county airport and host an all-ages event for the residents of this county who have been subsidizing the airport for years but have not been able to enjoy it."
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. 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. The county had received a portion of admissions, and the events were considered a unique draw for recreation and tourism.
After the first two races this year, the county has made more than $3,500. Each event drew more than 200 racers and 1,200 spectators, with many attendees visiting from outside the county.
The July 11 and Oct. 30 races will include a swap meet from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vendor space costs $25, and admission to shop is $5, which also covers admission to the day’s races. A rain date for July is planned for Sunday, July 18. The Oct. 30 event will not be made up in the event of inclement weather.
For more information on Flashlight Drags, call the Greene County Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323, or visit www.flashlightdrags.com.
Photos courtesy of the Uniontown Herald-Standard
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For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
