News Release: May 11, 2010 Contact: Elizabeth Witte, Communications Director (724-852-5210)
WAYNESBURG, PA — After a year’s absence, the Flashlight Drags street-racing event will officially return Sunday, May 16, to the Greene County Airport. Gates open at noon, and the races are set to start at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 to watch and $25 to race. Street-legal cars, trucks and bikes are eligible to race, and all drivers must have appropriate paperwork, including a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Passengers are not allowed.
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.
Four dates for Flashlight Drags have been announced. In addition to May 16, Flashlight Drags will be held Sunday, June 20, Sunday, July 11, and Saturday, Oct. 30. Rain dates are planned for a week after each scheduled event, except for Oct. 30, which will not be made up in the event of inclement weather.
For more information, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.
[Photo of local racers during a practice run, May 10, 2010]
Today's date is:
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
