(April 9, 2022) The second Southeast Gasser’s Association event of the 2022 season was known as the Gene Cromer Memorial, commemorating a racer who tore up the tracks in the ’50s and ’60s. Cromer raced Gassers, A/FX machines, and Pro Stockers.
Cromer was a huge influence on Quain Stott, current SEGA president. Stott says that without Cromer, chances are there would not be a Southeast Gasser’s Association. So when Cromer lost his life in a non-racing accident in 2021, Stott and members of the SEGA determined to have a memorial race in Cromer’s honor.
SEGA at Shady Side Dragway
Shady Side Dragway in Shelby, North Carolina was selected as the site of the memorial. Members of Cromer’s family were on hand for a special presentation and Cromer’s fully restored Willys gasser was a popular static attraction.
The race was also the second event of the 2022 SEGA season. Cool temperatures and strong breezes made jackets and parkas compulsory, but the sizzling action on the track was enough to keep the fans from worrying about the cold. A couple of minor rain showers interrupted the procedures, but the final pair concluded the event long before dark.
Super Stock: Rick Varner
Sixteen cars qualified for the Super Stock field, with Rick Varner’s ’67 Camaro securing the number one qualifying position. Mark Hacket was right behind him in his Mercury Poison Mercury Comet. Not surprisingly, these two drivers advanced to the final. Varner took out Dale Morton’sLucille in the first round, then enjoyed a bye in round two. He got around Rick Cathcartin the semi-finals.
In the interim, Hacket drove his Comet past Don Wilhotand Tyler York to gain the semi-finals. Tim Bailey’sLittle Tramp fell to the Mercury, advancing Hacket to the final.
The money run was close, but Varner couldn’t be denied in the Dirt Man Camaro. Varner now leads in points at 65, with Hackett sitting at 60 and Tyler York holding 50 points.
C/Gas: Tim Hall
The C/Gas field also consisted of sixteen cars with Tim Hall grabbing the number one position in his Scalded Dog AMC Rambler. Hall made short work of Matthew Miller’sHell’s Belle ’50 Ford in the first round. He then cruised past Ernie Smith’sSaturday Night Special and Alexis Phillips in the Flower Power ’55 Chevy.
At the same time, number three qualifier Todd Oden was enjoying a strong run with his monstrous Double XX ’58 Chevy. Oden launched his day by taking out Dwight McGuire’sSteel Lady and Billy Wilson’sTrouble Maker. In the semis, Zach Buff’slovely ’57 Chevy Nomad couldn’t stop Oden from reaching the final.
The C/G final pitted Hall’s tiny AMC against Oden’s hulking ’58 Chevy Delray. In one of the closest races of the day, Hall slipped past the Double XX, turning on the win light by a mere 0.02 seconds. Hall’s win gives him the lead in championship points, with Oden a mere five points behind.
B/Gas: Colby Welch
Typically, B/Gas attracts the largest field at a SEGA event, and the April event at Shady Side was no exception. Twenty-one cars attempted to qualify, with Colby Welch’salways tough Moonbeam Ford Ranchero heading up the field. Surprisingly, The Patriot Falcon, driven by Daniel Haynes,could only muster a dead last twenty-first qualifying bid. Haynes was fifth in points for the 2021 season, so his off-the-pace runs could have a big impact on the 2022 points championship.
Welch opened eliminations with a bye run, then proceeded to trailer Art Copland, Kevin Burt,and Jerry Birch. Birch had earlier dispatched the 2021 B/G points champion Ken Rainwater.
Meanwhile, Bill Revelswas having a great day as he took out Zak Hall, Mike Blackwall,and Ray Fassel.
The final pitted Revels’ Black Betty Ford against Welch’s Moonbeam Ranchero. Welch led the entire race to collect the B/G trophy. Welsh now leads the B/G points chase, five points ahead of Revels and Jerry Birch who are tied for second place
A/Gas: Leslie Horne
Leslie Horne not only qualified number one in A/Gas, he also set a new SEGA A/G record. Driving his very potent Chick Magnet ’55 Chevy, Horne looked to be the class of the sixteen car A/G field. Horne’s advance to the final didn’t come easy. Marlin Shortand Chase Howard fell to the Chick Magnet in the first two rounds. Next Horne faced the 2021 A/G Champion Gabriel Burrell in the Southern Flyer Model A. Horne skated past last season’s champ to put himself in the final.
On the other side of the ladder, Ben Christopher qualified his Happy Daze Nova in the number three slot, then drove around Robert Fraiser’sBlack & Blue ‘Cuda. Next, he faced two very strong entries but managed to get by Kenneth Phillipsin the Silver Streak Corvette and Rick Varner’sDirt Man Chevy II. Varner has earlier dispatched number two qualifier Terry Housley, whose Mr. Quick ’55 Chevy broke and couldn’t stage for round two.
Horne’s Chick Magnet was the car to beat and it showed. Christopher put together a strong run, but the rapid ’55 Chevy was stronger. Horne wrapped up the weekend with the trophy, a new A/GS record, and an early lead in the points championship. (65 points) Christopher sits in second with 60 points. Of course, there are many races to come and anything can happen, but it is always good to be on top of the championship ladder.
A/FX: Allen Platt
There are reports of several new cars being built for the hot SEGA A/FX class, but only three cars showed up at Shady Side for the Cromer Memorial. Todd Wimberlylooked very strong in qualifying with his Southern Comfort Falcon, but the car broke and was unable to make the final. That left Allen Platt in the Georgia Shaker III to face his cousin Rocky Plattin the Dixie Twister. Unfortunately, the Twister had difficulty staging and the tree counted down before Rocky Platt could stage. This left the red-eye shining in the Twister’s lane. Allen Platt stormed the win with the electric blue injected Ford.
Photo Gallery: Shady Side 04/09/2022
(Click on the images to view them at a larger size.
Colby Welch outlasted a 22 car B/Gas field. The Moonbeam driver defeated Bill Revels in the final.
C/Gas came down to Tim Hall’s Scalded Dog AMC and Todd Oden’s Double XX ’58 Chevy. Hall held off the Delray by the slimmest of margins.
The eagerly awaitted A/FX final saw Rocky Platt unable to stage the Dixie Twister, giving him a redlight against Cousin Allan Platt.
Mark Hacket took Super Stock runner up honors with his Mercury Poison Comet
Top Honors in A/FX fell to Allen Platt and his injected alcohol Hubert Platt tribute car.
Rocky Platt was one of three A/FX cars on hand with his Dixie Twister Houston Platt tribute car.
Interest in the fledgling H/Gas class contunues as evidenced by this six-cylinder Triumph.
Shaun McLemore Fortunate Son lost the hood in qualifying, but strapped it back in place for the first round. Pretty Nova lost to Kennth Phillips
Rick Varner’s Dirt Man took out Rob Walden’s Strych 09 Willys in round 1 of A/Gas.
Terry Housley went varmint hunting in round 1 of A/Gas, taking out Scott Butler’s Lil Varmint.
Marlin Short had the misfortune of qualifying sixteenth, meaning his Short Temper coupe had to face new A/GS record holder Leslie Horne. Horne had little trouble sending the colorful coupe to the trailer.
Leslie Horne started his romp to a win in A/Gas by taking out Marlin Short’s Shot Temper coupe in round one.
Robert Frazier qualified fourteenth; met eventual runner-up Ben Christopher in round one of A/G.
Driving his early Hemi-powered ’37 Dodge, Tony Turner red-lighted in the second round of B/Gas, handing the win to Jerry Birch.
Troy Lightner in the Shakin’ Bacon qualified eigth, but fell to Tony Turner in the first r found of B/Gas
The Renegade Ken Rainwater qualified number two in B/Gas, lost a close contest to Jerry Birch in round three.
Gary Smith qualified sixteenth in the twenty-one car B/Gas field, fell to Michael Walters in the first round.
Dan Hogan grabbing some air, but he failed to get by Art Copeland in the Kryptonite Studebaker in first round B/Gas action.
As part of the Gene Cromer Memorial, members of Cromer’s family presented SEGA president Quain Stott with the steering wheel from Cromer’s famed Willys gasser.
Rick Varner qualfied seventh with The Dirt Man Chevy II, but was unable to report for the semi-final round, allowing Ben Chistopher to advance to the final.
2021 A/G points champ Gabriel Burrell was on hand with the Southern Flyer, made it to the semi finals where he fell to eventual winner Leslie Horne.
Everything went Leslie Horne’s way at Shady Side. The Chick Magnet ’55 Chevy qualified number one, set a new SEGA A/G record and won the A/G title.
Jeff Madden’s great looking Hollywood 1955 Chevy qualified twelfth in A/Gas, failed to survive the first round against Todd Blackwell.
Immaculate Loose Cannon Willys Wagon driven by Kelvin Cannon qualified thirteenth in B/G, bowed out in the first round.
Colby Welch put the Moonbeam Ranchero into the top qualifying spot in B/Gas, went on to win the B/G title.
Jason Roberts qualified twentieth in B/G, lost to Charlie Lee’s Mustang in round one.
It may be called the Crusty Crab, but there is nothing crusty about the engineering under the hood of this little H/Gasser.
Allen Platt took top A/FX honors with the Georgia Shaker III, a tribute to his late father Hubert Platt. n
Todd Wimberly looked very strong in A/FX, but breakage sidelined the Southern Comfort Falcon.
If you are going to run a 283 CI power plant in A/Gas, you better have a very small, very light car. Scott Butler’s Lil Varmint meets that description. Butler lost to Terry Housley in round one.
Round two of B/Gas saw Rick Varner’s Chevy II advance when number two qualifier Terry Housley broke in the Mr. Quick ’55 Chevy.
The action continued despite threatening skies. B B Brown qualified well but was unable to make eliminations. Seth Buff lasted until the C/G semi-final in the Gold
Nugget Chevy Nomad.
Alexis Phillips had a good day, as she took the Flower Power ’55 Chevy to the semi-finals before encountering eventual C/Gas winner Tim Hall.
Mike Holt’s 1960 Chevy called the Bank Breaker lost to Rick Cathcart in the first round of Super Stock.
Pretty Cracker Jack Chevy II driven by Tyler York qualified seventh in Super Stock, red-lighted in round two against eventual runner-up Mark Hackett.
Mark Hackett qualified number two with his Mercury Poison Comet and ended up taking Super Stock runner-up honors.
SEGA attempts to provide a place for cars from the past to compete. If the lettering on B B Brown’s Deputy Dawg Willys can be believed, the car was a champion at Paradise Dragstrip — in 1961!
Dale Morton made a last-minute motor change to ready Lucille for the event. He had the misfortune to draw the number one qualifier and eventual winner Rick Varner in the first round of Super Stock.
The early hemi powerplant in Tony Turner’s Quick and Dirty.
Fans of Chevy’s W-head powerplant were hoping the date (04/09) might increase the chances that Rob Walden’s 409-powered Willys would have a strong showing. But the pretty coupe fell to Rick Varner in round one.
The alcohol burning injected big-block “Rat Motor” in Rocky Platt’s Dixie Twister.
Gene Cromer’s original Ford Powered “Moonlighter” Willys was on display as part of the Gene Cromer Memorial.
Despite the brisk weather, the staging lanes were full for the Southeastern Gasser’s Association Gene Cromer Memorial at Shady Side Dragway.
Shaun McLemore qualified eleventh with his Fortunate Son Nova, but fell to Kenneth Phillips in the Silver Streak Corvette in the first round of A/G.
Kenneth Phillips qualified sixth, went two rounds but lost to eventual A/G runner up Ben Christopher.
Doug Loudermilk was top dog in the Experimental H/Gas class with his Beelzabug VW Beetle.
Josh Pruitt was the number four qualifier in C/Gas with his Young Blood Ford. Pruitt fell in the second round to Alexis Phillips in the Flower Power Chevy.
Rick Varner earned the Super Stock trophy with his sano ’67 Camaro.
Yeah, the bite at Shady Side was that good.
KJ Phillips had the Street Legal Chevelle biting well, but the updated machine dropped the first round of Super Stock to Tim Bailey.
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