Wow! What a weekend it was from Friday, September 27 through Sunday, September 29, 2024 at Lebanon Valley Dragway. With Dino Lawrence at the helm, he conducted the biggest nostalgia weekend of drag racing, car shows, swap meet and story telling of the old days of racing on the Dover Dragstrip in Wingdale, NY which ran from 1961 to 1976.
Spectators, crews and drivers got to witness some awesome side by side racing action and cruise through the sponsor alley and the car show.
Friday started with a test session for weekend participants to get the cob webs out and set the tires to the track for some testing and tuning.
Saturday offered some spectacular testing for the funny cars, front engine dragsters and sportsman cars, as well as day one of two of the SuperCars and NODRAMA group (Northeast Old Drag Racers and Musclecar Association). For those participants wishing some competitive action, there were gamblers races in both electronics and non-electronics.
Sunday was the main event with seven different racing categories along with record setting races with nostalgic funny cars, front engine dragsters, sportsman races as well as day two of the SuperCars and NODRAMA racers.
Thanks to Jason Heintz, here is the weekend report from NODRAMA:
"NODRAMA is in town for the legendary Dover Reunion weekend event at Lebanon Valley Dragway. Our first time on the books for both days. This is a back to back race weekend for us which never been done before in NODRAMA history. 42 on the ladder, 6 rounds ahead... Let's GO!
Meeting in the finals would be our 2nd legacy racer Aaron Matatt son of long time NODRAMA member Art Matatt, facing off against no stranger to the final rounds this season, Bob Briggs. Taking the win on Day1 of Dover Weekend, and FIRST TIME NODRAMA finals winner, Aaron Matatt with the win. That has moved Aaron into the Top10 for the first time into the #8 spot, while Bob Briggs jumped 5 spots cracking the Top5. Going out in the Semis was current points leader Kevin O'brien putting a wider gap on the field with only three event to go in the 2024 season.
Side note of mention. After returning and successfully completing HOTROD DragWeek 2024, Randy Juliani had another great day moving up 2 spots into #2, with Billy Smith and the NODRAMA Young Gun Ritchie DeGraff Jr, rounding out our current Topt5 spots.
NODRAMA is Back to Back, in more ways than one. Sunday marked Day 2 racing action for NODRAMA at the legendary Dover Reunion weekend event at Lebanon Valley Dragway. An insane double weekend race can push folks and their rides to the limits. After another full ladder on Saturday, The NODRAMA caravan put 34 on the board on Sunday. With a bonus for every member that doubled up, the points sheet could really be a crazy shell game when it's all said and done. Well It's done, and oh boy, the leader board is a shell game of insanity. 5 rounds for the event 10 crown... Let's GO!
Meeting in the finals on Sunday was one half of the Burns Brothers Racing Team, Jim Burns, facing off against... you should have guessed it by the recap title, Bob Briggs takes the other lane again. Taking the win on Day 2 of Dover Weekend, and another FIRST TIME NODRAMA finals winner, Jim Burns for the win! Back to Back Bob Briggs took another runner-up spot of the weekend.
With the event 10 win, Jim moved up a few spots to within striking distance of the Top 10. While Bob Briggs, after catapulting up 5 spots on Saturday, chipped away another 3 spots all the way into the 2nd place! Always in contention and moving up the ladder like a ninja as of late, was King Jeff Kraenzle. Moving up a net 2 spots on the weekend and no longer quietly sitting in the number 3 spot.
A much needed weekend off ahead before the 2nd to last stop on the NODRAMA 2024 Schedule on 10/12, Our official Shake Up race. After this weekend and the Shake Up ahead, the crown is absolutely still up for grabs. See you soon! A huge thanks to Dino Lawrence and everyone at Lebanon Valley for another epic weekend of racing."
The Saturday race results for the gamblers races which saw a Mopar regular racing a Chevy with the winner of the no-box gamblers Billy Kirpens, Jr of Pittsfield, MA defeating Jason Masi of New Windsor, NY. Richard Miller of Fairhaven, MA finished his day in the semi-finals.
In the Electronics gamblers, Robert (RJ) Deveau of Bristol, CT defeated Pete Sanca of North Haven, CT in the final round. Dayna Sawchyn of Norwich, CT and Jeff Warner finished their day in the semi-finals.
On to the Sunday race results. Tom Hillery of Windsor Locks, CT defeated Cody Helger of Little Compton, RI in the final of the Dover Gassers. Pat Eason of Staten Island, NY and Brian Beskid of Rehoboth, MA finished their day in the semi-finals.
In Dover Super, Stephen Pray of Berlin, CT defeated Rob Day of Cochester, CT in the final. Stephen Ornstein of Mahopac, NY finished his day in the semi-finals.
In Dover Modified, Chris Lofgren of Schuylerville, NY defeated Scott Wrzesien of Ware, MA in the final. Jason Masi of New Windsor, NY finished his day in the semi-finals.
The Dover Vintage class was won by Russ Wilber of Ghent, NY when he defeated Gary Castaglia of Westerly, RI. Brett Mochalis of Windsor Locks, CT finished his day in the semi-finals.
In Dover Comp, Pat Brewer of Lebanon, PA took the win when he defeated Arthur Battersky of North Smithfield, RI. Steve Blood of Windsor, CT finished his day in the semi-finals.
The Dover 4 Speed class was won by Jesse Helger of Tiverton, RI when he defeated Ken Boyer of Palmer, MA. Gregg Kayser of Ballston Lake, NY finished his day in the semi-finals.
The Dover DOT class was won by Peter Spier of Bethel, CT when he defeated Irene DeGraff of Woodstock, NY. Tom McClurg of Hillsdale, NY finished his day in the semi-finals.
