DEER PARK, Washington — The memories of the former Deer Park Drag Strip which operates for just over 20 years from 1950 to 1972 will be celebrated with the 21st annual reunion.
The event, starting at 9 a.m. takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Parkway RV dealership located at the intersection where it turns into Deer Park from U.S. Highway 395.
At the March 19, 2005 funeral of longtime drag racer Jim Hordemann it was observed that the only time old racers gathered was at funerals. Out of this observation came the first Reunion, which was held on September 17 and organized by Randy Johnson, Greg Fury, and John Coffey, assisted by the Dragins and Dukes car clubs. Since 2023 the affair has been run by the Dukes Auto Club.
The repurposed former WW II B-29 bomber field was not just a local race track where many of the past stars raced but also served as the place where drag racing innovations took place.
Among other things related to the track history, an internet search shows local racers pioneered innovations like the first use of nitrous oxide injection in drag racing.
If you have never been to the Reunion, it includes a car show with a few hundred great cars; some of them being restored cars from the drag strip days. Several hundred people showed up at last year’s successful event. It starts at 9 a.m. and is mostly over by early afternoon. Commemorative shirts will again be sold and door prizes given.
As was begun last year, cash prizes will be awarded for Best of Show and two runners-up in three categories: Early Custom (before 1950), Late Custom (1950 and later), and Competition. Winners are decided by ballots cast by all attendees.
Beginning this year the Best of Show prizes will be titled as follows:
• Dick Flynn Memorial Prize for Competition Best of Show.
• John Mead Memorial Prize for Early Custom Best of Show.
• Randy Johnson Memorial Prize for Late Custom Best of Show.
Visit the Deer Park Drag Strip Memories group on Facebook for further information.