May 19, 2015 2 min read

The popular Flashlight Drags will kick off at the Greene County Airport May 31 with a full schedule of events during the summer.

The monthly drag racing events will appear for five dates that will be held on the last Sunday of each month from May through August, with the final event scheduled for Sept. 12.

The name of the event refers to the early days of drag racing when a flashlight was used to signal the start.

Street-legal cars and trucks are eligible to race, and all drivers must be able to provide appropriate paperwork, including a valid driver’s license, current state registration and proof of insurance. All racers must sign a waiver and attend a mandatory drivers’ meeting prior to the start of the event.

Minors must have a notarized waiver to race. Passengers are not allowed.

Gates will open at noon on the day of each race with the events scheduled to run from 2 to 6 p.m. Admission is $6 to watch and $30 to race. Children under 12 are admitted free.

For drivers wishing to race convertible cars, the top must be up or the driver should wear a helmet. Mufflers and tires approved by the state Department of Transportation are required. No refunds are available to racers.

The Flashlight Drags consists of a one-eighth mile race along the airport runway off of Route 21 in Franklin Township. Drivers can race as many times as they want and against any of the other racers. The format is “heads-up,” meaning that both vehicles leave the starting line at the same time.

The Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, Inc. recently honored the Greene County Department of Recreation for the 2014 Flashlight Drags race series and the department’s partnership with Altered Gas Performance Events LLC, which produces the event. The event has also been featured in Hot Rod Magazine.

For more information, go to www.flashlightdrags.com or call the county’s Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.