Pedal to the metal: Drag races held at Greene County Airport
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Jacob Rendos, of Monesson, sped down the runway at Greene County Airport Saturday in his custom 1941 Willy’s Coop. Rendos and a group of family friends enjoyed friendly competition at the races.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Aaron, Linden and Nikki Jenkins, of Grafton, enjoyed front-row seats to the Greene County Airport’s Flashlight Drag Races Saturday evening. “My 6-year-old is just like his dad,” Nikki laughed. “We really like old cars; he absolutely loves them.”
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
A contestant rockets down the runway during a drag race at Greene County Airport Saturday evening.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Two vintage cars line up for a 660-foot race down the airport runway Saturday, as part of Greene County’s flashlight drag races.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Smoke billows behind a Buick as the driver rockets down the runway Saturday, during drag races at the Greene County Airport. About 100 drivers competed in the races that night.
Spectators snapped photos and captured video of their favorite vehicles during the flashlight drag races Saturday evening in Waynesburg.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Scott Smith prepares to race his 1966 Nova Bean 2 at the flashlight drag races in Greene County Saturday evening. Smith, of Spraggs, has raced competitively for years and has been featured on the Discovery Channel.
John and Jack Perry, of Claysville, proudly display their trophy alongisde the weekend announcer after John raced his 1989 Mustang to victory in the stick shift division Saturday night. The father and son were delighted to take home the "W."
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Ceara Dalton and her sons Zane, left, and Zeke cheer on their favorite cars at the flashlight drag races. “It’s pretty cool. We could watch cars race all day,” said Ceara Dalton, of Jefferson.
Jackson Warrick and his girlfriend Chloe Swanson, of Markleyburg, pose for a picture after Warrick raced his Audi at the Greene County Airport Saturday evening. Swanson said Warrick's face lights up when he races.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Dan Ortosky and his girlfriend Phyllis Bartek, of Canonsburg, watch as smoke billows from a vehicle before it takes off down the runway. The couple enjoyed cheering for their favorite cars at the flashlight drag races in Greene County Saturday evening.
The sound of automobiles, not jet engines, throttling down the runway filled the Greene County Airport during flashlight drag races Saturday evening.
About 100 souped up trucks, pristine Corvettes and everyday automobiles inched to the starting line, where a flashlight signaled the start of the race. Drivers put the pedal to the metal and rocketed 1/8 of a mile to the finish line, garnering cheers from the large crowds.
“I’ve been coming for, I don’t know, years,” said first-time racer Aaron Jones, of Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. “I usually haul a car for my buddy, but he brought his own today. I figured I’d just drive for the fun of it.”
Jones gunned his 2018 GMC Sierra Nevada truck down the runway, hitting consistently high speeds.
“You don’t ever get to run full-throttle,” he said.
For years, folks with a need for speed have participated in the Greene County Airport Flashlight Drag Races, which pay homage to the early days of rebel drag racing. Two cars sit at the starting line and, when the crew flashes a big light, take off full steam ahead down the runway.
“It’s fun to be able to drag race,” said Daniel Coffman, of Markleysburg, who won this year’s truck division. “Pure American.”
Bill Craig, a Vietnam War veteran, entered his 2009 Corvette in the drag races for the second season in a row. He had a ball hurtling the sleek black car down the runway.
“Every time I get to that light down there, I get in my third gear and it hits 100 miles per hour,” Craig said with a smile.
Jacob Rendos, 19, also thrilled at racing his custom 1941 Willy’s Coop. Rendos and his father built the Coop, which sports a skull paint job and accessories.
“It feels insane,” said Rendos, of Monessen, who raced family friend Brandon Gioia and his orange 1993 Mazda RX down the track. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Fun was had by all: New drivers and seasoned racers, and fans cheering for friends, family or their favorite car.
For Heather Johnson, of Spraggs, watching her kids is nearly more fun than watching the cars zoom past.
“They love cars, but they get excited when daddy’s behind the wheel,” said Johnson, whose husband Justin raced over the weekend.
The Johnson kids also cheered on family friend Cody Hillberry, whose wife Amanda pointed out her husband’s car to little Ellie Johnson as Cody drove by.
While many spectators rooted for their relatives or friends, Phyllis Bartek and Dan Ortosky, both of Canonsburg, simply enjoyed the show. They drove down to cheer on Ortosky’s brother but had so much fun, they stayed at the airport long after their friends went home.
“Now, you start picking your favorites,” laughed Bartek, nodding at the small group of competitors remaining on the track.
The pair made bets on what car would win each heat (not for money, of course, Ortosky joked).
“You think the car is going to win because it looks like it’ll win, but you don’t know what’s underneath the hood,” added Ortosky.
One car that most were certain would win: The Bean 2, driven by nationally-acclaimed racer Scott Smith, of Spraggs.
Smith started racing four years ago and has participated in the flashlight drag races since they began. He waited for the race field to thin before towing his 1966 Nova to the starting line, where he wowed crowds as the matte green car careened down the straightaway.
Smith said he’s clocked speeds of 180 mph. His wife and right-hand woman Candy Smith said the local race was just for fun.
“We both have an ambition for speed,” she said. “We just like to show people that you can be an underdog.”
The race season began in May, with a grand finale featuring back-to-back race days Sept. 10 and 11.
For more information on the flashlight drag races, visit http://www.flashlightdrags.com/index.php.