Lee Leighton Oval at Arizona Bug-Run 2 in fall of 1984

[rick m]

Of all the events we promoted at FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, from January of 1984 until I stopped promoting in 2005, some of my favorite events were the early ones where there was still a plentiful supply of the early drag cars in attendance.

Pictured below is a shot of Lee Leighton in the famous red oval now owned by Russell Ritchie.  This was at Arizona Bug-Run 2 in the fall of 1984.  The shot is featured in the January 1985 copy of VW Trends that covered our event.  Many other notables were in attendance too, including Roger Crawford in the old Bad Company 67.

Rick M

[Donny B.]

Cool picture Rick.  That brings back a bunch of memories as Bug-Run2 was my first ever VW event.  Boy how the time flies....!

[rick m]

Donny B,

I was thinking about this being the event you cut your teeth on. Sure makes me think about how long has passed. That was 25+ years ago. Boy are we old...but at least we are still having fun!

Rick M

[Donny B.]

I sure miss the trips we've taken together.  Not just the cruises either.

[rick m]

Donny B,

How is the new motor combo working?  I am buttoning up my 2275 and getting ready to fit the new stuff into my engine compartment. Hoped to have it for the show in Feb but time does not permit it. Will definitely have the chop road worthy for Classic and other big events.

Rick M

[Donny B.]

We just got it the car Saturday.  I still have a lot to do.  My part time job keeps getting in the way.  If the weather would just co-operate I would make more progress. 

[speedwell]

rick here're more from the event 
not only bad company  ,also there was sum fum , the bergs , mike smith

[rick m]

Great additional shots from that same issue. Thanks for posting them.  If I remember right, Lloyd Moshier (Little Giant Killer Dragster) won the overall event and commented about how his family always attended with him accept this one time when he won the whole thing.  These shots bring back memories of my early years of promoting.

Thanks for the posts.

Rick M

[Dominick Luppino]

I went to the finals at Bug Run #1 and won one of the two quick 16 car fields, for the overall finals it was Mark V. who works at Bergs, he was the overall winner.

They were defiantly fun events!

[speedwell]

here' we go for those who haven't the vw trends 

[speedwell]

 

[speedwell]

and here's bug run I

[speedwell]

 

[Dominick Luppino]

Thanks for the article, its hard to believe that was over 26 years ago!!

Time flys when your having fun!

[Russell]

1st time ive see a picture of Radical Rod racing......... very cool.

[rick m]

Thanks Speedwell.  Dominick is being very humble.  His car was a killer performer from the time it was the DRAGONSLAYER on carbs until it's emergence as one fast turbo car.  A lot of great cars and records were made at our early events. Dave Perkins made one of his fastest runs in his early pan car at early events in the mid nines.  Pat Nelson, in his orange turbo car would consistently run 9.70s. 

Chris Bubetz killed the turbo car records at our event in the early years. I will have to dig up the picture that Dean Kirsten or someone took of Bubetz on his sub 9 second run. That car was incredible to watch run. All these guys, Dominick, Dave Perkins, Pat Nelson, Ron Townsend, the BERGS (33 events attending), and many others, really made the event fun for me as well as many who attended.

One of my all time favorite exhibitions was Cory McClenathan and Bob Godfreys first ever side by side VW funny car match race.  So many great memories and things happened.

I have to agree with Dominick. I cannot believe it was 26 years back for the early Bug-Runs, until I see the gray, no white hair, emerging on the sides of my head!

Rick Mortensen

[Dominick Luppino]

Thanks Speedwell.  Dominick is being very humble.  His car was a killer performer from the time it was the DRAGONSLAYER on carbs until it's emergence as one fast turbo car.  A lot of great cars and records were made at our early events. Dave Perkins made one of his fastest runs in his early pan car at early events in the mid nines.  Pat Nelson, in his orange turbo car would consistently run 9.70s. 

Chris Bubetz killed the turbo car records at our event in the early years. I will have to dig up the picture that Dean Kirsten or someone took of Bubetz on his sub 9 second run. That car was incredible to watch run. All these guys, Dominick, Dave Perkins, Pat Nelson, Ron Townsend, the BERGS (33 events attending), and many others, really made the event fun for me as well as many who attended.

One of my all time favorite exhibitions was Cory McClenathan and Bob Godfreys first ever side by side VW funny car match race.  So many great memories and things happened.

I have to agree with Dominick. I cannot believe it was 26 years back for the early Bug-Runs, until I see the gray, no white, hair emerging on the sides of my head!

Rick Mortensen

Ok Rick you havn't seen me for a long time, lots of gray hair, but there is still hair!

Hope everything is going great for you!

[Matt H]

I always heard that Mark V's car was the stuff back in the day. I had lunch with Bill S over the summer and he had some great stories about that cat.

[rick m]

Hey Dominick...good to hear from you.  I guess you are right about still being able to have fun.  As long as we can still enjoy the hobby, regardless of age, things are good.

Matt,  Mark's green 67 was a killer car. I think I have an old shot of his car leaving the line like one of the BERGS cars. I will have to dig it out and post it.   I still remember him telling me that it was ripped off (Stolen) by someone. That was bad news when I heard about it.

Rick M

[Dominick Luppino]

Hey Dominick...good to hear from you.  I guess you are right about still being able to have fun.  As long as we can still enjoy the hobby, regardless of age, things are good.

Matt,  Mark's green 67 was a killer car. I think I have an old shot of his car leaving the line like one of the BERGS cars. I will have to dig it out and post it.   I still remember him telling me that it was ripped off (Stolen) by someone. That was bad news when I heard about it.

Rick M

Mark's car was recovered and sold. I know who has it now

[rick m]

I posted a good shot of it here on the lounge...He was launching it really hard.

Rick M

[Dave Galassi]

I always heard that Mark V's car was the stuff back in the day. I had lunch with Bill S over the summer and he had some great stories about that cat.

It was.

[speedwell]

 

[Dominick Luppino]

Thanks!  That was a good car, won allot or races with it and it was the car that almost killed me after I repainted it

[Bill Schwimmer]

I always heard that Mark V's car was the stuff back in the day. I had lunch with Bill S over the summer and he had some great stories about that cat.

It was.

11:50's @ 115mph,  VW head, 90.5 bore,  steel 44mm valve , Full weight... IMO the meanest N/A street car ever... It took the DRKC crowd a long time to equal that performance & they used much more to do it.

[58vw]

I always heard that Mark V's car was the stuff back in the day. I had lunch with Bill S over the summer and he had some great stories about that cat.

It was.

11:50's @ 115mph,  VW head, 90.5 bore,  steel 44mm valve , Full weight... IMO the meanest N/A street car ever... It took the DRKC crowd a long time to equal that performance & they used much more to do it.

agreed

[Eric Justus]

Hey Fabs...is that the Precision Bug Builders bug in that shot doin the wheel stand (red bug, pic from the stands)? As in, Superman Racing (if anyone knows that reference)

[speedwell]

Hey Fabs...is that the Precision Bug Builders bug in that shot doin the wheel stand (red bug, pic from the stands)? As in, Superman Racing (if anyone knows that reference)

yes eric that's the car i remember you asked me this before  , here's the links  precision bug builders

 
fabs

[Eric Justus]

Thanks, Fabs!

P.S. Thats my dad, Gary, in that thread. When that race happened, I was only 2. 

[speedwell]

Thanks, Fabs!

P.S. Thats my dad, Gary, in that thread. When that race happened, I was only 2.