HAGER HILL —
When it comes to drawing a crowd in Johnson County, only Apple Days is bigger than the Hillbilly Arm Drop Drag Races at the old airport near the county line.
Thousands of people attended and participated in the spring version of the event, which is in its second year of giving people a chance to put their machines to the test. The follow-up fall version is scheduled for Saturday.
“We expect more than 10,000 people,” said organizer Kent Rose.
From Cadillacs to Camaros and four-wheel drives to a pack of 40 Big Wheels, Rose said the raw power comes in many different packages.
“We have everything. We even have a grocery-getter class. There is a category for everyone. This is truly a something-for-everyone thing,” Rose said, adding the 1⁄8-mile races will also include exhibition runs by Jeff Loutz and the Loutz Racing 1957 Chevy with top speeds in excess of 200 mph.
While things with four tires will be the stars of the show, supporters have purchased 40 Big Wheel trikes for a massive racing session Saturday pitting the skills of children from 3 to 8 years old. Rose said the Big Wheels will be given as prizes at the end of the race, and each child in attendance will also get a free Hot Wheels diecast car.
Those toy cars, Rose explained, were a major inspiration in his own love of drag racing.
“I grew up in some tough times and I had some Hot Wheels and some used track. I used to line those Hot Wheels up drag race them side by side,” he recalled.
The last Hillbilly Arm Drop Drag Races attracted participants and spectators from eight states, Rose said.
“They come from every walk of life. We had over 10,000 spectators and 161 cars last time,” said Rose, who explained the races began with informal tire-burnout contests in the streets of downtown Prestonsburg. The evolved event, which now relies on Prestonsburg Police Chief Mike Omerod and a large staff of volunteers, is spread across two days to allow visitors more opportunities to spend time, and tourism dollars, in the immediate area.
Noting the importance of that tourism spending, Rose makes no secret of his appreciation for financial support from the Paintsville Tourism Commission or his animosity regarding a lack of support from Prestonsburg’s tourism director.
“I arm-drop every car myself,” Rose said, explaining he is the voice people hear on the P.A. during the races. “I expect to say, 200 times or more, during the race that Prestonsburg Tourism has absolutely nothing to do with this race. I will repeat that over and over and over.”
All proceeds from the $5 admission fee and the $25 race fees are re-invested at the Paintsville-Prestonsburg Combs Airport, Rose said, adding the airstrip makes an excellent drag strip. Using funds from previous races, concrete barriers and fencing have been purchased to help ensure the safety of drivers and spectators alike.
“It’s awesome. There is no track prep so it is just like in the old days lining up on the street,” he said, with the fastest cars often reaching more than 100 mph before crossing the finish line.The runway is not treated with anything to increase traction, Rose said, because race organizers and airport officials alike do not want to do anything which might compromise the surface for aviation purposes.
Driver registration begins at 2 p.m. Friday (gates open at 4 p.m.) and 11 a.m. Saturday (gates open at 1 p.m.) Friday is “Test and Tune” day, and bracket racing gets underway Saturday. The event also will feature performances by the top 10 contestants in the recent Country Music Highway Road To Fame contest.
For more information. visit the Hillbilly Arm Drop Drags page on Facebook.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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Drag races at old airport expected to draw thousands
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