Average Age

[Milton Gamble]

Originally Posted by Greenlight

I think Bill Gibbs (DIv 4 Super Stock) is 88 and has got to be on the short list of oldest drag racers.

I know Bill, met him when a buddy and I hung around with George Dyer also from Lufkin that raced an A/FD. We were the turned around crew.

I grew up in Shreveport, LA and race mostly at Shreveport, I-20, Hallsville and a few others. My last race was at Hallsville in 1974...I ran F/G or D/MP and the last pass I lost to Glen Self.

I moved to Hendersonville, TN in 1989 and saw my first commercial slot car track in 1990...thought it would be good for my 8 year old son. He lost interest but I've continued.

To put things in perspective a 1/24th drag strip is 55ft long. The official "World Record" is 0.394 seconds at 144mph. I race on a road course that is typically 155ft long and has 6 turns. I witnessed a 1.30 second qualifying lap 2 weeks ago for the Group 7 class. This is the top level class. I don't compete in it.

What racing "Toy Cars" has done for me is keep my reflexes sharp. I attended the Sports Nationals in 2016...first time I had been to a race since 1987. After sitting in the stands for a couple of hours I went back to the pits to visit with Greg and Aaron Stanfield. Greg asked me if I still could do it. All I could say was "everything seems like it is in slow motion.

If I can, I will post a short video on a recent race with the Group 7 cars. You will be amazed.

Also, I have just retired as a Matco Tool Franchisee. I would estimate half of my customers have never used a timing light or installed points...LOL

And thanks for all of the comments. It sounds like Div 6 is "Senior Citizen Friendly".