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Show r i I --.:;., . .,; j1 ' ' H - r-- . : ' V: . , -- I : ; ... f ', . (fO)! I1 - u Rooster tail of sand emerges from behind the race car of " Jin Mabey of Bountiful, promoter of Moab's first Canyon Country Jeep and Buggy Rally, to be held here ihis weekend. He invites local citizens and visitors to come and watch the races, to be held 7 miles south of town. Sand drag races, he said, are family events, with excitement for everyone. Participating will be a range of vehicles, from stock 4-wheel drive to A A blown and injected "funny cars" putting out up to 1200 horsepower. Sand Drag this week promises excitement QQ "You haven't seen any-0w any-0w tting until you see a sand drag race driver county OQ down the Christmas tree, !0i churn his paddles throw-t throw-t ng a 50-foot rooster tail -. and break the beam at the larend of the 100 yards in J seconds." 0 That is according to Jim " ; Mabey, promoter of Moab's first Canyon ( . Country Jeep and Buggy 3 Rally, to here Easter , jteekend. The event should draw between 500 ' uid 1,000 racers and their families and involve about "5 race cars, he said. Explaining some of the .'.range vernacular in his previous statement, Mabey said sand drag King is similar to asphalt tag racing. Both use an electronic light system, known as a "christmas "ee" to start two racers ton a straight track. The Jg tte crossing the finish first wins, provided does not "red light" Jfl start before the tree " ows green. h sand drag racing the s-ip measures only 100 y , he said, compared r a quarter of a mile in asphalt drag racing. Sand racers find they need quick reflexes, fast thinking think-ing and top equipment in such a short distance. They usually get only one transmission shift with many of the top machines using all the professional speed equipment available, avail-able, he continued. Classes are generally determined according to weight per cubic inch, and there are no handicaps. The major difference, naturally, between blacktop black-top and sand is the traction trac-tion problem. The answer is 18-inch wide, 36-inch high "Paddle tires." Top machines travel the 100-yard 100-yard distance in less than 3 seconds. Spectators see a lot of action and generate great excitement and enthusiasm enthusi-asm at the sand drag races, said Mabey. A race on Easter Weekend had previously been held in Juab County, however roudiness and problems caused by persons other than those associated with the race was a reason for the change of location this year. Mabey doesn't ex- pect problems of that sort here. The Intermountain Sand Drag Association, formerly Intermountain Off Road Racing Associa-t' Associa-t' i, consists of about 130 members from Utah and surrounding states. They drive everything from 36-hp dune buggies to 500 plus hp jeeps and rails. The organization encourages, encour-ages, supervises and sanctions various clubs' racing events. This event is a sanctioned points meet for members. Mabey said drive en thusiasm is high for this, the first race of the season, sea-son, with several out-of-' state vehicles making the trek for the $2,000 purse. Local inquiries have also been made, he said, with many of the Moab 4-wheelers 4-wheelers priming then-machines then-machines for a piece of the action. Race track location is on Highway 163, seven miles south of town. Race times are 1 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. Gate is $3 with children under 12 free. |