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Show Section C Classifieds Obituaries Sun Advocate 'amid By GOUDOV LAM BOURNE Staff Writer Over the weekend, a quiet, peaceful stretch of desert just outside of Cleveland became the blast off point for the annual Castle Valley Off Readers Sand Drags. From all over the state and out of the state, came high powered, supercharged dune buggies, jeeps, trucks and double A fuel dragsters to speed down a strip of sand. Unlike drag races on asphalt, where treadless tires are used, each vehicle had very large sand digging paddle tires. When a car took off the starting line, there was no smoke or smell of burning rubber, just about 80 pounds of sand became airborn and two neat trenches were dug. Engines ranged from small VW 100-fo- -- pancakes that sputtered and sprinted down the strip, to multi cubic inch V8-- s which burned up dirt faster than they drank nitro. A good example of the ultimate at last weekends sand drags was when Lynn Falkners AA fueler came to the line. With double paddle wheels and the extra power nitro - mix fuel generates, the sleek silver rail cleared the 100 feet in 3 9 seconds. To the on - looker, the full competition dragster brought expressions of amazement as it bounced and bumped its way up to the starting line, but when Falkner turned it on, there was nothing but silver blurr, dust and the earth - shaking roar of nitro and gas being exploded and blown out of eight short tubes. However, despite all the glitter of Falkners rail, brought in from Ogden, the best time of Saturdays competition went to Billy Perri. In his Pro Comp car he turned a time of 3 89 to win the Pro Comp class over rival Billy Michel. It was the last race of the day, the trophy run, the announcer yelled over the public address. Perri, with his fire suit and face masked, looked something out of the Star Wars. His car sported a new orange and blue paint job and when started the exhaust almost blew the tarp covering it over the fence. Michels car, equally im are a blast Brags a ts a pressive, was first to the line of lane two. He waited patiently for Perri, rythmically reving his engine to its limit, making sure no plug would be fouled to hinder a quick take off. Perri jerked to the line, never taking his eyes eyes of the starting lights. Before anyone could look over the shouler of the person in front of them the green light came on and both Perri and Michel were at the finish. Perri took the win for Saturdays competition, but there was no telling what Sunday would bring in the way of thrills and spills for the racers as well as the fans. Vem Jessen a racer out of Bountiful, elaborated on how even though a car with less power may do better time than a more powerful car, it doesnt mean the car is faster or the driver better. Every time you the sand changes. Temperature, the type of sand, all affect the speed of the car, race, Jessen said. Air pressure has a lot to do with how good a start youll get. Sometimes we run these cars with pressure as low as four to nine pounds in each tire. Jessen mentioned the general rule was, the looser the sand the more pressure, the heavier sand requires less pressure: Air pressure also has a lot to do with how much you fish tail on the track, Jessen added. I think the good. I mean track here is pretty just as good as its Silver Sands Beach in Salt Lake City and some of the tracks down in St. George. When asked who establishes the rules for Sand Drags, Jessen said, all Intermountain Sand Drag Association races follow the rules set up by the National Sand Competition Association based in California. Jessen, who is an operating engineer, said he races because he likes the competition. Its a lot of fun to come out here and do this. I started out as a loser and now Im a winner. Its an expensive Jessen added, I have $10,000 into my car. guess sand dragging is any other hobby or sport, because you love it. Two Sand Modified double A dragsters take off for a hundred foot trip down the Cedar Edge Raceway drag strip Saturday. Winner of the Sand Modified AA drags was Elroy Wilson with a time of 4.75. Best time of the day went to Billy Perri who clocked 3.89 with his Pro - Competition fueler. Photo by Gordon Lambourne sport, put over But, I just like you do it Photo by Gordon Lambourne Cathy Jones of Elmo lifts her son Jobby to get a better look at the action just over the fence. The sunglasses and hat were a good idea for the little tot considering the heat and intense sun that took its toll all day Saturday. Photo by Gordon tambour no Lynn Falkner of Ogden, got a lot of attention as he pulled his double A fueler out of the pits and to the starting line for a token run Saturday. The rail, equipped with twin paddle tires in the rear, turned a time of 3 9 seconds. Much of the car's speed is attributed to the nitro fuel mix it burns. - t |