Drag Strip Reunion celebrates track history

A variety of race cars and street cars returned to the Arlington Airport as part of this year’s Arlington Drag Strip Reunion and Car Show.

The 17th annual show was held on Sept. 11 this year and returns after skipping last year due to the pandemic.

“We were really excited to bring it back,” said Bill Kinney, one of the main organizers for the event. “It’s going great. Obviously, we were worried it would be canceled because we put in a lot of money into this ahead of time."

They were able to go ahead with the car show this year.

“I think people wanted to get out because we were hoping for about 300 cars and we’re at 450 now,” said Kinney.

Organizers did have to make a few changes to the normal program though, such as delivering trophies to winners instead of a having a ceremony where everyone gathers, said Kinney.

The car show takes place at the Arlington Airport because the field used to host races in the 1950s and 1960s.

People come down to recognize that past.

“I just like the history,” said car show participant Garry Tilleson.

Kinney began the show as a tribute to the airport’s former races.

“That’s how all this started. I had a friend who had an old race car from here and I kind of gave him a challenge to get it running,” he said.

Car enthusiasts bring down a variety of different vehicles to the show because of that.

“I think this is one of the best car shows there is around,” said car show participant John Morgan. “I mean look at the variety of cars you have around here, it’s not just one car club like all Chevrolets or all one thing, you got everything here."

Typically the show attracts a lot of race cars as well.

“I think people like the race car aspect. At a typical car show you get lots of street cars but here you get a lot of race cars which is a little exotic and different,” said Kinney.

Kinney said he enjoys the show because of the camaraderie.

“You get to know all these guys, so to me coming down to this show it’s like Christmas Day,” he said. “Jim Green, who was one of our big supporters, passed away and his family brought his cars out, which was really nice."

The annual car show was started, in part, as a local fundraiser which it continues to be.

“We give all the proceeds to the local Boys & Girls Club,” said Kinney.

Kinney wanted to thank everyone who helps or visits the car show each year.

“We appreciate everyone who comes and that the city supports us,” he said.