American Hot Rod Association
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The American Hot Rod Association, also known as AHRA, was, until the emergence of the IHRA, America's second largest drag racing sanctioning body. The AHRA began in 1956 in Kansas and organized nationwide drag racing events until the end of 1984. The AHRA was especially notable in the period 1957 to 1963 when it elected not to follow the lead of the larger NHRA in banning the use of the extremely potent fuel, nitromethane thus allowing for significantly faster and more spectacular performances. The AHRA can also be credited with introducing to drag racing the concept of a year long season points chase when it created the Grand American Series of Professional Drag Racing in 1970. Today the AHRA does not exist as the large organization it once was, although its name is still used for events taking place in Spokane, Washington.
Jim Tice, the President of the AHRA met with Bill and Tom Guthery, two young entrepreneurs from the small town of LaRue, Ohio, near Marion, Ohio to look over the new Marion County International Dragstrip the two had built on family farmland back in 1969. Tice was impressed by the facility and by Bill Guthery's enthusiasm and awarded an AHRA National event to the new racing facility. This was during the era when Don Garlits and others had broken away from the National Hot Rod Association and formed the Pro Racers Association. Garlits had chosen to run an event in Oklahoma against a National NHRA event and was interested in bringing his show to the AHRA and Marion County International Drag Raceway. A deal was struck and the planning began. Garlits had talked many of the top stars of the day like Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins plus a number of other drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and ProStock to compete at MCIR. Here were two neophytes to racing, in their second year of operation, hosting a National Event at their facility with media coverage and a national stage for their operation. The AHRA Nationals at Marion County International Raceway was a huge success, with great competition and good attendance. Unfortunately, the AHRA couldn't keep up the fight the powerful NHRA and after a couple seasons was gone. Bill Guthery became a very successful promoter of Indoor Tractor Pulls and the first of the Monster Truck Shows over the years. Guthery died from cancer two years ago, but his wife, Shelby still owns and runs Marion County International Raceway.
There are two AHRA'S The original Corp was a nonprofit corp formed by the Pittsburgh Pacers hot rod club. It was the brain child of Walt Mentzer the founder and first Pres. Walt was the NHRA regional advisor for Pa. the pres of the Keystone Timing Assoc. and the Pacers only Pres. He wanted an organization that would be governed by the membership. It would have worked had he not been drafted to army duty the year after it was started The Non- Profit Corp sits on the Pa. State records still listing Walt Mentzer as the responsible agent and Pres.
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