Cars Are Stars event brings drag racing history to downtown Minerva Sept. 13
Carrollton native Gene Dunlap's 1974 Dodge Colt will be making the trip from Texas to Minerva for the Sept. 13 Cars are Stars event held in downtown Minerva. Over 65 invitation-only drag cars and dragsters from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s will be at the event.
Submitted
The annual showcase will feature vintage dragsters, live music, food, and family fun, with proceeds benefiting the historic Roxy Theatre.
Ontario, California, became the drag racing battleground in 1974 for two local Carroll County friends and rivals, Gene Dunlap of Carrollton and Larry “Doc” Dixon of Sherrodsville.
On this particular day at the seventh annual National Hot Rod Association Supernationals/World Finals, the two Carroll County boys beat out the competition to square off in the finals. The race was wire-to-wire, but Dixon won the day with a 10.76 to Dunlap’s 9.53 and 144.46 mph.
“One of the things my dad always told me was he changed rear tires right before the race and they didn’t get hot enough,” said Gene Dunlap Jr., who also raced cars like his father. “He wishes he had never done it.”
The two local racing scene legends represent the general theme of speed and rivalry for this year’s fifth annual Cars Are Stars, held Sept. 13 in downtown Minerva to benefit the Roxy Theatre.
Dunlap’s famous 1974 Dodge Colt of the former Nationwise Rod Shop is making the trip from its current location in Sunrise Beach Village, Texas, near Austin. Robert Edgar owns the vehicle.
“I was told that nobody can do what my dad was doing on the track,” said Dunlap Jr. “He was able to think by the seat of his pants.”
“This was two men so good at their craft who were friends when the racing helmets were off and enemies when the helmets went on,” said event co-organizer Jim Hull. “For them to live down the road from each other and be good friends is amazing. They really spoke highly of each other.”
The Cars Are Stars event will feature 65 invitation-only drag cars and dragsters from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The vehicles will be displayed on the historic bricks of North Market Street and will include rare and historically significant models from the drag racing community.
Live music will be part of Saturday’s exhibition, beginning with Luke Schreffler performing from noon to 2 p.m. on the square. T-Free and the Panic Attacks will follow from 2-5 p.m. Food will be available from Here to Serve Bar-B-Que, Dudley’s G’s Pizza World, 330 Popcorn Co., Kava Culture, Pretty in Fizz, and Minerva’s downtown restaurants. Baked goods will be sold by donation.
Other attractions include Hot Wheels racing for kids and drag racing-themed movies at the Roxy Theatre throughout the day.
Minerva’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Patrons may purchase beverages from The Normandy Inn, Stoney Inn, Que Pasa Mexican Restaurant and Sandy Springs Brewing Co. to carry throughout the DORA.
Admission is $10 per person or $20 per family, up to four people from the same household. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or at ticketspice.com.
All proceeds from the event will support improvements at the Roxy Theatre, which is owned by the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s exhibition coincides with the La Macchina Molto Bella Auto Show, which will be held Sunday, Sept. 14, at Hale Farm in Bath, Ohio. That event will showcase exotic sports cars, rare classics, vintage Ferraris, and custom cars.
For more information, contact event co-organizers Jim and Anne Hull at 330-284-1373; Bruce Krumlauf at 330-617-6382; or Justin Robertson at 330-206-9406.
Charitable contributions can be made to the Roxy Theatre roof project via the Minerva Community Charitable Foundation at www.minervaccf.org/donate.
