Hot Rod Eruption Drags – High Revs at Riverdale Raceway
We have to take our hat off to Billetproof and the Hot Rod Eruption Drags. Alan Galbraith has taken the original Billetproof concept and its lone Northern California event and turned it into a series of down and dirty, retro-inspired hot rod rumbles across the country. He even travels internationally to see how others do it to get ideas for improving his product. The recent Hot Rod Eruption up in the Evergreen state is another example of his willingness to promote a fun weekend of vintage hot rodding.
Situated not far from the base of Mount St. Helens, Toutle Washington is the home of Riverdale Raceway. Unsanctioned and basically an outlaw track, Riverdale is as old fashioned of a racing facility as you could possibly imagine – perfect for a Billetproof production.
There is no running water or electricity here and power comes from a generator that can run the clocks or the PA, but not both at the same time. Retro enough for ya? Except for the entrance and main road through the pits to the staging lanes, pavement is nonexistent.
Tech is very basic and relaxed ensuring action by cars you would never find at an officially sanctioned facility. If you want to take your wife, girlfriend or buddy for a ride down the track, this is the place for you. Same goes for your dog!
Billetproof, which bills itself as the promoter of the “World’s Least Important Car Shows” has been staging the Hot Rod Eruption Drags at Riverdale since at least 2010 (History is somewhat hazy before then) and it is all about having fun with traditional hot rods.
Entries are supposed to be limited to ’64 and earlier cars, trucks and motorcycles, but even that limit appeared to be winked at this year. There is no actual competition aside from pairing up with your buddy for bragging rights. Even vintage mini bikes got in on the fun.
As the Billetproof name implies, the emphasis is on home-built hot rods with zero bling and although there were a number of very nice finished cars, there was an equal amount of rust and patina. It’s all about having fun, so the atmosphere is very relaxed and family friendly.
In addition to over 100 hot rods and dragsters, the Scotty’s Muffler Shop top fuel dragster, originally driven by Mike Snively over 55 years ago, was on display and made it’s first pass down the track in many years.
Race day, the track was wet from overnight drizzle, so while it was drying, the facility and promoter held an impromptu burnout contest resulting in smoke shows that would put their counterparts at the NHRA big show to shame.
Rain returned again in mid-afternoon ending the festivities, but everyone appeared to have had a good time and when your car is already rusty, who cares?
