I knew of them in the late 60s and early 70s. The AHRA was based out of a Kansas City suburb and died for all intents and purposes when the non-profit organization's founder Jim Tice, Sr. passed away in the 1980's. I knew a track in Washington State was claimed to own the name and held a once a year event.
The recent resurgence of the AHRA has caused me to want to investigate - if the new AHRA has any real connect with the old AHRA. I am happy to report that there is a connection. It is sort of a merger of the younger family members of both of the older AHRA's + a few.
The following comes from an old issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine:
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Tice's widow Ruth sold the AHRA in mid-1984 to Florida businessman Mike Grey who owned Terminal Van Lines (sponsor of top fuel motorcycles at the time).
The group of track owners who handled the AHRA's Grand American Series (the first year-long drag racing championship championship series) split off and became the ADRA (American Drag Racing Association) and continued that program for a few years more.
Mike Grey's organization held events at Indiana's US 30 facility and St. Louis International Raceway before hosting the 1984 AHRA World Finals at a converted horse-racing park renamed as Acadiana International Raceway Park in Eunice, Louisiana.
The morning after the Eunice event the track owner and his investors were no where to be found and Mike Gray ended up writing checks from his personal bank account to cover the worthless checks that were held by the racers and track employees.
Understandably disgruntled, Grey quickly sold the AHRA name and returned to the moving and storage business.
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Orville Moe who managed the Spokane, Washington track and was an AHRA/ADRA event host conducted one event per year (which he called the AHRA World Finals) until 2005 before running afoul of the law.
Moe was ousted as the Spokane track manager after being indicted on federal charges of public corruption for bribing the mayor.
Spokane County purchased the track in 2008.
The county subsequently placed Jim Tice, Jr. (yes, the AHRA founder's son) in the position of interim general manager for the track.
The 'new' AHRA which was announced in April, 2009 has Troy Moe (who in 2003 sued his Uncle, the aforementioned Orville Moe, for 'withholding payments and financial information' and asked the Security and Exchange Commission to investigate him for fraud) as the CEO; Rod Saint (retiring Florida law enforcement official who announced in Nov 2008 that he had purchased the rights to the trademarks and logos of the AHRA) as President; and Jim Tice Jr. as senior Vice-President.
****
The AHRA has taken over the management of six tracks -- and this year will be holding "Reunion" races. Most of these tracks were former IHRA tracks -- although I think San Antonio had recently gone from IHRA to NHRA.
And now you know the rest of the story. I personally wish them the best of luck.
The recent resurgence of the AHRA has caused me to want to investigate - if the new AHRA has any real connect with the old AHRA. I am happy to report that there is a connection. It is sort of a merger of the younger family members of both of the older AHRA's + a few.
The following comes from an old issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine:
=============
Tice's widow Ruth sold the AHRA in mid-1984 to Florida businessman Mike Grey who owned Terminal Van Lines (sponsor of top fuel motorcycles at the time).
The group of track owners who handled the AHRA's Grand American Series (the first year-long drag racing championship championship series) split off and became the ADRA (American Drag Racing Association) and continued that program for a few years more.
Mike Grey's organization held events at Indiana's US 30 facility and St. Louis International Raceway before hosting the 1984 AHRA World Finals at a converted horse-racing park renamed as Acadiana International Raceway Park in Eunice, Louisiana.
The morning after the Eunice event the track owner and his investors were no where to be found and Mike Gray ended up writing checks from his personal bank account to cover the worthless checks that were held by the racers and track employees.
Understandably disgruntled, Grey quickly sold the AHRA name and returned to the moving and storage business.
=============
Orville Moe who managed the Spokane, Washington track and was an AHRA/ADRA event host conducted one event per year (which he called the AHRA World Finals) until 2005 before running afoul of the law.
Moe was ousted as the Spokane track manager after being indicted on federal charges of public corruption for bribing the mayor.
Spokane County purchased the track in 2008.
The county subsequently placed Jim Tice, Jr. (yes, the AHRA founder's son) in the position of interim general manager for the track.
The 'new' AHRA which was announced in April, 2009 has Troy Moe (who in 2003 sued his Uncle, the aforementioned Orville Moe, for 'withholding payments and financial information' and asked the Security and Exchange Commission to investigate him for fraud) as the CEO; Rod Saint (retiring Florida law enforcement official who announced in Nov 2008 that he had purchased the rights to the trademarks and logos of the AHRA) as President; and Jim Tice Jr. as senior Vice-President.
****
The AHRA has taken over the management of six tracks -- and this year will be holding "Reunion" races. Most of these tracks were former IHRA tracks -- although I think San Antonio had recently gone from IHRA to NHRA.
And now you know the rest of the story. I personally wish them the best of luck.
