2018 Meltdown Drags 

Rain be Damned

By Dan Podobinski

For the week leading up to the 9th annual Meltdown Drags it seemed as if Mother Nature was going to do her very best to put a damper on the festivities. Heavy rain left the ground saturated and the outlook grim. In fact, Friday was a wash for the most part. Saturday however, in spite of the threat of rain, came off almost completely without a hitch. Race car count was huge and the crowds were even bigger. 

Cars from every corner of the country put on one hell of a show for the fans with racing going on all day long and well into the evening when the track is lit up and the atmosphere is downright electric. A sizeable car show field and a good swap meet only add to the experience and offer plenty of sights to see and places to drop a buck or two when venturing away from the grandstand. 

The thought of pulling off an event like this is daunting and to accomplish it for the 9th year in a row is something to be admired. Paul Zielsdorf, Eric and Jeff Koopmeiners and the rest of hard working people involved do an amazing job organizing the Meltdown Drags and if you have not made it to this event you most certainly owe it to yourself to be there for the next one. It’s not only a gathering of incredible vintage drag cars but it’s just as much a gathering of souls who all hold a special place for this loud, violent and exhilarating experience.