2002 Funny Car Reunion
Cartek Corvette Challenge and the 1st Annual Funny Car
Reunion
July 28, 2002 - The 1st Annual Funny Car Reunion was held at
Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ on a very hot day. There was
nostalgia in the air as many drivers and teams gathered for
the first time in a very long time, some as early as the
60's. The highlight of the day was 1st Annual Funny Car
Reunion. Funny cars were put back together as close to
orginal as possible for this event. The Funny Car Reunion was
the brainstorm of "Beserko Bobby" Dorrer and Raceway Park
photographer Steve Bell, the event was a huge success.
The day included not only funny cars but a slew of other
special features including the "Old Time Drags", an
exhibition run by "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and the Raceway
Park exclusive Ultra Quick 8 cars, but a also a match race
race between promoter Beserko Bob and Grand Marshall "Jungle
Pam" Hardy. Bob and Pam were to match race in two identically
equipped Corvettes that are regular participants in the
Cartek Corvette Challenge held at Raceway Park. The Corvettes
on loan were a Metallic Navy Blue Coupe and a Torch Red
Coupe. The cars belonging to Artie Sabatino and Edgar Perez
respectively. The match race was originally scheduled to
happen during the Saturday Cartek Corvette Challenge event
but due to scheduling conflicts, was held on Sunday
 Artie and Edgar arrived at the
track with their shiny Corvettes fresh from participating in
the Cartek Corvette Challenge Drag Racing Series Event #5 the
previous Saturday. Neither driver getting much sleep but
looking forward to taking part in this inaugural event. They
were joined at the track by Corvette Challenge officers John
Mackey, Bob Trieschmann (and lovely wife Mariana) and Dennis
Kazimir who was in the staging lanes doing his normal Sunday
Raceway Park duties. The Match Race was put on hold as the
cars took their time trials in preparation for eliminations.
After the Funny Car 1st round and before "Big Daddy" made his
exhibition run, the Match Race would take place. "Jungle
Pam", in Artie's Blue Corvette took the left lane while
"Beserko Bob" took the Red Corvette and the right lane. Time
was of the essence so it was to be a one shot deal. Pam and
Bob engaged in a little bit of banter at the burnout box and
off into the Corvettes they went. The drivers were extremely
nice to the Corvettes and did mild burnouts. Up to the tree
they went. This was a heads-up race. The full tree dropped
and Bobby got the jump on Pam with a .502 light. Amazing,
Bobby still has it. Pam did not have a bad light herself but
it was not enough as Bobby's was too great. Pam never caught
Bobby as it appeared Pam may have had an issue with the car
and Bobby ripped a 12.96 (with the A/C on) to beat Pam
easily. After the race Berserko Bob said "It felt so good, I
couldn't get out it" as he described the ride down the track
in the Corvette. Hopefully this Match race will entice the
drivers to get their own Corvettes and race in the Cartek
Corvette Challenge which has 10 races in the season with 5 of
those yet to come. Additional photos of the event can be
found at www.corvettechallenge.info/funnycarreunion/
Photo courtesy of John McCartney
All four participants, Bobby Doerrer, Pam Hardy, Artie
Sabatino and Edgar Perez, were presented with beautiful
peronalized engraved plaques with a clock from Raceway Park
and the Cartek Corvette Challenge.
The Corvette Challenge looks forward to being able to
participate in the next Funny Car Reunion so be sure and
check the web sites for future information.
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