Biloxi Dragway

and Dauphin Island all built dragways to get in the popular hot rod movement that was taking place. This place is Biloxi Dragway, where the action is! Racers from all over would travel far just to taste the glory of winning on the quarter mile strip. Each track would have it's own fan favorite drivers. You had your cast of characters too. People such as Emmit "The Snake" Austin, a rowdy guy from Phenix City, AL would blow a cow horn every now and then to the crowd's ongoing encouragement. Some racers even drank alcoholic beverages before they ran. Biloxi Dragway had a fairly safe track record when it came to wrecks. One common site in the day was the layout of dragstrips. Most of the time these places didn't have walls to keep a vehicle from the spectators and some had little stopping room. At the time Biloxi was up to date as any other dragstrip such as electronic timing that was introduced in the early 60s and night events would take place when needed. The amount of vehicles that would show up for these events were at times were staggering. Most events would see over 200+ entries. In just under 10 years Biloxi Dragway featured some of the best racers in the day across the United States. Vehicle manufacturers also produced some of their most iconic machines ever created. Jet Cars, Wheelstanders, Dragsters, Funny Cars, Gassers, Stockers, Motorcycles and so on. Many National ranking entries are now hall of famers. People such as Art Arfons, Bill Golden, Bunky Bobo, Don Garlits, E.J. Potter, and Tommy Ivo, just for starters. You had your local fan favorite guys on the scene such as Paul VanderLey, Albert Waits, "Q-Ball" Wale, Sidney Foster, and Joe Teuton, guys who would win often on the local scene and challenge any National entry for a victory. Through the short time is was around Biloxi Dragway had some groundbreaking moments that will always be remembered to the crowds that were there. A time when when drag racing changed rapidly like it's music counter part. From Buddy Holly to The Beatles, images that live forever in a evolution difficult to replicate. Inspired by ten photos from a friend, nearly forty years later I began to research the history of Biloxi Dragway. This project has grown into something bigger then I ever would have thought! If you know someone that has information, photos, or film, it can be put on here, and the website, and also put in order with all other documented history of the drag strip. Please spread the word of this always ongoing project! Thanks to all who have shared their stories.