Motion Raceway was a Drag Strip off Route 51 between Assumption, Illinois and Moweaqua, Illinois built and opened in 1970 and ran until 1983. Motion was a quarter mile, and later went to a 1000’ surface. I grew up there every Saturday night during the season watching my Dad, my Uncles, even my stepmother a few times, and many more great racers. Well, not just great racers, but great people. The different style of cars, the paintjobs, high-winding stick shift cars, and even watching the Pros come in and match race is a time in my life I will never forget! The reunion has went over just awesome with former and current racers, family members, and track owners attending. If anyone reading this article knows of a local Dragstrip around their respective area that has been shutdown for an extended period of time, I would urge someone to put together a reunion, get-together and honor those racers! If anyone is interested, or has raced at Motion, check out motionraceway.com to see some pictures of the track and some cars. Back here in Bethany we have just started our long winter, racing is over for the season. Racers are probably starting the rebuilding process on some of their hot rods. For those of you not familier with central Illinois weather, it goes like this: one day it may be 68 and sunny, and the next day it could be 32 with snow! Just a teaser for getting back to the track on those warm days. I am the second generation racer, and my 22 year old daughter, Lauren is the third. Lauren drives a nostalgia front-motored car. And as I write this article my son, Michael and myself are restoring a 1975 monza funnycar/doorslammer.The entire family helps out, and I like it that way, Drag Racing has been like that for years, and I don’t see it changing. Funnycar/doorslammer you ask? That’s correct. This particular car was built here in Central Illinois by Chuck Baird in the early 1980’s. I believe it was the only car built this way. A monza funny car body with a functional driver’s door. You can say it was an early Pro-Mod car. Chuck was ahead of the time. Nostalgia Drag Racing is alive and well here and I believe it it may be growing even more. I will sign off for now, but not until I give a huge THANK YOU! to all the former racers, family members, and just great people who have made an impact not only on my racing life, but my everyday life.

Talk to you later

Wayne