The Rumble at Thunder Valley

Drags - Car Show & Swap Meet

The Rumble Car Show and Drag Race

The goal being to duplicate the look and feel of the Drag Strip in Summer 1964. Vintage Hot Rod, Customs, Drag Cars period correct to 1964 in appearance. The Rumble is dedicated to capturing a moment in time when Hot Rods were built by Car Clubs and backyard mechanics.

Thunder Valley Raceway opened its doors as Bethany Drag Strip in the mid-1960's and is one of the oldest 1/8th mile drag strips in the mid-west and is the perfect location for The Rumble.

This is a Rain or Shine Event. No Pets-No Alcohol. There are no camp grounds at Thunder Valley Raceway.

Quick Info

Friday May 24 & 25 2019

Stay tuned for updates about the 2019 Rumble at Thunder Valley

If you were at the event in 2018 - It will be more of the same only better.

Drag Racing Classes -Show Cars & Registration

Below are the classes. Except for the “OPEN” all other vintage classes are for cars powered by normally aspirated Big Block, Small Block, Flat Head, vintage 4 & 6 Poppers and Hemi’s from GM, Ford, Studebaker, Hudson and Chrysler. You know what we are looking for.

Please read the class rules carefully and figure out the class you are pre-registering for. The open class is limited and if you do not declare your modern mill in pre-registration and get caught by our Tech team, you may not be able to race. No Diesel mills allowed in any classes.

ALL CLASSES UPDATE! THIS IS FUN DRAG EVENT! EVEN THOUGH WE ARE TRACKING ET'S FOR TROPHY PURPOSES YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO GRUDGE OR "CALL OUT" WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO RUN AGAINST. COME OUT - HAVE FUN - GO HOME AND BRAG

Race Cars - Registration $50.00 CASH

Stock

This class is for stock or near stock vehicles with the appearance of 1964 or older. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos and must have period correct exterior appearance.

Gas Coupe/Sedan

Coupes, sedans, and other street cars with traditional power adds that can also hold their own at the track. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos and must have period correct exterior appearance.

Competition Coupe/Sedan/Roadster

Hard top drag car built for racing using technology from 1964ish. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos and must have period correct exterior appearance.

Dragster

Front engine, bell housing straddling Rail Jobs built to go fast. These open engine race cars must use and have the appearance of a drag car from 1964. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos. Must have period correct exterior appearance.

OPEN - Please Read Carefully

You have a 1964 or older period correct appearing hot rod with a closed engine compartment covering up the late model gasoline powered secret weapon you have, this is your class. Here is where you can race your otherwise period correct, LS, Mod Motor, V6 and other late model gasoline powered engines or non-vintage/non-traditional power adds such as nitrous-we do not want to see the bottle or the plumbing, all other modern power adders must be under the hood (careful with how the doghouse looks). Your car must look period correct (read the rules on paint and lettering) 1964 vintage regardless of what you have under the hood. This class was created due to the popularity of later model speed equipment and engines that are available, but sorry we do not want to see these late model mills and mods at this show. If you have everything under the hood and covered, you are welcome to submit photos of your car and see if it will meet registration requirements. Photos of your car, front, back (including rear tires) and sideview must be included with your pre-registration.

All Classes and Show Cars

Additional notes applicable to all classes – your car should have an external appearance of from early to mid 60’s. This means fiberglass hood scoops; fender flares or other modern body mods (modern lettering) will keep your car from qualifying for the event. No Pro-Stock, Pro-Touring 70’s or 80’s appearing Hot Rods we be allowed in the pit area or on the track. There are races and shows every weekend for cars like these.

DRAG CLASSES - First Place of each Class will receive a Vintage 1964 "Rumble Drags" Vintage Trophy.

In addition to competing for a cool 1964 Vintage Drag Racing First Place Trophy, 1st & 2nd place class winners will receive complimentary registration to Greaserama #18 and be a featured guest in a special display section at this year's Greaserama car show that is themed: "DRAG RACE".

Car Show: If you have a Stock, Hot Rod, Custom or Race Car that is Vintage to 1964 or older, has the right wheels and looks like it might have been sitting track side in 1964 your car needs to be at The Rumble Car Show. The car show will overlook the drag strip where you can watch the guys flog their cars down the 1/8th mile. It’s the best seat in the house.

The rules are the rules- Your car must have the vintage look, wheels and car must be period correct. Rat Rods assembled with a mixed bag of parts to the point they are not recognizable by brand and model year are NOT VINTAGE. Your car must be a traditional, vintage style Absolutely NO BILLET, Oversized wheels or any other wheel that would not be of 1964ish vintage. If in doubt, ask before you register. We are trying to recreate a moment in time, 1964.

Registration: Let’s make this event enjoyable for everyone including the volunteers working the show. When you Pre-Register, send at 3 photo’s that show the side view, rear and 1 photo close up of your wheels and tires. This will help us qualify your car and help your entry into the show area much faster.

Just like the guys drag racing, if you Pre-Register your car with a photos, your car must appear like the photo when you show up for the show (and remain that way for the duration of the show). Most of our volunteers have been working other shows for many years and we have heard all the excuses like “I forgot to put my other wheels on”.

Pre-Registration Instructions for Show Cars and Drag Cars.

Race Cars $40.00 CASH

Show Cars $20.00 CASH

Pre-Registration closes May 15,2019

1) Take a photo of 1- Sideview of the entire car

2) Take a photo of the rear of your car

3) Take a close up photo of your wheels

4) Submit these photos with: Year, Make, Model, Engine Type (Race Cars), Your Name and Address to TheRumble64@gmail.com

5) Watch for a return email from us with more information within 24 hours of your submission. If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours- please resend email to TheRumble64@gmail.com

Non-Negotiables and Guiding Principles

This is event is being organized and held by like-minded volunteers. With that said, the rules are the rules and challenging the rules with whining or cheating will likely result in you being uninvited to the event without a refund. If you do not think you can comply with the rules, then please do not attend the event and ruin it for our volunteers and other participants. While we want everyone to come out and have fun, some folks need to be reminded that they are not “entitled” to anything and do not have the right to ruin the event for any else attending.

The following rules are required to race or show at The Rumble

- Cars must look like vehicles at a drag strip in 1964 or earlier.

- CARS MUST BE 1964 or earlier – The only exception being body style change. Such as a 64 – 65 Ford Trucks, 64-65 Chevy Trucks, 64-65 Falcon, 64-65 Dart, 64-65 Valiant, 64-65 Belvedere, 64-65 Dodge Trucks, 64-65 Olds products, 64- 65-IHC, 64-65 Pontiac (Except GTO), etc. These are cars other than slight changes keep the overall previous model years styling. You know what we mean - This rule does eliminate Mustangs and unidentifiable Rat Rods Style cars but the good news is there are probably 10 other shows this weekend for both of those types of cars.

- The Rum Picks: The Rumble reserves the right to allow a car to participate that we like and it too cool to miss the Rumble Car Show and/or Drag Race. The Rumble's President will make these decisions as they come up and we ask that you respect these decisions.

- Door slammer classes – Wheels are REQUIRED to be a reproduction or original 60’s style wheel. Cars that plan to race and us Moon disc wheels MUST have them screwed to the rim. The Rumble will allow first series GM rally wheels when the center cap and trim ring have been removed. Steel OEM style wheels are allowed. Nostalgic/Vintage reproduction wheels (13” 14” 15” 16”), such as a slat flat wheel or gasser front spoked wheel are allowed. (See the ‘not allowed’ section below for more wheel details). Wheel width on door slammers should not be more than 12”. If in doubt send a picture.

- Lettering and Accessories- This is a vintage race, so vinyl letting with modern product references and other non-period correct lettering is prohibited. Long Wheelie bars, under car lighting, fiberglass hood scoops (or other non-60’s air intake/filter systems), JC Whitney style accessories, tractor grill shells, open wheeled rods with rack and pinions exposed and so on will not make it through pre-registration. This is not a Pro/Mod Pro/Street show or drag race. With that said, if you have a mashed up Rat Rod with non-distinguishable model year or re purposed kitchen utensils welded all over it, this is really not the event for you. If in doubt, send a picture. Better to be told no in advance than at the host hotel when you are at last minute trying to register.

- Typical track safety items such as radiator overflow reservoir, seat belts and others standard tech items are required. The Rumble does NOT make the final tech decisions on vehicles. Thunder Valley Drag Strip may point out safety concerns and the track Tech Official is has the final say. By registering your vehicle to race, you are taking on the responsibility to ensure your car is safe to race and you have inspected your car for potential issues PRIOR to race day. SAFETY begins with you.

Cars/Equipment Allowed:

-Clones and tribute cars, restored gassers, rails, altered’s, super stock, hot rods, stockers, bikes.

-Original & unrestored race cars, barn finds

-Most front engine dragsters, does necessarily need to be original ’64 or older but must fit the theme of The Rumble.

-Later model chassis as long as car/wheels fit the overall look and the car fits the event.

-Edelbrock carbs, Holley Carbs, Demon, Stromberg repro, vintage style carbs. Injection systems, Enderle, Hilborne, Crower, and others that are vintage style.

-Open engine compartments: reproduction finned aluminum valve covers, intakes, scoops, gauges etc.

-GMC type superchargers (see below), factory equipped superchargers, example – Studebaker, Ford/Paxton.

-Modern safety equipment, cage, helmet, belts, fire suites, modern scatter shields, slicks, drive shaft loops, other safety equipment.

-Vintage paint, or recently restored cars.

-Rev limiters, electronic ignitions, MSD, alternators, electric fuel pumps.

-Disc brakes front or rear.

-Crate motors, big blocks, after market 50’s/60’s design Hemi’s.

Pie crust slicks – Hurst, Towel City, etc.

- NITROUS OXIDE Open Class only. Bottle, plumbing and all other parts of the system must be concealed under the hood, covered & hidden. Vehicle must otherwise appear to be 1964 in appearance. It is possible for these cars to run in 2 classes. Nitrous cars must keep hoods closed in car show area.

- Turbos: Open Class only. Turbo and its Plumbing must be concealed under the hood, covered and hidden. The exterior of the vehicle must otherwise appear to be 1964 or older in appearance. No visible Intake Air Horns & Hood closed in car show area.

- Other Super Chargers: Open Class only, Pro Charger, screw and centrifugal type modern superchargers must be concealed and hidden. The exterior of the vehicle must otherwise appear to be 1964 or older in appearance. Hood closed in car show area.

NOT ALLOWED….

These items will not be allowed on the drag strip or car show. FAILURE to follow the rules will result in the vehicle to be parked in the spectator parking, no racing, no show.

- Any car that does not have the correct 60’s era wheels listed at least 5 times on this site! Wheels must match the

photo sent with your pre-registration.

- Any Car that does not match the picture you submitted with pre-registration. For example, you submit a photo with pre-registration with stock wheels and no hood scoop and show up with 22” wheels and a cowl induction scoop, you will not be allowed into the event. Also any wheels/tire combo’s changed at the track, must match the wheel and tire requirements laid out in other sections. If you change your steel wheels for some modern non vintage wheels at the track or car show, you will be required to reinstall period correct wheels back on the vehicle.

-Any Cowl induction hoods, bubble, snorkel scoops that is not 60’s vintage style.

-Absolutely NO: Pro-street, pro touring, 80’s graphics, pastel paints, florescent paints, even if the car is 1964 or earlier. If the car does not seem to fit the event, it will not be allow ed to register or pre-registrar. No Billet-No Billet-No Billet

-Any Weld wheels, Centerlines, Pro-Stars, Super Tricks or other Billet wheels that went on the market after the 1960’s.

-Any Billet valve covers, air cleaners, master cylinder covers unless under a closed hood.

-Any delay boxes, stutter boxes, or other electronic devices that cause the engine to stutter UNLESS your car is in open class. No exceptions. If your car stutters or steps in any class but the open class, you will be moved to the open class with the other computer cars.

- Any modern engines such as the LS or Mod or late model HEMI engine unless under a closed engine compartment. Keep your hood closed during the show and hood must be on the vehicle when you are racing. These engines are NOT allowed in rails or altered’s. If a modern engine is under the hood, you will be only qualified to race in the Open Class only.

- Any raised white or yellow lettering on modern slicks MUST have the black wall out. (old school type white lettering). No Red Line tires.

-Vintage golf carts and mini bikes to be operated by drivers at least 16 years old. NO underage drivers allowed. Vintage 60’s style bicycles welcome.

-Whining about the rules.