The Rumble at Thunder Valley 2026 1968 Drags & 1972 and older Car, Truck & Bike Show
About The Rumble at Thunder Valley
Duke '72 - The Car Show
Important change to The Rumble at Thunder Valley 2026 Car Show only. The Rumble at Thunder Valley expands its car show eligibility to 1972 and older, a decision made to honor our friend and longtime helper Duke “Dynamite,” who never had the chance to be a part of the show or make a pass because his 1972 Mercury Monterey fell outside our former cutoff. Duke embodied what the Rumble has always stood for — heart, effort, and love of hot rods over budgets or pedigrees — and we don’t want anyone like him ever excluded again. As the community has grown, so has our understanding of how to protect its future while respecting its roots, and 1972 represents the final and permanent cutoff year for show cars at the Rumble. This is not a move toward modern racing, nor an open-ended expansion — 1972 is the last year and will never change. The soul, standards, and nostalgia of the Rumble remain intact: mechanical, period-correct, and people-first. This year’s Car Show event proudly carries the name DUKE ’72 so his memory, and what he represented, continues to ride with us at every Rumble event.
Sept 12th and 13th Rumble Drags & Show Info
The Rumble older Show and Drag Race
The goal was to duplicate the look and feel of the Drag Strip in the fall of the late 60's/early 70's. Vintage Hot Rod, Customs, Drag Cars & Bikes period correct in appearance. The Rumble is dedicated to capturing a moment when the vehicles were cool, innovative, and created by the working class man.
Thunder Valley Raceway opened its gate as Bethany Drag Strip in 1965 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. There are no campgrounds at Thunder Valley Drag Strip.
The Rumble welcomes Bike/Car Clubs & Social Groups of like minds. If your club or group would like to volunteer at this year's event, hang a banner and be a part of the fun. Hit us up at therumble64@gmail.com
Quick Info
Saturday Sept 12&13th 2026
Basic Schedule-All Events at Thunder Valley
Saturday and Sunday - Drag Racing/Car Show and Swap Meet.
This is a rain or shine event.
Schedule
Saturday
Vendors and Swap Meet Set Up -10:30
Gates Open 12:00 NOON (Updated)
Test and Tune till 7:00ish
Band at 8:00 P.M.
Sunday
Breakfast at the track
Gates Open 9:00 A.M.(Updated)
Sunday Church Service 9:30
Test and Tune at 10:00 A.M.
RACING STARTS AT NOON
Swap Meet and Vendor Saturday Noon till Dark/Sunday 9 A.M. till its over.
Drag Racing Classes & Changes for 2024
Safety Rule change for 2026. All Racing Classes. All years.
1. All race cars must have a driver's safety belt.
2. Hubcaps must be removed from all race cars before going through tech.
3. NOS Cars to compete in the Open/Outlaw class only.
Except for the “Outlaw Class,” all other vintage classes are for cars powered by normally aspirated Big Block, Small Block, Flat Head, vintage 4 & 6 Poppers, and from GM, Ford, Studebaker, Hudson, and Chrysler.
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 or modern power adder in pre-registration and get caught by our Tech team, you may not be able to race.
THIS IS FUN DRAG EVENT! WE ARE RUNNING A PRO-TREE AND 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
NOTICE! Except for Open / Open Competition CLASSES you are not required to pre-screen for this event. If you are planning to register at the event on at the track Saturday morning, please make sure that your car meets criteria for the event before driving out!! We want everyone to have a great day!
Stock
This class is for stock or near-stock vehicles with factory stock frames and the appearance of how the car looked in 1968. Ford in a Ford, Chevy in a Chevy, and so on. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos and must have period correct exterior appearance. Rear tires no wider than 13".
Gas Coupe/Sedan
Coupes, sedans, and other street/strip cars with traditional push rod power plants with or without power add that can also hold their own at the track. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos/NOS/Tube Chassis and must have period correct exterior appearance. Rear tires no wider than 13".
Traditional Gas
Purpose built drag car using technology from 1968. No Electronic Fuel Injection/NOS/LS/Mod Motors/Modern Hemi's/Turbos/Large wheel tubs/modern suspension. The theme for this class is traditional Gasser, AFX cars and purpose built nostalgia tribute race cars. Rear tires no wider than 13" .
* Stay tuned -More details about classes to be posted 1/17/2026
Roadster
This is where it all began. Got 2 seats and an open top? You know what we are looking for. Same rules as listed everywhere else about the mill.
Dragster- Front Engine Only
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 1968. No Electronic Fuel Injection/LS/Mod Motors/Turbos. Must have period correct exterior appearance.
There are TWO (2) Classes of Front Engine Dragsters at The Rumble at this year.
1) Normally Aspirated Dragster
2) Power Added Dragster
Outlaw Class - Pre-Screen only
This class will be limited to a certain number of cars. Criteria: 1968 or older bodied car/hot rod with a closed engine compartment. This is where 14" + tires, late model gasoline powered (LS or other late model) tube chassis, late model race suspensions, large wheel tub, nitrous, turbocharged cars race and other modern power plants and suspension mods. This class was created due to the popularity of later model speed equipment and engines that are available but are not traditional. Car must be full bodied including hood and meet all other criteria for the event. Your car must be prescreened before receiving an invitation.
Bike Exhibition Drags -bike must have period correct appearance (Pre-1973) all makes. Same rules apply to registration as the car classes. Please use drag car registration form for picture submission and info about your scooter.
Racing Classes Cars/Bikes
Additional notes applicable to all classes – your car should have an external appearance of 1968. This means fiberglass hood scoops; fender flares or other modern mods could keep your car from qualifying for the event. No Pro-Stock, Pro-Touring mid-late 70’s or 80’s appearing Hot Rods will be allowed in the pit area or on the track.
***NEW - Exhibition Class- Any Car / Truck or Bike that we like and we feel fits the Nostalgia/Tradition theme of the event. Race or Show both categories will be recognized. Please nothing newer than 1972, oversized low profile tires are a NO. You must pre-register to be in this class! Question Call 816-200-2998
Non-Negotiables and Guiding Principles
This is event is being organized and held by like-minded volunteers. If you do not think you can comply with the rules, then please do not attend the event.
The following are some of the guiding principles for The Rumble
- Race Cars must look like vehicles at a drag strip in 1968 or earlier.
- Show Cars 1972 or earlier
– The only exception being body styles that might have carried over to '69. You know the deal.
-Muscle & Pony Cars - yep all the automakers made a bunch of these during this era and in the spirit of the drag strip in 1968 we will gladly accept modified era correct and stock and properly modified, Mustangs, Chevelle's, 442's, GS's, Vettes, GTX's and so on. The car must look era correct in paint, body scheme and wheels. We are not trying to turn the Rumble into a Muscle Car Shoot out show, but we do feel like these cars are an important part of drag racing history.
-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 external equipment on the car is prohibited. Examples: Long Wheelie bars, under car lighting, fiberglass hood scoops (or other non-early 70's air intake/filter systems), open wheeled rods with rack and pinions exposed.
In doubt- email us.
See detailed criteria in the Registration Form section.
Some Acceptable Wheel Examples
