Las Vegan breaks NHRA class record

Mike Dahl and his Las Vegas drag racing team traveled 660 miles to Boise, Idaho, last week -- and the trip was worthwhile because of a 1,320-foot burst that took just less than 10 seconds.

Dahl, 36, drove his 1991 Olds Calais to an NHRA GT/A class record time by completing a run down the Firebird Raceway quarter-mile in 9.30 seconds (145.45 mph) during qualifying Friday for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. The NHRA factored his run to 9.0 seconds to compensate for Boise's high altitude, and that was enough to crack the organization's 2-year-old record of 9.02 seconds.

"We were really happy about that. It was a great weekend," said Dahl, who is general manager of his family's A Allied Service Center on West Desert Inn Road, which includes Accurate Performance Machine, the company that did the machine work on the race car's engine.

The GT classes, which are part of the NHRA's Super Stock division, feature car bodies and chassis combinations newer than 1980 models with engines and transmissions manufactured during the muscle-car era. Dahl's powertrain is from a 1969 Camaro; F.J. Smith Race Cars of Canada converted the front-wheel drive Calais to a rear-wheel-drive racer.

Dahl was disappointed that he lost in the second round of eliminations in Boise, but his priority has been to own an NHRA record like his father, Rick Dahl, did in 1996 when the now-65-year-old raced a 1969 Camaro Rally Sport in the Super/Stock J class.

The record-setting effort by the second-generation drag racer last weekend included contributions from crew members Fred Williams, Allen Hill, Stacie Dahl and, of course, his father.

■ MINIMOTO -- The MiniMotoSX World Final begins feature racing at
7 tonight at the Orleans Arena and will include a unique race.

Electric-powered motocross bikes will compete against gas-burning, four-stroke dirt bikes in a 16-inch-wheel class.

The electric machines are made by Zero of California and Swiss-based Quantya. Damon Huffman, a two-time 125cc Supercross champ, will be aboard one of the quiet, emission-free bikes.

More than 600 riders will race for $50,000 in various classes including 10- and 12-inch for expert and novice racers.

For information: MiniMotoSX.com.

■ HART HOSTS TOP RIDERS -- Freestyle motocross pioneer Carey Hart will host top Supercross riders from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Carter Powersports (6275 S. Decatur Blvd.) during the third "Night Out With Carey Hart."

Among riders scheduled to attend are reigning Supercross champion Ryan Dungey, former champion Chad Reed and Ryan Villopoto. Also expected to attend are several others who will compete Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium in the AMA Supercross season finale.

■ BULLRING -- The SRL Southwest Tour Late Models stock car series will highlight Saturday's NASCAR All-American Series program at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring.

The SRL Late Models will race for 121 laps on the three-eighths-mile paved oval. Also on the card will be Super Late Models, Chargers, Legend Cars and Bandoleros. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

■ OFF ROAD -- The Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts will hold their annual Dusty Times 250 desert race beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday in Caliente, about 150 miles north of Las Vegas.

For information: SnoreRacing.net.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.