Parma Heights, Ohio – Traci Hrudka, Chairman of Quarter Mile Entertainment LLC (QME) has announced several organizations and individuals have endorsed the PROJECT 1320 effort.
“We have started to receive endorsements from several major trade associations and prominent individuals and sanctioning bodies in the sport and the industry,” she said. “These endorsements at such an early stage are very heartening and help to validate the importance of the project’s efforts.”
To date, PROJECT 1320 has received support from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA), the Petersen Automotive Museum, ProMedia Publishing LLC C.E.O. Stephen Wolcott (National Mustang Racers Association – NMRA; National Muscle Car Association – NMCA), Don Garlits and Mike Lewis, Sr. Vice President, Don Schumacher Racing.
Richard G. Messer, Executive Director, Petersen Automotive Museum stated, “The Petersen Automotive Museum would like to endorse Project 1320 and its educational mission.
“Drag racing pioneers are responsible for the automotive aftermarket, the muscle car movement, modern safety equipment and keeping the nation safe by moving racing off the public streets and on to sanctioned race tracks. The people who created American automotive history and culture are aging quickly. If their stories are not recorded soon, they will be lost forever.
“The Petersen Automotive Museum recognizes the Board of Quarter Mile Entertainment and its advisors as experts in the history of drag racing, capable of giving an unbiased account of the facts.
“The Petersen Automotive Museum is willing to help Project 1320 in their efforts. We look forward to viewing the end results.”
“Big Daddy” Don Garlits said, “In my humble opinion the Quarter Mile Project has got to be one of the most important projects to be undertaken since I formed the Drag Racing Museum in 1976. It is something that should have been done years ago as we are losing our pioneers every day now and soon there will be nobody to tell the story of how it was ‘Back in the day’.”
From Don Smith, Chairman Emeritus, speaking for the PWA, “I want to congratulate the Quarter Mile Entertainment team for launching this very important project. Too many of the drag racing and industry founders have passed away, leaving us with fewer of these pioneers to tell this very important story.
“Project 1320 has seized the moment and the industry, which owes its very existence to these pioneers, needs to step forward and support the effort in every possible way.”
Stephen Wolcott, C.E.O. of ProMedia Publishing/NMRA/NMCA observed, “Drag racing is arguably the most participated form of motorsports with established roots going back to the pre-World War II era. Drag racing has always had a unique connection with street performance customers, many of which begin racing with hopped-up street cars and eventually graduate to purpose-built 1/4 mile machines.
“The history of drag racing is as storied and colorful as the people who poured their hearts and souls into the sport. Project 1320 will help document and record drag racing's colorful past for current and future racers and fans."
From Chris Kersting, SEMA President: “This great industry has been built by hard-working entrepreneurs. We are pleased to see programs like PROJECT 1320, a celebration of our founders’ innovation and accomplishments.”
A comment from Mike Lewis, Sr. V.P., Don Schumacher Racing, “(Quarter Mile Entertainment) has built a solid foundation and I hope things take off from here. I look forward to discussing Project 1320 with you. Thanks for all you're doing to preserve the heritage of our sport. Your project will trace our roots to Santa Ana, Union Grove, US 30 Drag Strip, AHRA, NHRA and IHRA and even, for two years, NASCAR. Have fun!”
The project has received historic photographs and movie footage from several sources. These materials are being digitized and archived for future use. Following digitizing, the materials are being returned to their owners, with a DVD of the digitized materials for their personal use.
Filming and production plans are being finalized, with production to start by late-Summer 2009.