European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 23, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tires Burn As competitor takes off on race Day at Hahn air base. The family sport of drag racing High Speed take off causes tire to be momentarily deformed. Families picnic peacefully As Lead footed dads Roar past. By Ray Wright staff writer motors snarl and tires scream like wounded tigers As pairs oscars leap Forward from a standing Start to Roar Down a Quarter mile Flat stretch of pavement. That s drag racing and anyone can play if he or she has a Driver s License. As interest mounts among Mili tary personnel in Europe More drag racing clubs Are being  backs the sport because it channels the speedster off the High ways into a safer setting. For Drivers who must keep their Speed Down to 12miles an hour in housing areas or 30 . Through towns a heavy foot on the throttle is a release of tension. The surge of Speed lasts Only a dozen or so seconds but is sheer thrill As the Driver practically stands his car on its rear wheels As it leaps away from the Start ing  for cars anything goes from a Shelby cobra through the throngs of family Type Fords Chevy and Ramblers Down to vow beetles. Motorcycle get into the act of course As do the special dragster cars with their Mechan ical parts exposed. An average weekend race at Ramstein or Hahn Abs draw from 50 to 75 entries. Classifications Are determinedly weight divided by horsepower. Igni Tion carburettors and exhaust May be modified on Stock cars Slick rear tires 7 to 10 inches wide Are normally substituted for standards Hub Caps May be removed but gutting the inside of Acar is illegal even floor Mats stay in. Going Home after the race is thereal drag said one Driver As he surveyed the pile of tires and equipment at his Roadside pit. You gotta Remondi by your car for the Road after the race when your enthusiasm has run Down and you re just Plain  drag racing from april to octo Ber has become a Way of life for entire families. Mama and the kids displaced from the car set up Camp beside the drag strip. They cheer papa if he wins and complain of circumstances whence loses. Possibly mama herself takes a turn at running the Quarter mile. Safety is the watchword at drag race Sand cars Are inspected at entry time and during trial runs. Most race officials Are mechanically knowledgeable some have had drag racing experience in the United states. They follow the rules of the National hot Rod association. For every Driver in a race half dozen buddies Are financially interested in the car itself and probably Poole their know How to bring it to its Peak of Power. This weekend world of car Sand carburettors develops Friendship that transcends the race itself. Is photos by Ted Rohde no one gives an Inch when it comes to lining up at the Mark. Special rear tires Are painted with rubber Between races. The car s Muffler is replaced As part of re modification for the trip Home. Page 12 the stars and stripes saturday september 23, 1967 the stars and stripes Page 13