NHRA News: Darrell Russell Memorial Auction picking up steam (10/7/2004)

Darrell Russell Memorial Auction picking up steam

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
10/7/2004

"Flat-out, people need to make plans and come to this auction. It's like Indy: You have to be there."
– Larry Dixon

Two-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon and his wife Ally have been working overtime at organizing the Darrell Russell Memorial Auction, which is slated for 6 p.m., Saturday, November 13, at Pomona Raceway's Hospitality Village. The Dixon's report a flood of donated items that will be up for bids in both silent and live auction formats.

"We've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of stuff, especially the big ticket items," Larry said. "The things we've gotten from across the world of motorsports shows me just how tight this racing group is. When one of our brothers is lost, we come together and make sure the family is taken care of. In this case, we're doing it all for Julie to make sure she's good for as long as possible. And we're nowhere near being done yet."

The items donated to the auction so far cover a wide array of interests with a heavy emphasis on racing. One of the more unique things is to be the driver of a Darrell Russell-themed Top Fuel dragster that will be part of the 2005 PlayStation2 NHRA drag racing video game produced by Lucky Chicken Games. The lucky winner will be listed alongside established NHRA pros, including a listing in the driver's bio section.

Darrell Russell
1968-2004

Someone will also walk away with a custom-painted Darrell Russell-themed golf cart, courtesy of Liberty Golf Carts of Liberty, Texas, with the paint job provided by Russell's longtime friend Johnny Bang of the Bang and Bump Shop in Tomball, Texas.

For those in need of horsepower, S&S Cycle, Inc., sent in one of is polished, 96 cubic inch evolution-style engine valued at $6,200. There will also be a General Motors big block Chevrolet crate motor and a pair of cast iron Hemi heads from Mopar on the auction block.

High bidders can take home various bashed-up body panels from the NASCAR rides of Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Sterling Marlin, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, and Mark Martin, who also donated T-shirts, hats and die-casts from his Viagra team. Former champ Tony Stewart also sent in a box of autographed items.

Darrell's wife Julie added two firesuits that Darrell wore many times in competition, as well as several of his uniform shirts, a pair of fireproof driving shoes, and other racing-related clothing items he wore during his time on the circuit.

The special duds don't stop there. Dixon himself donated the Miller Genuine Draft driving suit he wore in 1995, the same year he was named Rookie of the Year. Legend Kenny Bernstein sent in his one-of-a-kind Budweiser driving suit from 2000, while icon Shirley Muldowney has supplied one of her coveted "Last Pass" leather jackets from her retirement tour.

Kenny Bernstein has donated this firesuit, which he wore in 2000.

Bernstein also added his Budweiser crew shirt from last season to go with an Advance Auto Parts crew shirt from 1992 Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon, a crew chirt from back-to-back Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, a pair of Fram crew shirts from Rhonda Hartman-Smith, and another pair Prestone crew shirts from John Smith.

As far as headgear goes, the bids are sure to skyrocket for the helmets of three-time series champion Gary Scelzi, NASCAR star Robby Gordon, who donated his Red Bull helmet, and Doug Herbert, who gave up the "DougZilla" helmet he wore during his big win last weekend in Chicago. Legendary team owner Jack Roush submitted a few of his signature straw fedoras, autographed by the NASCAR great himself. Russell's team owner, Joe Amato, added to the stack with an autographed Darrell Russell hardhat.

Some instant collector items gathered by Gabrielle Stevenson of the NHRA's media department include a pair of leather jackets, one covered in signatures from numerous U.S. Nationals winners, and one that includes all of the U.S. Nationals qualifiers from this year's 50th anniversary running of the historic event.

For the more adventurous, bids will be accepted for a paid tuition to any of Frank Hawley's Drag Racing Schools or a half-day at ESPN's Russell Racing School at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Race fans can bid on ticket packages for the season-opening 45th annual K&N Filters Winternationals, which take place Feb. 10-13 at Pomona Raceway. There will be three sets of four Top Eliminator Club tickets on the block, as well as three sets of four reserved seats.

Troy Cagle, the son of Top Fuel driver Gary Cagle, who ran during the late 1950s and early 1960s, was so moved by Russell's death that he donated the classic "160 Fuel Club" his father earned at the Pomona Drags 40-plus years ago. The jacket has been on display at the Wally Parks Motorsports Musuem.

For the die-cast fanatics, the selection of donated cars is staggering. Topping the charts is a large container from Action Performance that has yet to be catalogued, although it appears to contain just about every car ever put into production from across the world of motorsports. Additionally, Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen submitted an autographed Mobile dragster, Barry Setzer sent in a Vega Funny Car replica, Don Schumacher gave a "Stardust" die-cast, Hartman-Smith sent in two Fram rails, Smith sent in two Prestone rails, two-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin added a Jeg's Mail Order Pro Stocker, Clay Millican an Elvis dragster, Anderson a Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stocker, and Bernstein a Budweiser King dragster.

Gary Cagle's jacket, circa 1959.

Dixon took the time to have three autographed posters mounted and framed. They include a Budweiser Racing poster signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., a team photo of the undefeated '72 Miami Dolphins signed by head coach Don Shula, and a Disney/Miami Dolphins poster signed by NFL greats Dan Marino, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, and Fred Smith.

Keeping in the sports theme, Jeg's gave a game ball signed by Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, to go with a football signed by the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, and several baseballs signed by this year's playoff bound Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Schumacher Electric donated several battery chargers, including the Pro Series 12v battery charger, the Pro Series 6/12v battery charger, the Pro Series 10-50-250 6/12v battery charger with wheels, the Pro Series 10-2-50 manual charger, and the Pro Series 10-30-200 manual charger.

The mechanically inclined can also bid on a Mac Tools Jesse James rollaway tool chest, signed by Jesse James himself, or a Matco Tools tool chest work station. Both tool companies sponsored Russell during his professional career.

The list of interesting miscellaneous items includes an autographed guitar from the rock group Van Halen, a collection of Oakley watches, 14k gold Custom Rod earrings, 14k gold Custom Rod and Piston earrings, a South Sea pearl necklace, a 24-pack of NHRA Winston Drag Racing Cards from 1995, a Doug Herbert Snap-on Tools Helmet/CD player, three Simpson mini helmets, and various racing-related cups and mugs.

Certainly, one of the items that will hold a special place in someone's heart is a Bristol Motor Speedway program signed in 2000 by Lee, Richard, Kyle and Adam Petty just prior to the deaths of Lee and Adam.

"This is just the stuff we have in-hand," Dixon said. "I have verbal commitments for so much more, and not just from the NHRA, but from Indy car guys, more NASCAR guys, even the Hollywood crowd.

"I feel like this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to hit a big home run for Julie. I not only want more teams to step up and donate items but I want everyone to make plans to be there and bid on this stuff. You have to admit, there is already a ton of stuff that you'll probably never see again. Everyone needs to make plans to be there."

Don Schumacher's "Stardust" die-cast.

After announcing the Darrell Russell Memorial Auction in late August, the Dixons entertained the idea of making some of the items available online for fans that wished to participate in the auction from afar. After much consideration, Larry decided to keep everything in place as originally designed.

"I truly appreciate people wanting to get involved and I encourage them to get involved by sending a donation directly to the Darrell Russell Memorial Fund (Darrell Russell Memorial Fund, Partners Bank of Texas, P.O. Box 60369, Houston, TX 77205) because ultimately raising money for that fund is what it's all about, but we have chosen this venue for this event and we're going to stick with it," he said. "It's been my experience that you can't beat being there live and watching people bid up items. I remember John Force and Chuck Etchells bidding head-to-head for Snake's Harley and it was every bit as exciting as a drag race. Neither guy wanted to lose. You can't do that online.

"Plus, Julie has made plans to be there in person and it's only fair that everyone who donated items has a chance to see that item carried up to the stage and have everyone bid on it. That's the fun part of a deal like this. It's cool to read about Greg Anderson going 6.66 in his Pro Stock car but it's a hundred times better to watch it happen.

"We also have commitments from so many people to be there in attendance so it will be a super-special event no matter how you cut it. Flat-out, people need to make plans and come to this auction. It's like Indy: You have to be there."

The regular auction, which will be emceed by Bob Frey and Alan Reinhart, will begin after the final round of professional qualifying has been completed. The silent auction portion of the event will run from 3-6 p.m. Both auctions are free for anyone attending Saturday's action at the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

Racers and sponsors wishing to donate items can find Larry or Ally Dixon at the racetrack or ship everything directly to Pomona Raceway at the following address:

Darrell Russell Memorial Auction
c/o Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School
Fairplex - Gate 12
Pomona, CA 91768

Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School can be reached at 888-901-7223. The U.S. Postal Service does not deliver packages to the Fairplex so items must be sent via FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

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