NHRA News: Dixons organize Darrell Russell Memorial Auction for Pomona (8/30/2004)

Dixons organize Darrell Russell Memorial Auction for Pomona

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
8/30/2004

Darrell Russell
1968-2004

Two-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon and his wife Allison are calling on the racing community at large to help them make the newly-formed Darrell Russell Memorial Auction the biggest and best charity event of the year. The Darrell Russell Memorial Auction will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Hospitality Village at Pomona Raceway in Pomona, Calif., at the conclusion of professional qualifying.

The auction, which will feature both silent and live formats, will entirely benefit the Darrell Russell Memorial Fund, established after Russell's untimely death this summer during a high-speed accident in St. Louis.

"We need to rise up together and help out a fellow racer," Dixon said. "I call on every driver and sponsor to donate items and every fan to show up and bid on something."

Although the auction is being announced on NHRA.com for the first time Monday, the Dixon's have already lined up some interesting items, including a big-block Chevrolet crate motor from GM, a fully-paid tuition to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School, a personally-autographed rollaway Jesse James toolbox from Mac Tools, an autographed guitar from the rock and roll group Van Halen, a rare helmet from three-time champion Gary Scelzi, Dixon's own one-of-a-kind Miller Genuine Draft firesuit from his Rookie of the Year season, and several racing-related items donated from Darrell's wife Julie.

"If every driver can find one or two cool items from their own stuff and then talk their sponsors into donating one or two things, then we'll end up with an awesome collection of stuff," Dixon said. "Hopefully, we can raise a bunch of money for Julie and the family to help them through this down time in their lives. It's the right thing to do."

The auction is sure to be an unbelievable grouping of drag racers as every professional and sportsman racer on tour is invited to attend. Prior to his three-and-a-half years in Joe Amato's Top Fuel dragster, Russell raced for many seasons in his family's Top Alcohol Dragster and Super Comp car, ensuring his popularity in both the professional and sportsman ranks.

Julie Russell has committed to attend the auction, which will emceed by longtime NHRA announcer Bob Frey. 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. In addition to donating a free trip to his school, Hawley will allow the Dixon's to warehouse auction items at his race shop on the Fairplex premises.

"My wish is that this grows outside of the boundaries of the NHRA family," Dixon said. "I hope we can raise some awareness in the other sanctions as well. If one of our drivers knows anyone racing on another circuit, please call them up and ask them to help.

"It's also very important for the fans to back us on this project and I know they will. We're going to have some great racing memorabilia and plenty of other cool stuff but it's no good unless there are people there to bid on it. In other words, everyone needs to get their tickets right now. Come out and watch some awesome drag racing and then stop by the auction, meet all the drivers, and donate to a great cause that will help one of our own."

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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