History & Events - Timeline Highlights

1957: Aug 18th Trial Races are held.

Sept 1st & 2nd Biloxi Dragway officially opens for drag racing with 307 entries.

Dec 1st MS Championship won by Albert Waits from New Orleans on a motorcycle.

1958: Feb 22nd ATAA Regional Championship won by Albert Waits from New Orleans.

Sept 7th Antique Auto Club.

Sept 13th NRAI Regional Championship.

Dec 14th MS Championship.

1959: Featured Attraction Bucking Bessie from Handsboro, MS.

April 26 First Annual Boat Show. At 3 O'clock parade of boats down the strip. (Top Eliminator, Grady Distsworth 13.88 at 98.90mph)

May 3rd All Students and Teachers where guests from Biloxi High School, followed by Jr. High on a following Sunday.

May 17th Danny Taylor breaks own speed record at Biloxi for "B" dragster class (126.20mph at 11.57sec.)

May 24th Danny Taylor breaks own speed record again for "B" dragster class (132.50mph at 11.68sec.)

July 5th July Championship.

Sept 6 $10,000 Roadster Display

1960: Jan 31 Don Garlits Swamp Rat team featuring Art Malone as the driver makes three passes at 1320 world record, second attempt clocked at 195mph.

1961:Aug 7th, Tommy Ivo and Crewman Don Prudhomme visit Biloxi Dragway. They go on to win in Final Eliminations. (160mph in 9sec. bracket)

June 12th Jack Chrisman, World's 1320 Champion from Cal. races "Q-Ball" Wale from New Orleans. "Q-Ball" comes within five tenths of the World's Champ's best time of the day in a trial run. (E.T. 9.7sec MPH: 159.37)

Oct 8th "Q-Ball" Wale from New Orleans sets time at (157.89mph at 9.59sec.) for "A" Class Dragster

Oct 8th Al Waits from New Orleans sets time at (148.75 at 10.00sec.) for "B" Class Dragster

Oct 23rd Art Arfons appears in his "Green Monster" Jet Car. After four passes, fastest run (164.37mph)

1961:Tommy Ivo returns, this time in his red four engine, four wheel drive, Buick powered dragster.

1962: "Big Daddy" Don Garlits runs Swamp Rat III.

LaPlace Dragway begins operation in May. Top Eliminator won by Biloxi's own Paul VanderLey.

1964: Connie Swingle runs Swamp Rat VIII for "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

Jimmy Arnold makes first appearance in his "Color Me Gone" II Super Stock Dodge.

1965: First Annual Gas Coupe Championship takes place

E.J. Potter runs his "Bloody Mary" Motorcycle in the rain

April 11th Bill Golden makes first visit in his "Little Red Wagon" wheel stander truck.

Sept 26 "The Green Monster" returns this time with Doug Rose in the cockpit.

1966: Jan. 23 Art Malone breaks Paul VanderLey 200mph record, goes 7.75 at 201mph pass on a Sunday.

April 24th Featured Atraction The Drag-On-Lady, Shirley Shahan vs John Donilson Flying Ford, Shahan wins all in fourth round after Donilson red lights.

April 30th Tommy Grove sets new track record for unblown funny cars. (9.50sec at 144.92mph)

June 11th Larry Reyes stunned crowd with threes straight passes in the eights breaking Mr. Norm's track record in the process. (8.93, 8.57, 8.74)

June 25th - On a Saturday night Bill Golden in his Little Red Wagon wheel stands the entire length of the track and wows the crowd in attendance.

July 30th - 2nd annual Gas Coupe and Sedan Championship is held.

Nov. 13th - Final date of the 1966 season Bill Shrewberry with the L.A. Dart appears.

1967: March 12 That wild man with the wheelstands "Wild Bill Shrewberry" with the L.A. Dart appears.

March 25th First saturday night race of the year takes place featuring Arnie Beswick's all new Supercharged '67 GTO.

April 1 Doug Nash's appears with "Bronco Buster".

April 15th - Gigantic two-day meet with close to $2,000 in cash Saturday Night at Biloxi, The 3rd and final Gas Coupe Championship is held with over 33 gasers from Florida to Texas. Ron Hassel is overall winner. (E.T.'s 10.52, 11.00, 10.69, 11.05, 10.80, 10.74, and 10.65) Day two takes place at Mobile Dragway.

Land owner refuses to renew lease. Biloxi Dragway runs final event on Saturday Night July 1st. Posted awards $1,250 in cash with three foot trophies for all class winners.