By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Giddy up 409 racers remember the good old days
new kl srca 2
Seventy-five classic Chevrolets along with some one-of-a kinds strutted their stuff at the 348/409 National Convention this weekend at the Great Bend Expo Complex. Activities continue throughout today with racing to begin at 1 p.m.

“She’s real fine, my 4-0-9,” sang the Beach Boys in the early 1960s. For car enthusiasts who grew up in that era, they do regard Chevrolet cars from 1958-1965 as fine indeed.
So at the 348/409 National Convention this weekend, fans from as far away as New Zealand, Canada and Australia congregated at the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association Drag Strip at the Expo Complex to race, swap stories and

remember the good old days.
“348/409 refers to the size of the engine,” said Phil Reed who coordinated the convention. This is the second 348/409 convention held to show cars that definitely have some “giddy up.”
Not only are there souped up cars for racing, all with the engine on display, there are completely restored one-of-a-kind cars at Expo 1. These include a 1954 Corvette, a 1961 Fleet Master, 1961 Super Sport, a 1958 Impala and three 1962 Bel Air Hard Tops.
Reed, who coordinated the first convention 10 years ago, chose Great Bend because of its location close to the geographic center of the U.S. and because of Great Bend’s history of racing.
Great Bend’s racing history
In 1942-43, the B29 Army Air Force Base was constructed west of Great Bend for one million dollars.
The city of Great Bend acquired the air field from the military after it was declared surplus in 1946, according to the SRCA website.
The first race was held in May 12, 1953, using a portion of the airfield as a drag strip. In 1954, the SRCA was founded in Great Bend. They joined the National Hot Rod Association in April 1955.
The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of SRCA, wrote a letter requesting that Great Bend be the site for the first national event. NHRA said yes. The race was a smashing success and would establish the official acceleration records for stand and start quarter mile racing. The event started  219 cars and 15,000 spectators watched.
However, as time went on, enthusiasm faded and the group eventually disbanded.
In 1993, the club reorganized and went back to the original name, SRCA. In 1994, the track was named as a Kansas Register of Historic Places.  In 2000, the track was resurfaced with a grant from Kansas Department Of Transportation.
 
SRCA held a Points Race this weekend as well.