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Frank Hawley

FB_IMG_1429037151637If there is any underlying theme in motorsports, it’s family. Mothers and fathers pass down a love of speed to their children, often three and four generations down the line. When drag racers pass through Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, regardless of the venue, it is often with parents or children in tow.

Haley James is an 18-year-old drag racer from Albuquerque, NM who caught the bug from her dad, Dwayne. When she wasn’t watching him make passes, she was in the passenger seat of his street cars as he went down the track. Her dad taught her how to drive a golf cart at age 5 and by the time she was 11 she was in a Jr. Dragster.

Fast forward a few years later as she continued to watch her father race in the National Mustang Racers Association. DwayneIMG_17064817828644 asked if she would be interested in getting behind the wheel again. With no hesitation, she said “Yes!” and as a Christmas present, she was enrolled in Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School.

“It was great!” Haley said regarding her experience with the school. “I learned so much there. Honestly, I assumed that the school was going to be super basic knowledge of things that I already knew since I had been involved in drag racing my whole life, but it wasn’t at all. I learned so many things I didn’t know before and Frank truly is a great teacher, very wise, and gives honest advice.”

Not only does Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School provide knowledge and experience in motorsports, it strengthens those family bonds, even for already tight-knit families like the James.

5-Haley-James-Coyote-Modified“Haley and I have always been close when it comes to these kinds of activities,” Dwayne said, “but now she truly understands the rigors and stress of chasing championships and speed records.  That in itself has made our bond tighter.”

For Haley, the school and spending time on the road racing has taught her about a new family. “As far as my racing family,” she said, “it brings us closer because racing is how we bond and have fun and is also when we want to kill each other.”

The future looks very bright for Haley, currently the points leader in the NMRA Coyote Modified class. She has been in the winner’s circle at three of the events and runner-up at the other two. If she earns that title, it will make her both the youngest and the first female to hoist the big trophy at the end of the season.

“I see drag racing as being in my life forever,” she said. “I won’t be able to race every season, all six races, every year forever because of college and whatever my career may be, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I will race the rest of my life one way or another.”

Dwayne continues to watch his daughter race the 1320 in addition to running his own team and he will forever tout the benefits and the lessons learned from the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School. “Frank and his school are awesome!” he said. “His staff was courteous and professional. Frank’s insight into drag racing and life was well worth the trip.”

“I have and will continue to tell not only new drivers but experienced drivers that they should go to the school.”

Visit FrankHawley.com to see when they’re at a race track near you!  Call them at 866-480-7223 with your questions and to sign up!

Upcoming dates for the 2-day Super Comp or Super Gas license class (like Haley attended):

September 15-16 at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, MO

October 6-7 at Auto Plus Raceway in Gainesville, FL

October 21-22 at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA

November 10-11 at Auto Plus Raceway in Gainesville, FL

December 1-2 at Auto Plus Raceway in Gainesville, FL

December 29-30 at Auto Plus Raceway in Gainesville, FL

Follow Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School at:

Facebook at Facebook.com/FrankHawleysDragRacingSchool,

Twitter @frankhawleydrs

Instagram/Frankhawleydragracingschool

www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

In the 60’s and 70’s Jim and Allison Lee from West Virginia campaigned one of the fastest Top Fuel cars in the country.  I wasIMG_1385 just getting started then and although I didn’t get to race against all of the Lee’s drivers I did get to become friends with and race against one of them, Bobby Hilton.

IMG_1352I was very pleased when Bobby contacted us last year about his son coming to school to get licensed so he could race a nostalgia top fuel dragster.  It was great to meet Tyler and visit with Bobby again.

The car that they are racing is a tribute to the great series of race cars the Lee’s ran.  TheIMG_1371 car is painted as an updated version of Tyler’s moms parents last front engine fuel car from 1969.  Tyler sent us these pictures from the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green this year.

IMG_3710We’ve been following these guys and are really proud of how Tyler has done so I wanted to give everyone a look at this great car and family!

 

 www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

Jack Beckman and I have had a long professional and personal relationship.  He’s a great driver, instructor and friend.  And he always gives a great interview.  Scroll down to hear the interview Jack did with Joe Castello from WFO Radio – I know you’ll enjoy it!  Jack gives his insight into the School and how he feels the Dragster Adventure program can be fun for anyone!  Contact us at 866-480-7223 or visit our website at www.frankhawley.com!

Frank Hawley

Summit Rasummit_racingcing Equipment and Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School have been working together for over a decade.  Having just come off a week of photo 3.1webclasses at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH it seemed like the perfect time for a thank you to our long-time partner!

This yeDSCN2164.1ar the Summit logo has been worn by thousands of our students including stars like Jay Leno and Rutledge Wood.

We shot a segment with Jay for his new show “Jay Leno’s Garage” at Fontana and Rutledge Wood was behind the wheel of one of our Super Gas cars as he and Tanner Foust prepared for a segment of Top Gear.

Summit Racing Equipment is the world’s largest mail order automotive performance equipment company, with thousands of performance parts, aftermarket accessories, toolphoto 10.1s and garage equipment, collectibles, and stock replacement parts to choose from.

So, if youSL741439’re ever by one of the Summit retail stores, stop in.  They host car shows, cruise-ins, have tent sales and more!  Retail outlets are located in Tallmadge, OH, Sparks, NV and McDonough, GA.

www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

 

photo 4Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School will be back at Gateway Motorsports Park September 15-17, 2015. Thanks to “Tropical Storm Bill” our June classes had to be rescheduled, however this will give more folks a chance to get signed up. The school will be offering the Super Comp and Super Gas NHRA licensing programs on September 15-16 as well as the hugely popular Dragster Adventure program on September 17.

The school dates fall right in the middle of a tremendous amount of drag racing activity at Gateway which includes the build-up to Hot Rod Drag Week Sept. 13-18 and the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sept. 25-27.photo 1.crop “It’s going to be a great time for drag race fans at Gateway and we’re excited that our school will be a part of the festivities,” said school founder Frank Hawley. “Folks can come out to Gateway and get their competition license in a 160 mph dragster or door car or they can compete in ‘side-by-side dragster racing in the Dragster Adventure.

Our school is the only place where any one with a driver’s license can compete in ‘side-by-side’ racing like this.” Advance registration is required for both the competition license program and the Dragster Adventure. For more information or to inquire about a group for the Dragster Adventure please contact us at 866-480-7223.

www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

 

photo 5If you’ve ever thought that racing a dragster in side-by-side competition sounded like a thrill… then there is only one place to go… Frank Hawley’s Drag racing School!

On August 25-27, 2015 Hawley’s school will be offering 2 programs at the famed 1/4 mile facility.  For those that want to experience the thrill of flying down the drag strip behind the wheel of a dragster and competing against other drivers, the school will be conducting the Dragster Adventure. In this program you’ll be making Full 1/4 mile runs in one of the school dragsters in the morning session and going head to head with other drivers in the afternoon competition.  It’s the only schophoto 1ol that offers a real side-by-side racing program.

But if you’re after even more power and speed you might want to try to earn your NHRA competition license in the Super Comp or the Super Gas cars.  This is the course that started many of the PROS careers.  The Frank Hawley program has no competition when it comes to training winning drivers.

photo 4Advance registration is required for the programs, so don’t delay. Take a look at the Hawley school at frankhawley.com or call us at 866-480-7223.

www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

We love running our race cars and we love watching people drive them, and lately we’ve been doing a lot of both!  SoIMG_4326.1me people were driving a race car for the first time and others wanted to move up the ranks and learn how to handle faster machines.  In the past few months we’ve seen it all.  From running corporate classes to teaching US Navy Seals and Hollywood celebrities like Jay Leno to helping a guy achieve his life-long dream to drive a NHRA Nitro Funny car…it’s been a lot of fun.

One of our best moments was working with a group of active US Navy Seals at our school in Fontana.  The group was hosted by Mickey Thompson Tires.  M/T is a big supporter of the US Armed Forces and bringing these guys out was quite a thrill.  The Seals had a great time driving and we had a great time visiting with them.

photo 3.1webAnother highlight was working with a star like Jay Leno.  Jay has a new show called “Jay Leno’s Garage” which airs on NBC.  The show’s producers contacted us about filming a segment in which Jay learns how to drive a Super Comp dragster.  The show also featured the “not yet in production” 2016 SS Camaro.  It was great to have our former student and current Pro Stock NHRA world Champ Erica Enders show up to help with the class.  We were asked not to divulge anything about Jay’s on track performance until the show airs in October.  We’ll let you knophoto 11w when it will be on and then give you a little behind the scenes story as well.  Thanks to Jay and all his staff…. great people!

Companies have been bringing their customers and employees to the school for some great side-by-side racing action in our Dragster Adventure programs.  A group of designers and engineers from New Balance shoes showed up.  New Balance is working on shoe designs that can enhance a runner’s acceleration and wanted to experience some acceleration “dragster style” before sitting in on a lecture Frank gave on the physiology of human reaction time.

photo 3.1The school of course travels to many locations and the MAC TOOL company recently invited us to ZMax Dragway in Charlotte where MAC assembled a group of their top dealers from the US and Canada for a day of dragster racing.  The on-track action was awesome and the racing was crazy close.

And then there are guys like Jim Campbell.  Jim is a firefighter and works in relief efforts at major disasters around the globe.  But he had a dream of one day driving an NHRA Nitro Funny Car.  Dream BIG… right?  Well, he did it.  We got Jim through a couple of ourIMG_4494.1 programs and “up to speed” in our Nostalgia Funny Car.  That earned him the chance to try out the “big” car.  Last week with Jeff Arend and Del Worsham at his side Jim made his qualifying passes in the Worsham car and earned his Nitro FC license.  How cool!!

In addition to all of this we have been fulfilling lots of other dreams for folks that want to scratch something off their “bucket list”, just have some fast fun or find a shorter route to the winner’s circle.

Class pictures follow from our popular two-day Super Comp/Super Gas license programs conducted at Auto Plus Raceway in Gainesville, FL, our West Coast home at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA, Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, TX and Bandimere Speedway in Denver, CO.

photo 4Quotes from some of our recent grads:

~ Thank you for a great course at Fontana.  You and all your team really helped us to learn in a methodical manner conducive to learning a lot about driving and perhaps more about life.  In addition to my formula car racing I am very interested in periodically doing Super Comp runs in your dragsters. I have wanted to drive a dragster since I first saw them up close at Keystone Dragways outside of Winnipeg at the age of ten and thanks to you I finally reached that goal! Paul Coleman, SC gradphoto 1

~The School was so much more than anticipated, like one of Frank’s talks, “I didn’t know what I didn’t know”. I really can’t imagine as a new car owner and driver how long it would be before I had the level of confidence and experience I gained from the Frank Hawley School. I really believe Franks driving course, classroom talks and driving instructions will be a huge part in successful driving and enjoying the sport.   Greg Moore, SG grad

~ Anybphoto 6ody who wants to learn how to drive a race car would be foolish not to take your class. The experts that you have working for you are the best.  From Jack Beckman, Jeff Arend, Jimmy, Matt and Derek, because of all of you, I have achieved my dream in becoming a Fuel Funny Car Driver.   Jim Campbell, NFC grad

~ I just wanted to thank you for helping me “clear the clutter”.  Yesterday I made it to the final of our AFX group at the NAPA Night of Fire and Thunder aphoto 2.1t Bandimere I’ve never made a final before. I did lose the final in a double breakout race but I gave it hell and lost by a micro second. It was a huge crowd and lots of folks attending that are family and friends. Lots of pressure. Lol!! I credit you and all that you taught us. For the most part I stayed on task and clear of distraction.  Brad Shaffer, SG grad
photo 8

 

Contact us for more information on any of our programs or to schedule your date!

www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

 

photo 3.1webThis week I had the opportunity to help Jay Leno learn to drive a dragster for a segment on his show “Jay Leno’s Garage”!  Everyone in America knows the name “Jay Leno” and most likely everyone knows that Jay is a huge fan of the automobile.  His personal collection of cars is one of the largest and most impressive in the country.  Jay loves new cars, old cars, fast cars, slow cars and race cars.  And he loves to drive them!  So when the folks from the television show “Jay Leno’s Garage” called me and said Jay wanted to learn to drive a dragster… I jumped at the chance to work with him!

Although Mr. Leno has a lot of experience in fast cars, I thought I could use a littleIMG_4640.2 help with the instruction, so my friend, former student and current NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders stopped by to give me a hand.  As a bonus, Erica showed up driving a brand new, not yet in production 2016 SS Camaro…and I got to drive it!  We had an absolute blast and Jay and his team were a joy to work with.  The location was Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School’s west coast home at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana and it was possibly one of the most memorable days I’ve had at a drag strip.

While you’re waiting for our show check out “Jay Leno’s Garage” on-line and take a look at all the other great cars Jay has gotten to drive in the past season.

JLENO 055.webThe details and the outcome of Jay’s performance on the track won’t be released until the show goes on air in October but we’ll stay in touch with everyone and let you know an exact air time.  It’s going to be a great show… you really don’t want to miss it.

Frank

www.frankhawley.com

866-480-7223

photo 2Much like the man himself, Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School has been to race tracks everywhere, forming partnerships with the biggest names in motorsports.  One of the school’s long-time relationships is with Mickey Thompson Performance Tires, founded in 1963 by Mickey Thompson and Gene McMannis.  Both drivers held numerous records in various forms of racing and that desire for speed continues throughout the company today.

Recently at a Frank Hawley Drag Racing School event for Mickey Thompson customers at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA several customers and special guests got a chance to get behind the wheel of Hawley’s Adventure Dragsters for some ‘side-by-side’ racing action.

“Over the years Mickey Thompson Tires has entertained hundreds of folks at Frank Hawley’s,” said Mickey Thompson sales Paul Giddings - winner.1.1support/training specialist Kirk Fenn.  “The thrill of racing dragsters provides our guests with memories that will last a lifetime.  We love the relationship we have with Frank Hawley’s.”

After completing practice runs in the morning drivers were paired off for eliminations.  The eventual winner was Paul Giddings from SoCal Auto Style in Wildomar, CA.

“This was one of the most exciting events I’ve been to,” said Giddings.  “Even a month later I’m still showing friends and family the videos we took.  My heart was pounding as we staged the cars for the final.  I was thrilled when I saw my win light come on!”

“I would recommend this to anyone with a driver’s license,” Giddings said.  “I have always loved cars and this was one more check off the bucket list.”

Check out some previous Challenge Winners HERE!

To book your own adventure, visit www.frankhawley.com to see when we’ll be at a track near you or contact us to schedule your own group day at 866-480-7223!  Follow us on our official page on Facebook at facebook.com/FrankHawleysDragRacingSchool!

 

 

IMG_4326.1Recently five US Navy SEALS based at the Naval Special Operations base in Coronado, CA visited Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA.  The SEALS were invited as part of a program conducted by Mickey Thompson Tires.

“I was absolutely honored to meet these men and thank them for the work they and their counterparts do to protect our country,” said Hawley.  “All of the men and women serving in the armed forces deserve our praise and thanks for their contribution to freedom.  It was however a special opportunity for me and my staff to meet the SEALS.”

Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School has been working with the Mickey Thompson Tire Company for over a decade.  Through the years hundreds of Mickey Thompson customers, staff and guests have gotten a chance to get behind the wheel of one of Hawley’s dragsters and blast down the 1/4 mile during special Mickey Thompson promotional programs.

“It was an honor for us to have some of our finest join us for a day of fun and camaraderie at the track,” said Mickey Thompson Training Specialist Kirk Fenn.  “Frank and his team never missed a beat and once again provided our guests with a fantastic day at the track.”

The SEALS got to make several runs in the dragsters in addition to some ‘side-by-side’ racing.  Each one said they’d love to return for some more racing.

“These guys didn’t just graduate from SEAL training.  A couple of them have been SEALS for 15 years.” continued Hawley.  “They were treated like ‘Rock Stars’.  Everyone wanted a photo taken with them.  They were a group of very bright, brave and humble guys and had no problem at all driving the race cars.   In fact I was told that after leaving our school they were headed for a different type of training course in a new (not yet released) land based tactical weapons vehicle in Pensacola, FL.  Now that is something I’d like to learn to drive!” Said Hawley with a smile.

Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School is open to everyone…not just SEALS!   If you’d like to get behind the wheel of a dragster give the school a call at 866-480-7223!  

www.frankhawley.com

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