This season of “Jay Leno’s Garage” marks the second time that Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School has had the good fortune to work with Jay Leno and his team.

A couple of years ago Jay jumped behind the wheel of a Super Comp Dragster and made some 8-second passes under the tutelage of World Champ & school founder Frank Hawley and guest instructor Pro Stock Champ Erica Enders.

“As I remember, Jay did a pretty good job considering it was his first time ever in a dragster”, said Hawley.

Earlier this year a Leno producer contacted Hawley again but this time the project would be completely different.

“Leno was doing a piece on forgotten and not very popular cars,” explained Hawley.  “They were looking for a couple AMC cars, a Pacer and a Gremlin.  They wanted to see if anyone still had these cars and better still had anyone modified them for drag racing,” continued Hawley.  “Well they found a couple cool cars and wanted to see them race one another.  To make sure everything was legit, they asked the school to help arrange the race and if we could, provide the drivers.  I said of course.”

The race would be at the school’s west coast location at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.  After a fair amount of deliberation, it was agreed that school owner Frank Hawley and long time school consultant and current Nitro Funny Car driver Jack Beckman would be the designated drivers.

“Frank called me and told me about the show and what we’d be doing and I said, ‘count me in’,” said World Champ Jack Beckman.  “The first time we saw the cars was on the day of the shoot at Fontana.  They looked pretty cool!  A supercharged Pacer and a Gremlin with carburetors and a tunnel ram.  By coin toss I got the Pacer.” continued Beckman.

With no practice runs, Hawley and Beckman got strapped in for the big race.  The outcome is featured on the Jay Leno Garage show, Episode 502 — link below to the full episode!

http://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/jay-lenos-garage/full-episode/cult-classics/1599337539780

“It really was a fun day. School employee and Funny Car driver Jeff Arend was on hand to help co-ordinate everything and I really appreciate Jack taking a day out of his busy schedule to help out.  Jay Leno and his team are always great to work with.  A great time was had by all,” said Hawley.

For more information on the school go to www.frankhawley.com or give us a call at 866-480-7223!

866-480-7223

www.frankhawley.com

What a great year!  I just got back from the Auto Club Finals in Pomona and it was a fabulous race.  Our former graduates did well.

This year Erica Enders won her second NHRA Pro Stock World Championship! We first saw Erica in our S/C course several years ago.  She then went on to get her Top Alcohol Funny Car license with us and just this fall Erica and I spent some time together helping Jay Leno learn to drive a Super Comp dragster for the premiere episode on his new show “Jay Leno’s Garage” which is featured on CNBC.  If you missed it, you can still watch it on demand.

Antron Brown won his second Top Fuel NHRA World Championship as well.  Antron came to us to get his Top Alcohol Dragster license after a great career in Pro Stock motorcycle.  He is a great guy and loved by everyone who knows him.  His co-crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald gave him a fabulous race car this season and Antron took advantage of it by clinching the Championship in Vegas before the final race.

And my good friend and Drag School instructor, Jack Beckman came “oh so close” to a second NHRA World Funny Car Championship when he went down to the final few rounds in a battle with eventual NHRA champ Del Worsham for the title.  In my mind, second place is pretty good in a field like they had this year.

In fact 6 of the top 10 finishers in both Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car got their start at our school…pretty impressive!

There were also many other great performances from our grads in 2015.  Dina Parise won the IHRA Pro Mod World Championship!  Haley James was the youngest and first female to win the NMRA Coyote Modified Championship!  Jordan Pratt followed up his Division 5 Rookie of the Year by winning the NHRA Division 5 Super Comp Championship, along with the Midwest Drag Racers Association Points Championship!  Emma Deuschle won her first race at the Fontana PSCA race this fall in her ’63 Corvette Split Window Top Sportsman class, and her brother Ricky also won in his ’02 Camaro Top Sportsman class, with sister Ashley taking runner-up in Top Sportsman.

After all these years I’m still amazed at the success of our students whether it’s victory on the world stage or victory at their local track.  We have truly been blessed to have met so many wonderful people and we thank them so much for their kind words and endorsements of our programs.
If there is any way in which we can help you fulfill your dreams… please give us a call.  In addition to the 2016 class dates we have already secured in Gainesville, Fontana and Norwalk, we will be adding dates very soon for Chicago, Indy, Denver, Maple Grove, and St. Louis.  Please check our website for updates.

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

Please click on the link below to enjoy the story on Julie Braskett.  Julie is the daughter of famous racer Dave Braskett who with Gary Burgin, fielded one of the best cars of the gasser era – “Braskett and Burgin”.

We also want to remind you that we still have space in the SC/SG class following the Gatornationals and the Las Vegas classes in April!

And don’t forget about the upcoming special event with Frank Hawley and “Fast Jack” Beckman (held Friday evening during the Gatonationals)!  You can sign up on-line for the seminar – see below.

More dates are available on request for corporate groups, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and TAD/TAFC!  This is only a partial list of our upcoming class dates.  So whatever your reason – whether you are new to the sport, a seasoned racer or need to cross something off your bucket list…please contact us to schedule some time!  Contact us with any questions you may have or to sign up for a class or the seminar — www.frankhawley.com  866-480-7223.

Julie Braskett’s Promise

Hawley-Beckman Seminar Gators 2013

2013 Upcoming Class Dates