Get Ready, Get Set, Drag Race

New organizations on campus work to spark students' attention and pave the way to a more adventurous future. The proposed University of South Alabama Drag Racing Club created by students Bobby and Miles Lankford promises to do just that, by putting a little pedal to the metal.

The father-and-son duo have broken away from the most hackneyed of molds with their intent on forming the drag racing club as an organization for students who share a love of cars and motorcycles and desire to participate in a legal and safe environment.

Bobby Lankford, an Adult Disciplinary Students major with a concentration in Administrative Sciences and disciplines in Marketing, Management and Adult Studies began to gather fuel for the idea in preparation for his senior project titled "The Feasibility of Starting a Drag Racing Team at the University of South Alabama."

"In my senior project preparation class, my professor, Dr. Elliott Lauderdale, suggested that we pick a topic that would be of interest to us, and since my interests are in drag racing, and the new football team is getting started, I thought this might be time for a drag racing team," Lankford said. "Since football at USA initially started as a 'club team,' I thought a drag racing club would be the first step." Club creators say no experience is necessary to participate and students do not need to own a racecar.

Drag racing will take place at Mobile Dragway, located in Irvington, and the company will also host the USA Drag Club races. "The plan is to have at least four USA Drag Club races per year," Lankford said, "Mobile Dragway will have special races for USA students to compete against each other."

While risk management and funding will be major hurdles for the club, the Lankfords are optimistic and hope that the club venture will be supported by local sponsorships. The dues for the USA Drag Club will be $10 per year and will not be due until September. The cost to participate in a USA Drag Club race will be the amount that the track charges for a "test and tune" fee, projected at $15. The cost for the race will be free, and the winner and runner-up will receive a trophy.

Lankford's ultimate goal will eventually be to create and run a program similar to that of Indiana State University, he said. "They have a dragster with several drivers participating," Lankford said. "The Engineering Department built the dragster, the Marketing Department secures the sponsorships, the Art Department designed the graphics on the dragster, and many more departments in the University participate to make it more of an academic drag racing."

An organizational meeting will be held on June 17 at 8 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center where a general overview and goals of the club will be outlined, and officers will be elected and questions will be answered. Meetings after the first will be monthly, with the first race beginning for the first time in fall 2009. "Since up to 10 percent of the membership can be non-students, faculty and alumni are welcome to join," Lankford said.

"You do not need experience or a race car to join. My son Miles and I both have our National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Competition Drivers License, so we will be glad to show beginners the principles of drag racing." Together, Lankford and his son, a Special Education major at South Alabama, hope to find more students who have a passion for any form of car racing.

"I grew up in a 'circle-track racing' family. I just happened to choose a different form of racing for myself. Still, racing is racing and cars are cars, and the fun is still the same. Now Miles will carry on the tradition," Lankford said. "When we attend races, we take the whole family, from the grandparents to the kids, in the motor home with the racecar in tow. Drag racing is more of a family sport than other types of racing.

When you go to a drag race, you can meet the drivers face to face; look at the cars from up-close and have the ability to participate." Students who will not be able to attend the meeting can send an e-mail to Bobby@LankfordMotorsports.com, so that additional information may be sent and check out lankfordmotorsports.com for further details.