Every year, on the weekend nearest April 27th, FE-oriented gearheads travel from near and far to Beaver Springs Dragway in Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania for the FE Race & Reunion. For two days, FE cars take the tree to prove that they’ve still got it 60 years later!
The event features several classes catering to Cobra Jets, 11.99 and quicker, and 12.00 and slower, as well as Pro-FE Quick 8, and an FE Bird gamblers race. The only rules of the event are that competitive vehicles must be FE-powered with no electronics. The race and reunion also included a massive FE swap meet, giving owners a chance at finding rare parts needed to complete their projects. Participants in the car show portion of the weekend were given one free quarter-mile pass with admission – the perfect opportunity for those with show cars who enjoy the occasional fun run.
Enthusiasts came from all around – from as far west as Washington within the states. But those trips dwarf in comparison to the guests who flew from Australia, Germany, and the UK (the furthest trips we know of). While they were forced to leave their FEs overseas, they brought with them all of the enthusiasm of their American counterparts.
Unfortunately, the weather in Beaver Springs this year did not lend itself to a good racing environment, and Friday was a wash. Saturday, temperatures floated around 50 degrees with strong 50 mph winds. Again, not ideal racing weather. Perhaps due in part to the wind, the fastest car at the event – an 8-second 1958 Ford – encountered a nasty wreck, rolling over the guard rail as it went.
For some, the conditions were just too dangerous to chance putting their FE in harm’s way, so they sat it out and spectated. This gave us plenty of time to walk the pits and find some really incredible cars, with truly spectacular stories. We’re excited for next year’s event and hope for better weather so that we can enjoy all it has to offer.