Hill to bring Cobra Jets to Fun Ford Weekend at Maple Grove
(8-14-2012) MOHNTON, PA – Roy Hill has been a loyal Ford racer for decades, so it’s natural that Maple Grove Raceway would bring in the NHRA Sportsman legend for its Fun Ford Weekend.
The two-day event on Aug. 18-19, presented by Rousch Yates, JE Pistons and Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, is a celebration of the Ford brand and will feature bracket racing, a car show and a swap meet. Hill will be coming up from his North Carolina shop with two of his quickest Cobra Jet Mustangs that he and former IHRA Pro Stock champion Robert Patrick, a graduate of Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School, will race down the Maple Grove quarter mile.
Gates open each day at 8 a.m. with a different race each day. A 2-day spectator pass is $30, or $20 for one day. Children 12-and-under are free.
On Saturday it will be Fords against The World with cars of all makes taking on Fords. Winning Ford drivers will earn a bonus. On Sunday, it will be Fords only race.
Also featured will be the Jersey Thunder Jet Dragster, the 422 All-Stars and the Aeromotive Cobra Jet Challenge.
Hill is looking forward to bringing his Cobra Jets to The Grove.
“I’m really excited about coming up here,” said Hill, who will also be a special car show judge on Saturday and make his top 25 picks. “Maple Grove always brings out a lot of cars and I’m excited about that.”
The first car is the Phoenix Racing Cobra, sponsored by Coca-Cola and Jacky Jones Ford of Cleveland, Ga. Patrick’s car is sponsored by Coke, Alsco and Purvis Ford.
Hill will also be bringing the first Cobra Jet ever built, and he’s looking for a qualified driver to race it.
“We’ll put somebody in that car and let them match race with us,” Hill said. “I can’t wait for everybody to see what it will look like.
Patrick, the longtime Ford campaigner whose family owns Purvis Ford in Fredericksburg, Va., is a perfect fit for both the Super Stock program and Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School.
“When Roy called me about working with him for these next few races, I jumped at the opportunity,” Patrick said. “I went to Roy’s school back in the early 90s, and we’ve continued to have a strong relationship. I even helped him with some of his bigger schools back in the 90s and early 2000s. Ford has been involved with both of our race teams for a very long time, and what really excites me is being able to help Roy with the school and meet some of these Cobra Jet buyers.”
Patrick’s Cobra Jet will also be running with a new engine. Hill’s car has had some competition experience this season, including a swift 8.26 second-run at Charlotte during the Four-Wide NHRA Nationals in April.
“We’re going to have fun running the match race,” Hill said.
Linear Mode
