Frank Hawley |
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PHOTOS : FRANK HAWLEY ’ S DRAG RACING SCHOOL |
day after day , week after week , and appreciates the confidence that only good , dependable equipment can provide .
When it comes to maintenance , Hawley ’ s program is simple . Logbooks are kept on each car and its components , and when it comes time to do maintenance , they hit the shop , get looked over , and are back in rotation with hardly any down time . The engines themselves are rebuilt by the team at Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center , and Hawley has been impressed with that growing relationship , too .
Frank Hawley ’ s Drag Racing School first began purchasing parts from Scoggin-Dickey for its Chevrolet engines nearly twenty years ago , and , as the school ’ s program grew , so did their need for a larger engine shop with more capabilities . At first , Hawley was hesitant when Scoggin-Dickey promised to deliver on a deadline , even halfway across the country . “ I was skeptical , sure , but you have to try things to find out , so we did , and
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All Types
From celebrities and pro-level race teams to automotive enthusisasts and thrill seekers , Frank Hawley ’ s Drag Racing School has something for everyone . While Hawley admittedly enjoys introducing newcomers to drag racing and providing famous folks like Jay Leno with their first experiences on the drag strip , his school isn ’ t only for first-timers . When not running schools or his popular Dragster Adventure experience programs , Hawley routinely consults with championship-level , professional drag racers - offering valuable insight as to how they can improve .
we ’ ve been working with them for about a year now and they have done everything they said they could do ,” said Hawley , pleased at how the partnership panned out . “ We have rebuilt SDPC engines in our cars now , and the work we ’ ve seen come back is always excellent .”
The relationships that Hawley and his school have developed over the years aren ’ t limited to manufacturers , though . He ’ s had the honor of teaching many of today ’ s great drivers , and there are many talented up-and-comers who have graduated from Hawley ’ s courses as well . “ When we turn on the TV and watch NHRA or go to a drag race and see every car in the semifinals in Pro Stock , Top Fuel , and Funny Car , is one of our graduates , that ’ s pretty cool ,” Hawley said gratefully . “ Tony Schumacher , Antron Brown , Doug Kalitta , the Force girls , Steve Torrence – everyone we ’ ve taught to drive or worked with at some point , it ’ s really great .”
Hawley jokes that his wife , Lana , constantly
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asks him why he continues to run the school ’ s alcohol Funny Car program since it isn ’ t profitable , but he does it because knowing he ’ s had a small part in the careers of so many well-known drivers is truly rewarding for him . “ If you go to a national NHRA race and walk down the pro pits and ask any driver where to go to learn to drive , they ’ ll all tell you to call us . We don ’ t pay for endorsements , but they say it because we ’ ve developed invaluable relationships ,” he proudly explained .
Sometimes , though , it ’ s seeing a student pop up several years after attending a school that really makes Hawley smile . Drivers often come to him , having saved their pennies and finally gotten their bracket cars ready , attend the classes , and then seemingly disappear . “ Suddenly ,” continued Hawley , “ we ’ ll get an email and it ’ s a picture of them in the winner ’ s circle saying , ‘ Thanks so much , I got started with you !’ We get that over and over , and it ’ s so much fun to be a part of their success .”
For those looking to first get started in drag racing , it can be a little overwhelming . The idea of diving in to a sport that ’ s so fiercely competitive might intimidate some , but Hawley doesn ’ t believe it has to be a stressful decision . “ Take whatever car you drive to work , go to your local dragstrip , and just start making runs . Get used to the staging lanes , staging the car , driving down , and going back the return road . You don ’ t need a purpose-built car ,” he shared of his advice for those wanting to start their own racecar careers . Hawley asserts that knowing the “ little things ” is important , because most of what his student struggle with when they first come to him are procedures and other things that happen in slow or no-speed situations .
Ironically , it ’ s the NHRA Jr . Dragster program that Hawley feels has prepared a whole new generation of drag racers in ways that he never expected . “ When they first started , I thought it would be cute to give the kids something to do in a tiny car with a lawnmower engine ,” laughed Hawley , who soon realized he was underestimating the program . He realized that teenagers were attending his program and seemed more comfortable and familiar in the cockpit than older folks with more street driving experience , and couldn ’ t figure out why . “ I realized it ’ s because half of what new people are trying to get used to is being strapped into a skinny car with a helmet , and they ’ ve already got the experience . If you ’ ve got a kid , get ‘ em in a Jr . Dragster !”
Although Frank Hawley ’ s Drag Racing School is just that , a drag racing school , the lessons its students learn in the classroom and on the drag strip can also be used in daily life , too . Students enjoy classroom sessions that incorporate racing theory , driving techniques , decision-making skills , philosophical debate , and so much more . “ We talk about life lessons , and it surpasses just the pure driving experience ,” added Hawley , whose lectures are inspiring and could perhaps be mistaken for life coaching if taken out of context . “ Yeah , you ’ ll learn to drive here , but you ’ ll learn a lot about life , too .” DI
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August 2017 |
DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 89 |