{"id":2212,"date":"2016-04-16T18:09:40","date_gmt":"2016-04-16T23:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=2212"},"modified":"2016-04-16T18:09:40","modified_gmt":"2016-04-16T23:09:40","slug":"1909-stevens-duryea-becomes-oldest-car-to-complete-a-lap-at-atlanta-motor-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/04\/16\/1909-stevens-duryea-becomes-oldest-car-to-complete-a-lap-at-atlanta-motor-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"1909 Stevens Duryea becomes oldest car to complete a lap at Atlanta Motor Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Atlanta

Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark waves the checkered flag ad Drena Miller sets a new AMS record for the oldest car to complete a lap at the historic 1.54-mile track.<\/p><\/div>\n

HAMPTON, Ga.<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0A rare, record-setting lap was recorded at the historic Atlanta Motor Speedway<\/a> this afternoon, but it wasn\u2019t the typical high-speed feat one might expect at a facility where stock car racing\u2019s elite drivers approach the 200 mph mark at its annual NASCAR weekend.<\/p>\n

Instead, adding to the 56-year-old track\u2019s lore was a century-old relic. A 1909 Stevens Duryea Torpedo Speedster, owned by Fayetteville\u2019s Drena Miller, became the oldest car ever to complete a lap on the 1.54-mile asphalt oval.<\/p>\n

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The vehicle is the oldest continually-driven car in Georgia, and it will be the centerpiece in the Million Dollar Salon at this weekend\u2019s Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama, which has become one of the Southeast\u2019s largest automotive festivals in just its third year.<\/p>\n

Behind the wheel, owner Drena Miller turned a fast lap of just over two minutes and 26 seconds, topping out at 43 mph and officially inking herself into Atlanta Motor Speedway history. Flagging the lap was Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president.<\/p>\n

\u201cFun, really, really nice,\u201d Miller said of turning a lap in her 107-year old vehicle on the AMS racing surface. \u201c(It\u2019s) different from touring with the car, but I loved it. I didn\u2019t have it at top speed, but I also didn\u2019t know \u2013 never having gone around the track before, what I could do to it. I could probably go another five miles per hour or so faster\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally built in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts in the early 20th century, the vehicle has nearly all of its original mechanics still intact. Only minor upgrades to its tires, headlights, brakes and starter have been applied.<\/p>\n

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For perspective, 1909 was the year the first Lincoln penny was minted in Philadelphia. Miller has owned\u00a0the vehicle for about 30 years and still drives it on a regular basis on the roads near Fayetteville and on various tours around the U.S. and abroad.<\/p>\n

“Touring, you have to watch for pot holes and animals and other people and cars and this was\u00a0just ‘drive,’ and it was fun,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

One of several automotive celebrities slated to be on hand at the two-day event that kicks off tomorrow morning, Don Garlits, the father of modern day drag racing, made time to chat with the media about the opportunity to come to the Atlanta Motorama and talk with fans about his illustrious drag-racing career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it. There’s a simple reason: when I raced, I worked on my own car. I was completely focused,\u201d he said. \u201cI never had much time to spend with the fans, and this is such a refreshing change to come out (to the show).<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all the old guys come out and they’ll say, ‘Big Daddy, my dad took me to see you…’ and these guys come out \u2013 they’re 50-60 years old \u2013 and their dads had taken them to the race to watch me. And now they get to come out, and they all have a story, and they like to hear a story, and there’s plenty of time to tell it. I really enjoy that. It’s a blessing to me.”<\/p>\n

The 17-time drag-racing champion will be on the show\u2019s Bojangles\u2019 Stage to meet with fans at 2 p.m. tomorrow and at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday. He will also fire up one of his famous \u201cSwamp Rat\u201d rail dragsters at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Click the links below to view footage of the record-setting lap and the interview with Don Garlits.<\/p>\n