History of Angeles Hot Rod Association (AHRA)

Feeling the need for speed for the last four decades

Did you know that Angeles Hot Rod Association (AHRA) is the oldest continually operating drag racing club in the Philippines?

Among the club's many accolades, in the early 70s it was the first (and so far only) club in the Philippines to run drag 'rails'. Those weird looking machines that basically consist of a huge engine mounted atop an elongated thin-tube chassis, huge rear wheels, little bike wheels on front – with a little seat on top for the driver.

Drag Racing in Pampanga

For many years, drag racing and motor sports around Pampanga involved mainly US servicemen who were speed enthusiasts based at the former US Clark Air Force Base just outside Angeles City. In 1979, these enthusiasts decided to make things official and grouped together to form the (then) unofficial Angeles Hot Rod Association, using their big American Muscle Cars for drag racing and day-to-day transport.

USAF withdrawal from Clark – Cope Thunder

AHRA continued operating like this up to 1991, when the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, quickly followed by the hasty USAF abandonment of Clark resulted in the departure of many club members. However, while Clark’s fortunes seemed to recede, like Angeles itself, AHRA rose from beneath the blanket of volcanic ash and, by repairing the new Clark airport vehicles for free, obtained permission from the General in charge to use the TDY troop airstrip, now known as Clark’s ‘Cope Thunder’.

After weeks spent cleaning the area to permit safe speed (without those pesky patches of loose volcanic lahar) they held their first event at Cope Thunder in 1992. Happily for all, this regenerated interest in local drag racing - and quick regrowth in club membership. However, unlike when it was first formed, AHRA members now included many local Filipinos as well as foreigners, both retired ex Clark US servicemen and many of the new batch of expats coming to live in the Philippines, such as oil patch workers and seamen. All enjoyed the club’s predominant position as the ‘home’ of big US muscle cars in the Philippines.

Drag Racing at Omni Drag Strip

AHRA continued to run successful events at Clark’s Cope Thunder track until 1995. At that time, the new international airport (DMIA) was in development, which required Cope Thunder to revert to its more mundane primary use as part of the airport operations areas. However, AHRA again persevered, this time finding a new home at Omni Aviation on Clark Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

AHRA continued racing at Omni Aviation for a number of years, even paying for the resurfacing and extending of the landing strip to provide a better drag strip for race cars. These improvements permitted the running of a new breed of 10-second speed machines. They also made Omni Drag strip the premier drag racing circuit in the Philippines at that time, not surprisingly really as AHRA is a multi-national club that caters to all levels of drag racing competition and interest, from stock class road cars, right through to the heavyweight, ultra-fast, 'Super-Pros'. Unfortunately, in 2009, Omni’s expansion of their pilot training services meant that their flight school required use of the runway seven days a week, which meant the effective demise of Omni’s use a drag strip.

Auto Racing at the New Clark Speedway

Luckily for AHRA, 2009 was also the year work was completed on the new Clark Speedway drag strip. This purpose auto racing facility has since expanded to a full-on auto and bike racing facility. The new Clark Speedway, located close to the Expo park on Clark SEZ finally allowed club members (and other Philippine race club members) to fully tune their cars to break below 10 seconds - as the longer drag strip meant there was no longer the danger of overshooting the end of the track and bouncing into the next field – meeting a wandering Carabao (water buffalo) on the way.

Today and the Future

Although AHRA was originally just for drag racers, as time passed its gear head members began appreciating other automotive characteristics. That’s why today the club boasts classic muscle cars that originally left the factory 40 years ago, running side by side with built last year customized 'Hot Rods' and ubiquitous ‘rice burner’ 4-cylinders.

Because of local and international interest in classic, custom, and drag cars, AHRA now organizes and runs regular classic and custom car runs, social events, and much more. Since its inception in the 1970s, AHRA membership and the spectator base has grown to include large numbers of car enthusiasts from all over the world – drag racers and those with a general interest in classic and custom cars. Long may they continue to race and have fun with their cars.

For details and membership information of AHRA, see their listing in the Clubs & Associations section of AngelesXtra e-zine.

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