Black Sunday hits Gateway International Raceway this weekend
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
As car enthusiasts from the region polish their prized possessions in preparation for the annual Black Sunday drag race and car show at Gateway International Raceway this weekend, Ron Able is deciding which of his mint-condition collectibles to bring to the festivities.
Which four of them, that is.
“I have a car from every decade except for 1940,” Able said.
“I have four cars that I will bring down throughout the weekend, but I haven’t decided which four I’m bringing yet.”
This weekend Able and thousands of other car and drag-racing enthusiasts from across the country will descend on Gateway International Raceway, Route 203 in Madison, Illinois, September 16 through 18 for a weekend packed with fun for racers, car lovers and their families.
Last year, more than 22,000 spectators and 550 racers attended, most of them black folks. This year more than 800 racers are expected to compete in drag races held throughout the weekend.
Black Sunday is the largest fundraising event for the United Black Drag Racers Association (U.B.D.R.A). At the annual event there will be a manufacturer’s row where vendors can showcase the latest and flashiest items created especially for car enthusiasts.
There will also be activities that the entire family can enjoy, like a play village for children and free health screenings. Thousands will enjoy a weekend of food, games, car and motorcycle exhibitions, and drag races.
The annual Black Sunday drag racing event began in the early 1980s as a grudge race where local African-American drag racers competed for bragging rights. It was also a platform for African-American racers and car lovers in the St. Louis area to show off their beloved and bedazzling automobiles.
Black Sunday quickly grew from a friendly rivalry where racers dared other participants to “show up or shut up” to a nationally recognized event. The phrase “show up or shut up” has remained a theme of the annual event.
The mission of U.B.D.R.A is to preserve and promote drag racing in the African-American community. Through the sport, the organization hopes to educate the community on safe driving practices and provide an alternate form of entertainment for African Americans to enjoy. Racers and members of U.B.D.R.A work together to promote the growth of professional racing in the community and use the proceeds from events like Black Sunday to support youth outreach programs and families.
Each year, U.B.D.R.A selects ten local charities and awards them with donations ranging from $250 to $2,000. The Black Sunday event ends with a banquet that marks the close of the racing season and recognizes local charities and sponsors for their work. This year, a portion of the proceeds from Black Sunday will be donated to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
U.B.D.R.A was established in 1994. Ray “Garland” Franks, William “Cat” Jones, Robert Shipp, Nelson Taylor Jr., and John “Goatman” Williams were instrumental in the establishment of the organization and the Black Sunday annual drag racing event. Currently, U.B.D.R.A has over 30 active members and has grown to include three chapter organizations in Wisconsin, Memphis and New Orleans.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.ubdra.org or contact U.B.D.R.A president Darrell Williams at (314) 968-1720.
