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Saturday, July 26, 2014
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Moving Picture
A story in photos by Mark Welsh
For love
of the rush
Mark Welsh/
m welsh@d a ilyher a ld .
co m
Staying focused
and keeping the
car straight is
paramount, but
Jones says, at
this point, “You
just have to relax.
The minute you
tense up is when
you mess up.”
elk Grove
Cpa by day;
drag racer
by night
By Mark Welsh
[email protected]
Drag racing, says Bruce Jones, is
like being shot out of a cannon.
Jones, a CPA whose day job is a
managing partner at Porte Brown
in Elk Grove Village, says it’s all
about the adrenaline.
“I love drag racing because of
the rush that you get,” he says, “an
instant rush that’s over in under
nine seconds.”
On this day at the Byron Dragstrip, Jones pushed his 1964 Ford
Fairlane Thunderbolt to 8,000
rpm with a top speed of 150
mph. Burning rubber and popping wheelies on the quarter-mile
track at the Byron Dragway are
part of the thrill.
“Accounting and racing cars
are completely different pursuits,
although they do share some of
the same characteristics,” Jones
says. “Both require long hours
and a commitment to improve.”
Shifting through the four-speed,
960 horsepower engine, Jones’
objective is to keep the car straight
as it grabs the track. He makes
sure it doesn’t fishtail, which can
lead to a serious rollover accident.
“There is no greater feeling than
getting behind the wheel of a race
car flying down the track after a
long day at work.”
As a kid, Jones and his dad
would visit the U.S. 30 racetrack in
Indiana in their 1969 GTO.
At age 25, Jones made his job
and family his top priority, but
eight years ago the racing bug
bit him again. He bought his first
motorcycle and a 1961 Corvette.
Then, by chance at an auction,
p h o t o s b y M a r k W e l s h / mwelsh@d a ilyher a ld . co m
Bruce Jones pops a wheelie in his 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, at the start of a race at the Byron Dragstrip. He went on to win in under 9 seconds.
Crew chief
Dave Hudzik
straps Jones
into the Fairlane Thunderbolt as they
prepare for
their first race.
Below, a peek
under the hood
of Jones’ 1964
Ford Fairlane
Thunderbolt.
Jones has some down time with his 1964 Ford Thunderbolt Fairlane, one of
only 100 built as a dual-purpose show car and racer.
he fell in love. The object of his
adoration was the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt — only 100 cars
were made as both a show car and
street legal drag car.
He admits that people find his
hobby unusual.
“The reaction I get is, ‘wow’,”
he said. “People think it’s just
too beautiful of a car to spread
its wings and fly. Jaws drop when
they see the results.”
Jones, who lives in Elmhurst,
credits his driving skills and safety
record to expert advice from
his crew chief, Dave Hudzik
of Lombard.
“The reward of drag racing is to take the car down
the track successfully and
be completely consistent,”
Jones said.
In his retirement he hopes
to do this full time.
“I’d like to get a bus or a
motor home, pull the car out
west and have some fun.”
Watch the
Moving
Picture
Mark Welsh/
m w e l s h @d ai l y h er al d .
co m
• Watch Bruce Jones tear down
the drag strip and
talk about his love
for racing. Scan this
image with a QR
code reader to see
this week’s Moving
Picture video by Mark Welsh, or
watch online at dailyherald.com/
topics/movingpicture.
Jones burns
rubber down
the quarter-mile
track at the Byron
Dragway.
Out&
about
Northwest
suburbs
Streamwood Summer Celebration Parade: 10:30
a.m. today, Hoosier Grove Park, 700 W. Irving Park
Road, Streamwood.
Music on Stage Rummage Sale: 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. today, Presbyterian Church of Palatine, 800
E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Event help’s support the
group’s 57th season. www.musiconstage.org.
Creative Movement for Children with Special
Needs: 1:30 p.m. today, Vernon Area Public Library,
300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Music and
art educator Sharon leads free program for children
ages 4-10 years with a caregiver. Register at www.
vapld.info, (224) 543-1486, or any service desk.
Teen Band Concert: 6 p.m.
today, Lutheran Church of the
Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights.
Two local teen bands perform:
six former Buffalo Grove High
School students, Dark Horse,
play classic rock; and a fourmember band of John Hersey
High School students, Elise and
the Police, play indy rock. This is
a special way to encourage and
motivate our area youth in their
musical endeavors. Tickets free,
but required. (847) 537-4353,
www.lcgoodshepherd.com.
Ford Mustang 50th Birthday
Celebration: 1 p.m. Sunday, The
Garlands of Barrington, 1000
Garlands Lane, Barrington. The
Stallions Gate Mustang and Ford Club
and Wickstrom Auto Group will pay
homage to the world’s most popular
pony car with a historical review and
display of 15 premium Mustangs
dating from 1964 to 2005. Free.
www.thegarlands.com.
Music by Harpeth Rising: 4 p.m.
Sunday, Long Grove Fountain Square,
308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove.
Free. www.harpethrising.com.
Capannari’s Concert in the
Park: 6 p.m. Sunday, Capannari Ice Cream, 10 S Pine St.,
Mount Prospect. Zydeco Voodoo
performs. Free. www.capannaris.com.
Ghost Walk of Palatine: 7 p.m.
Sunday, 180 N. Smith St. Walking tour featuring local lore of the
supernatural in the downtown
ares. $3-5, all proceeds go to
charity. Reservations required.
Call (847) 358-6091. www.facebook.com/ghostloreofpalatine.