History
Like most young boys, Todd and Jeff Ashwell had many Hot Wheels and die cast cars to play with while growing up. I'm sure they even pushed the cars around the kitchen floor staging mock races while their mother, Betty, cooked dinner. But little did they know that their childhood play would eventually turn into a passion for the sport they love; Drag Racing!
It all started a few years back in 1996 when Todd, Jeff, and their father Greg went to their local track, Woodburn Dragstrip, to watch the races. It didn't take long for them to get the racing bug soon after watching some of the Top Alcohol dragsters and funny cars go down the track. After much discussion, the family decided to build a funny car. To save money and to be able to put their own personal touches to it, they decided to build their chassis and put the car together themselves. After about a year the car was ready to race. Since both Todd and Jeff were interested in driving, the boys decided to take turns driving each season to be fair. 1998 was the first year they took the car out and started running 9.20's at about 120mph with carburetion power. Not bad for a team with no prior experience. 1998 was a year for learning and they soon learned that they wanted to go faster! The next step was to go from carburetion to injected power and they immediately started running 8 second passes. After about a year the Ashwell's learned of a group called the California Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA). Interested, they again stepped up their program and purchased a 460 cubic inch Big Block Chevy motor and added a blower. With the added power the team was easily clocking off 7 second passes at around 180mph. In 2000, the Ashwell's entered a few CIFCA races in Sacramento, CA as well as racing at events in Woodburn, Madras, and Medord, OR. With much more valuable experience under their belts they decided to, once again, step up their performance. In 2001, the Ashwell's put a horsepower hungry Hemi motor between the frame rails and later that year ran their first 6 second pass, a 6.78, at 202mph, another personal best. In 2002-2004, the team continued to run at events throughout Oregon and Washington with much success. In 2004, the Ashwells traveled to Seattle to attend the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, the team's first national event. Not only did they qualify at a persoanl best of a 6.00 at 240mph, the team also won "Best Appearing Crew". Unfortunately, during the last qualifying round, the idler gear broke and the resulting fire that followed destroyed the beautiful Camaro that housed the chassis. Saddened, but not discouraged, the team regrouped and came back later in the year with a 2000 Firebird and continued to set their goals high. In 2006, after much anticipation, the team ran their first 5 second pass, a 5.98, at over 240mph, and later that day backed it up with a 5.92.
With the 2007 season looming just around the corner the team has high hopes for the year. They plan to run consistently quicker and faster and to score their first win.
From the passion they had as kids racing their Hot Wheels to grown adults racing their Funny Car, the Ashwell family's dedication and committment to the sport of drag racing and to their team will surely bring them to accomplish bigger and better goals they have set for themselves. Stay tuned.
It all started a few years back in 1996 when Todd, Jeff, and their father Greg went to their local track, Woodburn Dragstrip, to watch the races. It didn't take long for them to get the racing bug soon after watching some of the Top Alcohol dragsters and funny cars go down the track. After much discussion, the family decided to build a funny car. To save money and to be able to put their own personal touches to it, they decided to build their chassis and put the car together themselves. After about a year the car was ready to race. Since both Todd and Jeff were interested in driving, the boys decided to take turns driving each season to be fair. 1998 was the first year they took the car out and started running 9.20's at about 120mph with carburetion power. Not bad for a team with no prior experience. 1998 was a year for learning and they soon learned that they wanted to go faster! The next step was to go from carburetion to injected power and they immediately started running 8 second passes. After about a year the Ashwell's learned of a group called the California Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA). Interested, they again stepped up their program and purchased a 460 cubic inch Big Block Chevy motor and added a blower. With the added power the team was easily clocking off 7 second passes at around 180mph. In 2000, the Ashwell's entered a few CIFCA races in Sacramento, CA as well as racing at events in Woodburn, Madras, and Medord, OR. With much more valuable experience under their belts they decided to, once again, step up their performance. In 2001, the Ashwell's put a horsepower hungry Hemi motor between the frame rails and later that year ran their first 6 second pass, a 6.78, at 202mph, another personal best. In 2002-2004, the team continued to run at events throughout Oregon and Washington with much success. In 2004, the Ashwells traveled to Seattle to attend the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, the team's first national event. Not only did they qualify at a persoanl best of a 6.00 at 240mph, the team also won "Best Appearing Crew". Unfortunately, during the last qualifying round, the idler gear broke and the resulting fire that followed destroyed the beautiful Camaro that housed the chassis. Saddened, but not discouraged, the team regrouped and came back later in the year with a 2000 Firebird and continued to set their goals high. In 2006, after much anticipation, the team ran their first 5 second pass, a 5.98, at over 240mph, and later that day backed it up with a 5.92.
With the 2007 season looming just around the corner the team has high hopes for the year. They plan to run consistently quicker and faster and to score their first win.
From the passion they had as kids racing their Hot Wheels to grown adults racing their Funny Car, the Ashwell family's dedication and committment to the sport of drag racing and to their team will surely bring them to accomplish bigger and better goals they have set for themselves. Stay tuned.
Copyright . Todd Ashwell. All rights reserved.
