New Onondaga Dragway closes with dream to reopen

Haizy Mae Haindel, 10, raced all 2018 in a lower class based on her age, with a maximum speed of 52 mph. This year she would have been able to increase her speed to a 65 – 70  mph class. Photo Credit: Ryan Haindel.

by Tina Cole-Mullins

The recent closing of the New Onondaga Dragway’s short, eighth-of-a-mile track in Onondaga, Mich., has left several local and area drag racers unsure where to turn, or even if they will continue racing.

Stockbridge residents, Steve and Cindy Mullins, were looking forward to this season’s opening day. “My husband’s car sat for almost 20 years. It seems everyone remembers Steve from his ‘69 Camaro back in high school. When he meets up with people from high school, they always ask if he still has the car. He is proud to say he still does!” Cindy Mullins related. “Once Onondaga opened, he actually had an agenda to pull it out again.”

Mullins indicated her husband had been working on the vehicle for two years to get it ready. She said she and her husband planned to take it out this year “and are crushed.” Milan would be their next closest track, but she said. “We would have to get a trailer–more of an expense to what we have already put in for this. I was looking forward to racing Jimmy Long.”

Jim Long, also of Stockbridge, had the opportunity to run his ‘87 Camaro a half dozen times during the 2018 season. “I work a lot of weekends, so didn’t make it out as much as I liked,” he said. “I was planning on going there a lot this year. I put a lot of money into my car–I just bought a NOS [Nitrous Oxide System] so I can go faster.”

Asked if he would continue racing at the Milan dragway, Long replied, “Don’t know yet, my heart is at Onondaga. I remember going there when I was a kid. I’ve had some fun times there with all my friends.”

Dan Pranshka, co-owner of the Onondaga Dragway, was planning another full season of racing to begin the first weekend of April 2019. But during the summer, he received a diagnosis of cancer. In January 2019, six months later, his final remains made their last pass down the strip.

In 2018, after years of legal battles drew to an end, it seemed the New Onondaga Dragway was here to stay. Dan Pranshka, co-owner of the Onondaga Dragway, enjoyed what would be the dragway’s only full season in recent years and was planning another full season of racing to begin the first weekend of April 2019. But during the summer, Pranshka received a diagnosis of cancer. In January 2019, six months later, his final remains made their last pass down the strip.

Then more devastating news: In early March, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against the New Onondaga Dragway, and lawyers advised them to close while they plan their next step.

Will Dan’s dream and the Onondaga Dragway die along with him? Not as long as the community has any say in it.

“We are fighting this!” Marcie Seavolt, spokesperson for the dragway community said. She vowed to carry on Pranshka’s dream of resurrecting the Onondaga Dragway. “One man’s dream became the dream of a community. We just want to move forward with Dan’s dream and honor the wishes of the community and supporters who want us to keep it open.”

Another Stockbridgian, Brian Diffenbaugh, recalled going there as a kid with his dad. “I thought it was pretty cool we could go there now with him and the family and, on occasion, race. I’ve never raced in the big money events, just to test. I did race my ‘92 Dakota truck with a 408 Stroker in the Capital Area Career Center Alumni Race last year and saw my old instructors, which was pretty memorable.”

For many it was a family event, with even the kids racing, as is the case with Haizy Mae Haindel, of Onondaga. Her father, Ryan Haindel, bought his daughter her own Junior Dragster race car in the fall of 2017.

Jim Long’s ’87 Camaro races at the Onondago Dragway.

“I told her about the dragway having opened, and we lived close by, so she wanted to give it a try,” he remembered. Haizy Mae, at 10 years old, raced all 2018 in a lower class based on her age, with a maximum speed of 52 mph. This year she would have been able to increase her speed to a 65 – 70  mph class.

When asked what triggered her interest in racing, she said, “I liked the idea of a kid being able to drive,” and, with a giggle, agreed she “likes the idea of beating the boys, too.” Would she look for another venue? She shook her head. “I’m not interested in racing anywhere else right now. I want to wait until we see what happens…if the track stays closed, I will sell my car and buy something else.”

Seavolt, dragway owner Raymond Comer, and the drag racing community are fighting to keep the dream alive and bring the New Onondaga Dragway back. The situation has become national news among the racing community, and in the first seven days of fundraising, they have generated more than $70,000, averaging $10,000 a day.

Seavolt confided, “There’s still a great deal of uncertainty before us, and raising the money for court costs and legal fees is just the start. We have a very short amount of time to take action in moving forward.” Funds raised are targeted to go toward the appeal of the recent court decision, past and future legal fees, and ongoing operations.

“We can’t stop!” Seavolt declared. “We won’t stop.”

Those who would like may donate to the GoFundMe campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/fight-for-our-community-dragway or donate in person at the official cash donation drop-off site, the Onondaga Tavern, 5576 Oak Street, Onondaga.

Cindy Mullins indicated husband Steve had been working on the 1969 Camaro for two years to get it ready. She and Steve planned to take it out this year, she said, “and are crushed.”

For many it was a family event, with even the kids racing, as is the case with Haizy Mae Haindel, of Onondaga. Her father, Ryan Haindel, bought his daughter her own Junior Dragster race car in the fall of 2017.

Brian Diffenbaugh, recalled going there as a kid with his dad. “I thought it was pretty cool we could go there now with him and the family and, on occasion, race. I’ve never raced in the big money events, just to test. I did race my ‘92 Dakota truck with a 408 Stroker in the Capital Area Career Center Alumni Race last year and saw my old instructors, which was pretty memorable.”