Dragster's 'Express' ready to power through NTR
By JOSH HACHAT
Sports Writer

HEBRON -- K.C. Jones grew up with model trains, slowly graduating to funny cars and dragsters.

Eventually he found jet dragsters, and it only seems fitting that he now combines everything.

ADVERTISEMENT

A train on steroids is basically what Jones has developed -- a jet dragster in the shape and design of a train that can reach speeds of almost 300 mph.
Two jet dragsters will be on display on Saturday at National Trail Raceway's 20th annual Night of Thunder, providing equal parts nostalgia and speed.

"The show they're capable of putting on is tremendous. They put out a lot of power," Jones said. "It's something we look forward to."

It's been that way for Jones, 48, since he got into drag racing at age 12.

He started working on top fuel funny cars and dragsters at that age, even helping John Force's team at a young age. By 1980, however, he started mechanical work on jet cars, building his first one in 1983.

That car, "The Cannonball Express," still runs today and has been a big part of Jones' life since racing his jet dragsters became his full-time job 12 years ago.

Of course, Jones added his own little touch to the dragster.

"The Cannonball Express" has a Westinghouse J34 jet engine, which comes from a 1951 McDonnell F2H U.S. Navy fighter jet that flew in the Korean War.

It boasts 12,000 horsepower and nearly reaches 300 mph. But it also has a train whistle, a fully operational smoke stack, a lighted engineers cabin and a mounted train bell.

"With a name like K.C. Jones, what else was I going to have?" Jones said, referencing American locomotive engineer Casey Jones. "It seemed natural for me."

But Jones, who wasn't at Night of Thunder last year, will have a new addition for this year's show.

He introduced the "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" this year after going to a two-car team four years ago.

The "Choo-Choo" is an impressive light blue dragster, with all the train features of Jones' other dragster.

It has the same engine, speed capability and power of "Cannonball Express" and also has a distinctive train look to it.

The pair of cars will face off in races throughout the evening. However, Jones said it's mostly about entertainment.

"Our biggest thrill is to put smiles on peoples' faces," Jones said. "When I get a little 8-year-old boy beaming ear to ear, that's pretty cool. We're fortunate to have that happen all the time."

The show certainly is eye-catching. The smoke stacks pop off the top of the dragster, and it also shoots flames 30 to 40 feet long.

Of course, it's just one of many attractions fans look for at Night of Thunder.

"We enjoy having the jet cars here and having the families here," NTR sales and marketing manager Mike Fornataro said. "We really enjoy it on that level. You don't have to take yourself quite so seriously that night."

Josh Hachat can be reached at (740) 328-8557 or jhachat@newarkadvocate.com.

    20th annual Night of Thunder

• WHEN: Saturday (show starts at 7 p.m.; feature attractions will run at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.).

• WHERE: National Trail Raceway.

• COST: Adults, $25; ages 6 to 12, $5; ages 5 and younger, free.

• FYI: Two big attractions will be a pair of jet-powered train dragsters. They boast 12,000 horsepower each and reach speeds of nearly 300 mph. They also have working smokestacks, train whistles and a lighted engineers cabin.