Charlie Allen
Charlie Allen has been a competitor all his life, starting in his teen years as a street racer to his years as a successful home builder and racetrack owner and promoter. Charlie got his start in organized drag racing in 1963 when he met Bill Golden of Mavrick fame and joined his efforts as a crew member. In 1964 the pair went on tour as match-racers with a pair of Super Stock Dodges. Charlie went on his own in 1965 with a full Dodge Corporation sponsorship, campaigning a 426-Hemi powered Super Stock Dodge. While his racing career was primarily as a match-racer, he did notch a major win at the AHRA Nationals in Phoenix, AZ in 1966. He was one of the first drag racers to have his car shipped out of the U. S. mainland when his and the Chi Town Hustler Dodges were shipped to Hawaii for a featured match race.
After campaigning a Dodge Charger with a Kieth Black prepared engine and a modified body in 1971, Charlie quit racing and started building custom homes. However, because of his connections at NHRA and knowing so many of the track owners and managers, he learned that Bill Donner, who was operating Orange County International Raceway (OCIR), was looking to retire and in 1979 he managed to purchase the racing rights and assume the lease for the track.
As the manager of OCIR, Charlie opened the door for trend setting special race events, from continuing the super popular 64 Funny Car Show to a special ‘racer introduction night. His special events were introduced at racetracks nationwide with great spectator acceptance. He was also one of the early promotors of the “Wednesday night”, run-what-you-brung events for young enthusiasts. OCIR was among the first and only drag strips to incorporate an onsite, dirt track for motocross motorcycle racing. In 1983 Charlie had to close the doors of OCIR so the owners could develop it into an industrial site.
With his love of, and experience in, operating a racetrack, in 1983 he opened the gates at Firebird International Raceway (FIR) in Phoenix, AZ and has continued to bring new, innovative ways for promoting the sport to the table. FIR not only features a first class drag strip, it also has a lake that features boat racing and a road racecourse that is capable of handling CART events. To add to all of this, he has also managed to form a food concessions business that has sites in several arenas across the country.
In addition to being an avid car drag racing fan and promoter; Charlie has invested a lot of time and effort into the world of boat drag racing. In 1983 Charlie formed the International Hot Boat Association and campaigned for better safety regulations for the sport. Among his notable efforts there was the development of the enclosed drivers capsule and better spectator control, a move that undoubtedly has saved lives.
Today Charlie manages to fit in a few rounds of golf, take care of his properties and still maintain his reputation among the racers as a “superb race promoter” specializing in drag racing.
