Greg Zyla, left, is pictured with his son Tim. (Photos by Wendy Post)

ENDICOTT, N.Y. — On Saturday, Jan. 15, 2012, 102 awards were handed out during the annual Skyview Drags banquet held in Endicott, N.Y. Among those awards were big wins for Sayre, Pa. resident Tim Zyla, who took home the Championship Title in the Pro-Class series, along with an award for Most Improved Driver of the Year for 2011 and an award in the IHRA Summit Super Series “No Box” Division.

And in a strange turn of events for this 21-year old rookie, the man who stood as his largest supporter over the last couple years could become his biggest contender as racers ready their vehicles for the upcoming season that begins in April at Skyview Drags in Tioga Center, N.Y.

Tim Zyla, left, is pictured with Manley Houghtalen of Sayre, Pa.

Manley Houghtalen, a Sayre, Pa. resident, spent time congratulating Tim on Saturday, and talking about their special connection.

Last year, in the Pro-Class series, Tim drove Houghtalen’s 1970 Camaro, and subsequently won the championship along with four feature races. According to Houghtalen, he had to take the season off because of health reasons.

“He did an outstanding job,” said Houghtalen of Tim’s performance during the 2011 season. “I couldn’t have thought of anyone better to drive for me,” he added.

In fact, Tim’s own father, Greg Zyla, ended up purchasing the car belonging to Houghtalen, and Tim will be running it once again on the track.

Tim Zyla in action in the 1970 Camaro he drove to the overall 2011 Skyview Drags Pro championship and IHRA Summit Series title. (IHRA Photo)

Prior to that, Tim dabbled a bit, starting in his hometown of Shamokin in 2008, with a 1998 Camaro that was what he described as “pure street and road.” He described this experience, and how at the age of 18, while at a Friday evening event in Numidia, near Shamokin, he took this car for the first time down the 1/4-mile track and won. The second time, he noted, he lost. He also described that experience for himself as pitiful.

“My first run down the track was pretty pitiful,” said Tim. He continued, “It was in my 98 Camaro (street car) at Numidia. I got nervous and spun the tires bad and couldn’t get traction. The run was a 14.20 at about 100mph. The very next run my dad took the car down the track and went 12.80 at 115. It was embarrassing.”

Tim ran in this fashion for about two years, and then described himself as “getting serious.”

TCR Champion Teresa Kurtz, of Richford, N.Y., is pictured with her father, Steve Mead.

Arriving at Skyview Drags in full force, Tim welcomed the new challenge and was sitting on top of some pretty serious power with Houghtalen’s Camaro.

According to Tim, Houghtalen did all the big stuff back at the garage and showed up every week with a car that was able to win. “Personally,” Tim added, “I just did little things at the track.” He also noted that thousandths of a second matter in bracket racing, so he needed to make sure the launch RPM was perfect, and tire pressure was where it needed to be.

“A pound of air pressure or a 100 RPM difference on launch can guarantee a sure loss,” he added.

With Houghtalen as a crew chief, as well as his father Greg and John Tracy assisting, Tim went on to win the championship in his class, as well as other honors. Lucas Oil, Hoosier Tire, and G-Force racing gear were a huge help, he noted, and very supportive of their operation. “Their products have had a major impact on the success of the team,” said Tim.

Pictured is Bob and Sandy Hacker. Hacker, who recently underwent open heart surgery, was awarded Crew Chief of the Year.

Tim also talked about his goals for the upcoming race season. He definitely plans on racing at Skyview, but may be taking a few trips to bigger races with the potential to win more money. One of his main goals, he added, is to somehow make it to the World Footbrake Challenge in Bristol, Tennessee.

“It is one of the biggest races a car like mine can be entered into,” he added. The event consists of three separate $10,000 to win races.

But back at Skyview, Tim may be in for even more of a challenge as one of his biggest contenders, Houghtalen himself, prepares for a return to the track.

Although Houghtalen would not divulge what he will be driving, he did note that he’s got something in mind.

At this news, Tim quipped that he’s a bit concerned.

But that isn’t stopping his plans, and with his upcoming sponsorship from Vegas Fuel, the company owned by NHRA Pro Stock racer Max Naylor, and the continued support from his father, who goes back many years with Naylor, it will be of interest to see how Tim fare’s in this upcoming season’s Pro-Class series.

Speaking upon Naylor’s affiliation with Greg Zyla, their friendship and business partnership is proof that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

Bob Russell, who announced at the banquet alongside Greg Zyla, is pictured with Tim Zyla.

Greg Zyla himself was the 1980 Numidia Dragway Super Pro Champion in his Vega funny car, and first raced when he was 17 in 1968 at Atlantic City Dragway in Pleasantville, N.J. He won his first race that night in his 1967 GTX.

He then went on to win races at Atco Dragway in N.J., Maple Grove in Pa., and Numidia in Pa. He only raced a full year in 1980 when he built his first real race car (mid-1979), and then sold all of his racing equipment to raise his children, Allison (30), Tricia (26) and Tim (21).

Now, involved with his son at Skyview Drags and serving as announcer at the annual banquet, Greg Zyla couldn’t be prouder of the awards he was able to present on Saturday.

“I’m very proud,” said Greg of his son. He continued, “I knew he was good, but he surprised even me at his abilities behind the wheel of a real race car in his first year racing. To win the championship and do so well is even more satisfying than it was for me when I was winning.”

Greg noted how his son handles himself well in front of the public, and is humble about his accomplishments. “He knows that in racing, things can change very quickly,” he added.

As far as suggestions for his own son in the upcoming season, Greg talked of time, money and commitment.

“Racing is a very expensive sport,” said Greg. Greg bought the car Tim drove to a championship last year from owner Manley Houghtalen of Sayre, Pa. to help him out.

But for now, it’s still a hobby for Greg, and if Tim keeps doing well, Greg is sure he’ll find that some doors open up for him in the coming years. “This season,” Greg added, “he’ll be driving the same Camaro he won with in 2011, but with Vegas Fuel sponsorship.”

Greg also noted that Naylor is one of the top talents in the country when it comes to motorsports marketing and racing, adding that it’s nice to have someone like Max to call a friend and business partner.

Naylor and Greg were introduced many years ago, when Greg was the announcer at Numidia Dragway from 1975 to 1979. It is during those years that Naylor raced his Plymouth Roadrunner and won numerous races.

As for racing, it has always been Greg’s avocation. He described it as “something he was born with.”

“I’ve always loved cars, and today, I’m involved in many aspects of motorsports from writing to photography, to even making a pass down the track now and then,” he said.

He continued, “I’ve been fortunate to have worked for many track owners in public relations in the past, including Maple Grove Raceway and Beaver Springs Dragway near Lewistown, Pa. The good Lord up above has given me talents and I thank him for all of it. But right now, I’m staying involved as a car owner for my son, as he really does have the ability to win races, which he proved this year whereever we went.”

He also thanked Manley Houghtalen for giving Tim a ride in his car last year.

But for the love of motorsports, and the passing of the torch to the next driver waiting in the generational line, there are many others who share similar stories in their newly found family at the local track.

Greg talked of the family thread that keeps racetracks going through generations, describing it as perhaps the biggest asset that racing offers.

Through his own 50 years of going to race tracks, Greg observed and experienced that it’s always been the family that has been the nucleus to the overall success.

“Everyone is involved, and the female impact on racing’s success is well documented,” he said, noting that years ago they used to run “Powder Puff Derbies” for the girls to get out on the track and race. “It was like a circus,” he said.

Today, he added, you’ll not only see women in competition in all divisions of the sport, they are also winners, especially in drag racing.

Then, he explained, when you add in the children, who also race in everything from go-karts to junior dragsters, it becomes a family outing and offers wonderful involvement and family interaction.

At Skyview Drags, an IHRA Teen Champion Racing (TCR) program, and a Junior Dragster program sponsored by Kathy and Don Kiekel from Precision Crankworks LLC out of Kirkwood, N.Y., has proved to be successful, with close to 30 youth participating in these programs.

At Saturday’s banquet, three from the TCR Program, and three from the Junior Dragster’s received trophies.

Teresa Kurtz of Richford, N.Y. participates in the TCR program and was recognized Saturday as 2011′s champion. When receiving her trophy, Kurtz stated, “Without my dad, I wouldn’t be the champion.”

Receiving recognition for sponsoring the Junior Dragster program was Kathy and Don Kiekel. Don was also the champion in Pro-Class for 2011, with his wife earning several awards as well to include Outstanding Driver of the Year.

Others awarded included members of the Hacker family who are all involved in racing, and Randy Teed, who earned the Sportsman of the Year Award.

Gary French received the Hard Luck Award. “It’s tough,” said Greg when he announced the award, “but someone has to get it.”

And with snow on the ground and cold in the air last Saturday, the drivers and their families had their sights set on April, and a return to the track.

Jesse Alberts of Bernville, Pa. will not only be at the track in April, he plans on spending more time there. Alberts, who was accompanied by his wife Nikki and son Isaiah last Saturday, was the winner of a year pass to Skyview Drags – an approximately $1,000 value.

Alberts talked about the dragster he runs at Skyview, and how he is excited about the upcoming season, and about his win of the season pass. “I only come up a couple times a year,” said Alberts. “I guess I’ll have to make it up there more.”

To learn more about Skyview Drags, you can visit them on-line at www.skyviewdrags.com. At this site, you can schedule, track and driver information. You can also visit them on Facebook.