Dave Dermotta and Kim Gallagher began their racing careers in 1995 with the purchase of a 1972 Plymouth Duster 340 street/strip car. During that initial year, Kim and Dave alternated driving responsibilities every other weekend. Most weekends were spent at Quaker City Dragway in Salem, Ohio. Quaker City has now become the home track of Dermotta Gallagher Racing. During 1995, the Duster was a consistent high 12s bracket car running a top speed of 103 m.p.h. That initial year was a learning experience for both Dave and Kim but ignited their desire and passion to be successful in the sport of drag racing.
Both Kim and Dave enjoyed racing enormously so with Dave's 40th birthday approaching, Kim bought a 1970 Dodge Super Bee that they had seen at the 1995 Mopar Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kim bought the car, unbeknownst to Dave in September of 1995 and had the seller deliver it to a storage facility in Pennsylvania for safekeeping until Dave's birthday. The Super Bee known as the Mizzter Bee II was a Super Pro/Super Street car that ran consistently in the 10.80s at 124 m.p.h. with its best time (at that point) as quick as l0.60s.
In 1996, Kim took over the full time driving responsibility for the Duster and with various tuning strategies, made the Duster a consistent 12.50s car. During the 1996 season, Kim ran for points in the Sears sponsored E.T. Bracket Program and qualified for the E.T. Bracket Finals with Team Quaker City. Dave, who moved up quickly from a high 12 second foot-brake car to a 10 second car equipped with a transbrake, did remarkably well. While both drivers would like to have won more rounds, (who wouldn't), 1996 was successful year.
1997 was definitely a difficult year. Mizzter Bee went through a transmission rebuild and a major engine rebuild. The Duster, in its conversion from a mid 12 second to a mid 11 second car, went through three engines (and two machine shops) before finding one that would run well and last. The 1998 season was also a season of change that saw many performance improvements. Mizzter Bee went to several NHRA Divisional Events and made his first NHRA National Event appearance in Columbus at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals. The car definitely made an impression at Columbus as Dave and Mizzter Bee were featured in the National Dragster as one of the Featured Flvers.
Kim and Dave have great expectations for the 1999 season. Kim is in the process of developing a W-2 340 engine for her Duster so that it can compete as a 10 second Super Street car along with Dave and Mizzter Bee. Dave is in the process of building Mizzter Bee an aluminum head Stage VI motor with a performance goal of the low lOs. Kim and Dave are planning on attending select Division 1 and 3 Federal Mogal Racing Events and the Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus as well as most major Mopar Bracket Racing Events.
Dermotta Gallagher Racing is sponsored by Fender Benders Collision of Valencia, Pennsylvania. Associate sponsors include Classic Signs and Graphics, Mancini Racing and Crane Cams.