VOLUME XXI,  NUMBER 12 - DECEMBER,  2019

Burk blasts again

Editor Jeff Burk is cleaning out his reporter's notebook with some thoughts about this year in drag racing.    (Dave Wallace photo)   [12/18/19]

Records set at Australian South Coast Nationals

The December 14-15 South Coast Nationals marked round six of the 2019/2020 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series in Australia.

In the Competition Bike ranks, three rounds of round-robin style racing saw the final come down to Top Qualifier and defending national champion Rob Cassar and former champion Tony Frost (shown). When all was said and done, it was Frost who would take the victory aboard his recently revamped Suzuki machine from Cassar’s Kawasaki ZX14. On their way to the final, both racers also reset national records, with Frost resetting the B/CB mile per hour record to 138.75 mph while Cassar reset both ends of the AA/CBN record to 4.568 seconds and 148.44 mph.  (Automotive Event Images)

 

Zack Knezevic (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Gavin Dohnt (Modified Bike), Tony Barbara (Super Street), Michael Hanrahan (Super Sedan), Bradley Hicks (Modified), Glenn Henley (Top Sportsman), Tony Frost (Competition Bike), Matt Forbes (Super Comp), Christine Steffens (Supercharged Outlaws) and Colin Griffin (Super Gas) hoisted Silver ANDRA Christmas Trees at the conclusion of Sunday’s proceedings.   [12/18/19]

Safety pioneer Bill Simpson passes on

Bill Simpson died earlier this week from complications following a stroke.

 

Simpson, 79, is regarded as the creator of the first true fire suit, and is legendary for setting himself on fire in Turn 1 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to prove the suit’s effectiveness.

 

He also designed some of the earliest purpose-built drag parachutes, which led to the start of his first company, Simpson Drag Chutes—now know as Simpson Racing Products. He later went on to start Impact Racing, which also produces motorsports safety products.

 

Simpson was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003.  (photo courtesy vintageracecars.com)    [12/18/19]

Byron Dragway named NHRA North Central Track of the Year

Byron Dragway was named the NHRA North Central Summit Series 2019 Track of the Year. General manager Randy Simpson dedicated the award to longtime track owner, Ron Leek, who died earlier this year.

 

“He was everything a promoter should be,” stated Simpson at the NHRA "Land of the Winners" awards banquet in Indianapolis. “Innovative, creative, and entertaining. His accomplishments and contributions to the sport were endless and no doubt had a direct or indirect impact on everyone in this room.”    [12/18/19]

Douthit Motorsports Embarking on 35 Year Jet Car Anniversary Tour

Next year marks the 35th anniversary of providing high-quality Jet Car showmanship and fan-friendly exhibition entertainment for the Douthit Motorsports team. As the New Year approaches, the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based team is ready to introduce a new website, new marketing partnerships, and a Ford vs Chevrolet match-race concept that brings back the manufacturer wars of the hay day of drag racing.

 

What started as a single wheel-stander named Smokey Red, driven by legendary showman Joe Douthit in the mid-1970s, has morphed into a two-car Nostalgia Jet Funny Car team, owned and piloted by second generation Jet Car driver David Douthit. Douthit Motorsports transitioned from big block powered, two-wheel 1,320-foot exhibition runs to 5,000 pounds of thrust propelling their jet cars in 1985.

 

"Our two-car Nostalgia Jet Funny Car team includes the 1969 Chevrolet Nova 'Black Pearl' and our new 1965 Ford Mustang 'Quartermaster'," said David Douthit. "It’s a perfect one-two match race for Nostalgia racing events, Ford vs Chevy, and of course, Jet Car shows.”  [12/18/19]

FCA to merge with PSA

Fiat Chrysler and PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroën, have agreed to terms of a $46 billion merger.

 

If approved, the new company would be the world’s fourth-largest car manufacturer by number of vehicles sold, bringing together Fiat Chrysler brands such as Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Alfa Romeo with the PSA-owned Peugeot, Citroën, Opel and Vauxhall. The companies confirmed it would be headed by Carlos Tavares, the head of PSA France, as CEO, while John Elkann, the chairman of Fiat Chrysler, would take the role of chairman.    [12/18/19]

New Product of the Day

 

Funny Car Dry Sump Oil Pan from Moroso

Moroso introduces Chrysler, Keith Black, BAE and JP-1 Funny Car Dry Sump Oil Pan, PN 20049 that features 'L' shaped billet aluminum, O-ringed oil pan rail for strength on the track and in the pits during repeated installation and removal. The sump is constructed of aluminum and features -16AN pickup and internal baffling that keeps oil contained in pickup area during hard acceleration and de-acceleration. Internal baffling was designed to increase the pan's lower-end strength to prevent "ballooning" during engine failures. Has a crank scraper and a removable windage tray that mounts into the oil pan.    [12/18/19]

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