Brand new season.... here comes Pro Nitro Las Vegas

2/12/03

ust returned from the last of the pre-season warm-ups at The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it's time to continue the 2003 Nostalgia Drag Racing season. Last season Pro Nitro was dealt some really cold weather, hurting the LVMS event which proved to be basically a disaster! This year things are looking up, as the weather has been really great at the last three events I've attended. Not one drop of rain in January on the left coast. This year's event, sponsored by Sam's Town and Hooters, really looks to be a great race.

While at the Las Vegas warm up there were three cars that fit the nostalgia scene and all of them really looked great! First up the Mopar Drag City backed front motor Top Fuel car of Rick Rogers. Rogers stepped up this year and bought Shep Ginzburg's 2001 Pro Nitro champion car. From the very first pass Rick looked like a natural in the Newt freshly painted and full-bodied entry. The car is multi-colored flamed with a white base. Drag City you have another winner as they still sponsor the Irwindale eighth-mile speed record holder at 155 mph (from a twin turbo Cougar). Anyway, congrats to Rick and his crew! Rick DeStephano ran his beautiful 1954 Corvette Pro Mod at both firebird and Las Vegas running a best of 6.21.

I gotta say that I was really disappointed that the racers didn't support the ARHRA Winternationals event better. Gary Sprinzl and his track crew really went all out at their first ever event, got a sponsor, Pepsi, and basically very few cars showed up. ARHRA has given all you Nostalgia Funny Car guys a place to race, but where were you? Granted the track itself wasn't top notch, but we need everyone backing races to at least "break even." There is no possible way that these guys can put on another negative event like this and continue. When they have their next race in Las Vegas please show up and support. Ask anyone who did race at Speedworld and they will tell you the same thing. That's all I have to say.

Got to meet with Mike Adams who has the Blue Angels Corvette F/C and that is a fantastic car. Mike just couldn't get his Vette quite ready for the ARHRA event, but he also informed me of some positive news. Rob Bruce is moving from the Midwest to Phoenix and brings his famed Zombie (with a new Dodge Charger body) to Arizona as he burned the Trans Am pretty badly at the Funny Car Reunion.

On to the 426 Chrysler Hemi debate. Pro Nitro has decided to allow the engine in Top Fuel and why not? It was first released in 1964. I can remember the Ramchargers T/F car and Big Daddy Don Garlits first having them. Why is the 426 outlawed? There basically isn't any real preseason; AA/FD is against that engine being legal. They are run in the AA/FA's. Its okay in Nostalgia Funny Car. The basic modern day Top Fuel car sports aluminum casting from the original 426, so why outlaw them?

When I saw the Frantic Fuelr run at Cordova it did not even have the 12-inch tire. It was running 14-inch tires, I believe, and it did not run any better than the present Nostalgia Top Fuel Cars. It ran an e.t. of 6.21, but did show lots of potential. It's going to be really interesting when the Outlaw Nitro Alliance run their first race. 425's ARE allowed and Frank Hedge (Mastercam T/F owner), who runs Goodguys, Pro Nitro, ONA, and ARHRA says, "Why not, the 426 should be an expectable engine."

Different engine configurations really make Top Fuel a more interesting class. If a class becomes like Pro Stock Truck did where all the entries are the same (small block Chevy just dominated) and it became a very unpopular class. As long as Nostalgia Top Fuel can generate fan interest, why not open up the class a bit?

It was great to see Steve Barcak's Pontiac Nitro car, and it may never set any records, but Steve is a "die-hard Pontiac nut," and I really enjoyed a change. I don't think that the 426 would dominate the category so everyone has to buy one, but why not give it a shot? Dale Pulde has said NO, while Mike Demarest Sr. says YES. So think about it and then please write us here at www.dragracingonline.com or e-mail me at tmarshall29@hotmail.com and voice your opinion.

The folks at Banning' NHRA Drag City, Andy & Ron Moracco really had some fantastic news on Feb 1 2003, that being Mopar is behind the full on quarter-mile drag racing facility, which has been delayed slightly with some legal papers being signed, plans being approved, but now it's a GO! Originally slated to begin in April, the bulldozers will begin full on construction within two weeks, so plan on an end of May, maybe June opener. Who is going to be the first Nostalgia group to sign up? Great job guys, and thank you, Mopar!

High performance swap meets are a fantastic way to find that unique part or even complete car. Irwindale Speedway/Drag Strip had their first ever swap meet recently and it was overwhelming. Great parts, lots of people looking for something special or unique. We sent Robert Briggs to report on the event. Now as car-aholics you've got the monthly George Cross Pomona Swap Meet, Topping & Wilson's famous Long Beach Hi-Performance show, and now Irwindale. That's a So-Cal bargain hunter's paradise! Personally, I'd like to find an old front motor car, now that's a dream....

Before you know it, it'll be time for the March Meet, in the supposedly remodeled and updated Famoso Drag Strip. NHRA has signed a long-term agreement there and I'm looking forward to it. Hope it doesn't lose too much of its nostalgic look, but safety should be first no matter what! Ready for Fuel Altereds in Las Vegas! A special thank you to NHRA's finest Steve Gibbs who retires right after the Winternationals at Pomona. Steve, we love ya!

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