NITRO on the WATER:
AA/FA to IHRA

6/11/03

ithout question the month of June is loaded with major Nostalgia races. Beginning with Dave Smith's open T/F show at Sacramento Raceway Park and the Gasser Nationals in Ohio, then on to NHRA's Mid-west Reunion at Bowling Green Kentucky. That spectacular racing event is followed by the Goodguys Indy Championships, and then back to the west coast at Pomona for the last weekend of June. Also taking place during that very same weekend is the Annual Fuel Altered Nationals. This race features both the nostalgia Fuel Altereds like "Nanook" of the famed Hough family out of Las Vegas, and James Generalao Jr. also hailing from Sin City. Also featured at the famed Tucson track are the "transformers" or better known as unlimited Fuel Altereds like Mac McCord, Ron Fasel, The Witch Doctor of Jeff Diehl etc. Too much racing in one month? I think not.

Just got the hot info off the net, Jack "The Sheriff" Harris in the Nitro Thunder T/F car from Keysville, Utah swept the honors at the Sacramento race, 6.04 over Lee Jennings. Jason Ritchey is now driving the Nitro Fever T/F car of Sacramento Raceway owner Dave Smith. Guess he clocked some 6.30 passes already. No 5's at this one, though. Harris was hot off his big victory at the Infineon Goodguys race just a couple of weeks ago. The Sheriff and his posse swept those Top Fuel honors over his arch rival, Jim Murphy in the OSH backed WW2 machine. After changing an engine between rounds at Infineon, Murphy smoked the tires while Gentleman Jack sailed down the Nor Cal 1320 at a 6.115, 223 mph for the win. Murphy's fine 5.932 was quick time while Denver Schutz in John Blanchard's machine set Top Speed of the event at 235.27 mph. Highlight of the event was seeing Gerry Steiner and his daughter Gerilyn walking around at the event. While Gerry is not 100 percent, he's doing okay and enjoying visiting his many many friends in racing at the Goodguys event.

The long awaited unavailing of the RB enterprises, T'F car of Brian Van Dyke, Bob Barry, and Jeff Diehl made its very first appearance in public. The brand spanking new black beauty made this tough program and even went a round, defeating Bob Hallock driving Frank and Ruthi Hedge's Mastercam T/F car. Spike Gorr, son of the famed Ralph Gorr is tuning this effort. Is there a "five" in there? Only time will tell, but Jeff has as good a chance to get that last 5-second jacket as anyone. Speaking of that spot, here is just a small list of possibilities for that spot....Sean Bellemuir in Mastercam, Denver Schutz (either Blanchard's car or Jim Cullen's), Glenn Hutchison in the Foothill Flyer, Oklahoma's' Troy Green, Tim Gibson (Mastercam), Mike Lockman (Superstition), Rick Rogers (Hammerhead Racing/Banning), Kent Terry (Terry Motorsports/Champion Speed shop), Jason Ritchey (Nitro Fever), Mark Malde (Birky Bunch), Lee Jennings JR, Todd Meilke, Jeff Diehl (RB enter), Jon Barrett, or Scott Mason from Utah. My money is on young (21) Sean Bellemuir in the Frank Hedge Mastercam car. Great driver, good horsepower car, or maybe those Foothill Flyer guys if they can keep it together.

Just to ask the question, cacklefest cars or race cars? Personally I love seeing rebuilds like the "replica" T/F car of Dave West (Beebe & Mulligan), and at least it does make some burnouts and half passes. DRO's Darr Hawthorne and I were at Irwindale Drag Strip a couple of weeks ago, watching the very fast street machines, and that subject came up. Personally, I'd rather see all the cars go down the 1320 or at least smoke the tires like they did in the old days, rather than just sit, or fire up now and then. Real racing is what I've been into for the past 39 years; don't think I'll change on that one. Cacklefests are okay but personally I'd really like to see Tom Hanna's beautiful dragster head down the quarter-mile. Can you vision Hanna's dragster versus Dave West? You bet.

Next question, the Surfers car. Is this going to be a runner, or just a cacklefest car. I know Adam Sorokin (who looks just like his wonderful late father Mike) is a dynamite racer. Sorokin was the CIFCA Funny Car Champion last year, by the way. My thought, cacklefests are just okay; RUN 'EM!

On a sad note, Pro Nitro may have held its very last race at Firebird, or anywhere as a matter of fact. Jerry and Donna Hutchcroft gave it their all -- they had Fuel Altereds, Top Fuel, Nostalgia Funny Cars, Richard Schroeder's Jet Focus, a wheelstander, plus a complete "Blown Bad Boy" Show. What happened? Only 820 spectators showed up, and put the Hutchcrofts outa business. It's a damn shame really, because now where are these Nostalgia Funny Cars and fabulous Fuel Altereds going to be in competition again? Jerry and Donna have been taking care of all their debts on this race, and I truly hope that some way they can get some major backing and return.

I know the Houghs and the Rat Trap were off to Canada to race at the IHRA National event, but no word on their results. These are fantastic cars. I wish the fans would support them. Anyway, hang in there, Jerry and Donna, thanks for giving it your best shot. Good luck to Mousie, great driver Mike Boyd in famed Winged Express as it makes an appearance at both Goodguys Indy and NHRA Bowling Green!

Take care.

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