Another Season Done

12/8/04

Jeff Burk Photo

Is it me or do the finals seem to come sooner and sooner every year? Last month, I talked about how the VRA Champions points race was ratcheting up for the VRA Championship. Now, of course, all the classes have been decided and the winner’s are basking in their post-season glow. Well, at least for a little while before the pre-2005 thrash.

VRA Champions

N/TF - Jack “The Sheriff” Harris had the season to end all seasons. It was a year marked by huge successes for the Nitro Thunder team. November was definitely a month that was all about going out with a bang…and only in the best sense of the word. First, the team shattered the standing N/TF MPH record with a 262-mph exhibition pass in front of tens of thousands of fans at the 40th NHRA POWERade World Finals. Then, they went on to win the 2004 Goodguys/VRA Top Fuel Championship. What could be bigger news?

Well, I guess the fact that the Sheriff is going out on top. That’s right, this marks the end of an era, folks. The Sheriff is handing over the reins of ol’ red to his most trusted deputy. If you haven’t heard yet, the 61-year-old Harris is climbing out of the cockpit of his AA/FD and handing the butterfly over to his son, Brett. Jack may get back behind the wheel for some match races next season and will definitely be there tuning the beast, but the Goodguys and NHRA events will see Brett behind the wheel of the Nitro Thunder dragster. Jack, along with Billy Robins, will maintain his position as team owner and manager. What better way to retire than on top of the heap? We here at Getting Nostalgic wish Harris Senior and Junior the best of luck next season.

N/FC - Randy Walls took the top spot in Nostalgia Funny Car but everyone is wondering whether or not he too will be back next year to race again. Walls' Nova has a three-speed so if he‘s planning on hanging on to that title for the 2005 season, he’ll have to make some serious changes to his set-up to meet the new, stricter VRA requirements for N/FC.

The Goodguys have posted the final point standings for all the classes on their website, so you can check out who is top dog in your favorite classes by clicking here: http://www.good-guys.com/drags/vra_points.asp

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Nostalgia at the NHRA World Finals

And back to that 262-mph pass at the Pomona POWERade Finals, Jack wasn’t the only nostalgia car in attendance. Mendy Fry and Sean Bellemeur in the Barrick Gaming team cars and Brendan Murry in his potent Chevy AA/FD were also there to wow the crowds. On the AA/FA side of the fence, we also had the Winged Express, Rat Trap, Randy Bradford and Nanook. The cacklefesters also had their day firing-up those beautifully accurate repros and authentic historic cars. Hats off to the NHRA for continuing to make time in the schedule to promote nostalgia racing and giving people more show for their ticket.

Crowd response was great and, other than a little breakage on the altered side, the exhibition went off without a hitch. In fact, spectator feedback has been so good that running nostalgia cars looks to be a regular addition to the Pomona races, with the Pedregon’s Flamin’ Frank re-pop to be the headliner at the Winternationals.