The ONA, the VNA, the FCU, the FCN, the NFCA, and Me

6/7/04

Jeff Burk Photo

Just so I never get accused of ignoring the rest of the country and their nostalgia movements, I present to you (drum roll, please) a whole crop of cool stuff going on in the nostalgia world outside of the West Coast.

The Outlaw Nitro Alliance

First, I bring you the Outlaw Nitro Alliance. ONA was formed in August of 2002, about three months before the West Coast group AA/FD inc. was formed. Their mission is to recruit and unite front engine Top Fuel racers east of the Rockies. They have three races on the books for this summer, at both IHRA and NHRA tracks, including the independent Heartland Hot Rod Reunion. The basic rules for the group are patterned after the VRA rules, but Chevys get a break on the weight. What is also very cool about these guys is they say, “Show up with your 426 on fuel! If it is VRA legal except for the block, you’re racing!” And you know how I feel about the 426.

ONA is an SFI member sanctioning body and a board governed organization. All decisions are made by the board of directors: Jon Barrett (Jon Barrett Racing), John Dearmore, Frank “Rootbeer” Hedge (the Mastercam Fueler), David Pace (Schramm Racing), Al Schramm (Schramm Racing), and Dale Suhr (the Orange Crate). John Dearmore, President, acts as coordinator for the group; there are no unilateral decisions made. Nothing moves forward without the board's OK, which sounds good to me!

Future plans for ONA include adding fuel Funny Cars, fuel altereds, junior fuelers, and A/fuel dragsters, basically anything on fuel with no doors. And who knows? Maybe even jets! Hit their Web site and check it out http://www.outlawnitro.com/.

The Heartland Hot Rod Reunion

I mentioned the independent Heartland Hot Rod Reunion above, a race to be held at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend Kansas, Sept. 24 and 25. This wild weekend is the baby of the one and only Sunny Wiersma. A tireless promoter of the nostalgia movement in the Midwest, she has taken on the task of putting together one heck of an event! Check out her Web site with all the latest on the race, a cool message board and some tales tall and not so tall as told by the legendary John Raven here: http://www.vintagenitro.org/.

Funny Car Reunion

Is it me, or does the grapevine seem quiet lately? All I ever hear about are nostalgia Funnies. Is everyone sick of hearing about nostalgia Funny Cars yet? No? Good, because you get to hear about my two favorite topics: nostalgia Funny Cars and me! First, the Funny Cars …

This summer there are two really cool races that any die-hard Funny fan should not miss. July 24-25, we have the 3rd Annual Funny Car Reunion held at Englishtown, New Jersey. There is a lot of hoopla surrounding this race with lots of old-school drivers coming out to frequent the legends tent. I also hear that the Winged Express will show up to do a few exhibition passes. They’ve got a Web site http://www.funnycarreunion.com/ which you need to check frequently because they keep adding more stuff to blow you away!