Off Season?

1/7/05

Jeff Burk Photo

Hey! Happy New Year, oh devoted reader of nostalgia racing happenings. On one of those (okay, two of those) message boards, I asked if there was anything that the teams in this little racing world of ours wanted everyone in the universe to know. And I got responses. Lots of ‘em. Tons. So, if you don’t see your team mentioned in this month’s column, it’s not because I don’t love you (and it’s not even a snub because you said you missed Gaynor and me on our Speed Scene radio debut because you had to “wash your hair”), it’s because I ran out of room. Don’t fret none now, racers, because we will pick this up next month.

And so in no particular class order (actually it’s in the order I received the info) here’s what’s new.
After spending a couple of years running CIFCA and coming away with a championship at the wheel of Dave Smith and Chris Kelly’s alky funny, one of Getting Nostalgic’s buddies, Adam Sorokin, is continuing his driving gig with John Blanchard and the notorious pedal clutch equipped AA/FD in 2005. They hope to run 14 to 16 races this year, including all Goodguys and NHRA reunions plus some match race dates. Adam says Blanchard got off his wallet (well, he didn’t put it quite that way) and has lots of fresh, top-notch parts. Adam also added that he likes everyone on the team and hopes his chick magnet status fully matures now that he’s driving a fueler. Hey, it worked for me! Ha ha!

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Next up is another great bunch of folks that we consider good friends, yes, even that Wes guy. That’s right, I’m talking about the Flamed Fortune nostalgia funny car of Bob Godfrey and Wes Close. They have sold the Corvette and have a new-to-them Pluegar chassis, a new KB Olds with Alan Johnson heads and a new body from Jeff Gaynor’s fiberglass factory. They say the new car will be 180 pounds lighter and the team will still be receiving help from Lucas oil, Ray Stangle’s equipment service and Mickey Thompson tires and wheels. Also up for thanks is Doug and Ryan Weir.

Justin Grant, that tireless promoter of all things nostalgia funny car, is getting his alky drinking '71 Mach 1 Mustang painted. He also writes that he hopes to test a little before the Funny Car Reunion IV and is looking for match race dates within 500 miles of Indianapolis… Hey! Wait a second I missed this part, he has a new driver. HER name is Bridget Baker, SHE is the Executive Director of Information Technology at some big government contractor. He adds that she brings much determination, management skills and looks to the team. Bitchin! He also concludes, what would I rather look at, a fat ugly guy or a beautiful brunette? Is this a test?

Jim Murphy, the four-time Goodguys-VRA top fuel champion will be back in 2005, OSH- less. He’s returning to a paint scheme reminiscent of one of his old funny cars, and the team is making a few small changes to the combination in hopes of finding an advantage to try for an unprecedented fifth championship.

Take me back to Tulsa, boys! David Pace, the shoe for Schramm Racing’s Tulsa-based AA/FD sent this update: they have the same Boulton chassis as last year but new heads by Mastodon and a new rear end setup. Also new is a rule that Gaynor also subscribes to, minimum 95 percent in the tank. John Dearmore is the nitro guru they bribe for help and Pace will be making runs partially blindfolded, in a rear motor (sissy) A/FD over the winter to stay in shape. He also adds that the Schramms will be out robbing banks and rolling old ladies for their social security checks to keep racing. Hey, it works for us. They hope to attend all the ONA races as well as the Heartland Hot Rod reunion and the Bowling Green NHRA reunion.