DYAR CONSEQUENCES

This past weekend's Dragstock at Carolina Dragway was marred by one serious accident when Bryan Dyar's '53 Studebaker burned up during Friday night's test-and-tune session. The fire began about 300 feet out, according to Dyar's brother Barry, when the fuel nozzle for the number-two cylinder came off, the engine leaned out, and the burst panel let go. The car then struck the left guardwall just beyond the 1/8-mile finish line and bounced to a stop in the right shutdown lane.

Barry Dyar and several other witnesses complained the fire truck stationed near the start line at Carolina Dragway was slow to respond as its workers were outside the truck watching the race as the fire started. Track employee Wayne Dyal, who was stationed at the top end, was the first to reach the still-burning car and pulled Dyar to safety.

Apparently, Dyar couldn't see through the fire and smoke, so he raised his helmet visor and received third-degree burns to his face and forehead. He then became entangled in his seatbelts and window net before Dyal arrived to free him. Dyar's crew said he was taken to Doctors Hospital in nearby Augusta, GA, and released on Sunday afternoon.

Dragstock competitors Jason and Mitchell Scruggs, Scotty Cannon, and Mike Ashley (who originally sold the car to Dyar) pooled resources to buy Dyar a new body for his car, and Ashley crew member Mark Adkins donated the money he won in a drawing held at the event to Dyar.

The Agent joins Dyar in giving all these guys a heartfelt thank-you. (Ian Tocher photo)  [10-12-2004]

BERGENHOLTZ GETS TRACTION

Sport compact racer Ed Bergenholtz was out testing his Pro Front Wheel Drive Mazda at Irwindale Dragstrip getting ready for the Nitto NHRA Sport Compact World Final at Pomona on October 23-24. Bergenholtz liked what he saw with his new chassis set-up and a new MoTeC engine management system that utilizes traction control. As Ed said, "The car ran the best numbers ever, a 1.26 60-foot time, and without a slipper clutch like most of the other teams run!"

The Agent wants to point out that traction control is legal in the Pro Front Wheel Drive class. (Darr Hawthorne photo)  [10-12-2004]

DAVIS, TFRA GAIN SPEEDTECH SPONSOR

Ronnie Davis Racing and TFRA/TSRA have signed on new sponsor SpeedTech Nitrous and Shannon "Iceman" Jenkins. Davis will run SpeedTech Nitrous systems on his NHRA/IHRA TS Vette and Outlaw 10.5 Nova. Davis will be going for his 6th IHRA championship in 2005 and will continue to run all NHRA Div.2 Top Sportsman races and the Sports Nationals where TS are contested.

SpeedTech will also be a sponsor for the Top Sportsman Racing Association. [10-12-2004]