IHRA DROPS T/F HARLEY

In a move that is bound to disappoint many of IHRA's Top Fuel Harley fans, the much rumored demise of the class was made official recently by IHRA majordomo Bill Bader. After the Harley Davidson Screamin' Eagle division decided to take their sponsorship of the class from IHRA to NHRA, the IHRA management team tried to find another sponsor for the class -- evidently without success. Although IHRA dropped the class for this season they left the door open for bring the class back should a sponsor step up. In the meantime the hardcore Harley fans will have to go to the All Harley drags or to three selected NHRA events to see those six-second, 200-mph crotch rockets. [1-27-2003]

HINES SITTING OUT THIS SEASON

Citing the lack of sponsorship funds, three-time NHRA Pro Stock Bike champion Matt Hines has announced that he will not race during the 2003 season.

"The contract with our former sponsor ended prematurely and we have not been able to secure a sponsor that we feel comfortable with yet," Hines said.

Hines will concentrate his efforts on the Vance & Hines Motorsports collaboration with Harley-Davidson to field the first Harley-backed PSB in NHRA competition. The team failed to qualify for eliminations in seven attempts last year.

"It's a big challenge for us and I think it will help me in the long run. This is going to help me look at tuning the bike in a different aspect. At this point I really want to focus on the Harley program and when the time is right, I will go back to racing." He added, "This is definitely not the end of my racing career." (DRO file photo by Jeff Burk) [1-27-2003]

DARLINGTON DRAGWAY GETTING BERSERKO

ADVERTISEMENT

Veteran drag racing personality "Berserko" Bob Doerrer has been named Promotions Manager of Darlington International Dragway.

Doerrer has had stints at the tracks in Englishtown and Atco, New Jersey and is the co-promoter of the annual Funny Car Reunion. He also spent a year on the road with Doug Herbert's Snap-On Top Fuel team and still puts together Herbert's "RaceDay" Open House/Car Show held at his shop in Cherryville, NC.

"Bob is the perfect addition to the Darlington International Dragway staff," said General Manager Larry Hensley. The Agent agrees. [1-27-2003]

SAFETY SEMINAR AT PONTIAC PRO STOCK MEET

GM Racing Safety Manager Tom Gideon will conduct a safety seminar in the NHRA tower at Houston Raceway Park on Friday, January 31, beginning at 9 a.m. All professional racers regardless of manufacturer affiliation are invited to attend. The GM Racing safety seminar is being held in conjunction with this weekend's Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl. Gideon will also be available after the safety seminar to answer questions and will visit the pit area for any one-on-one car inspections.

Safety features to be discussed during the seminar will include the HANS device, six-point safety harness, roll-bar cage, fire-suppression systems and fresh-air systems.

"At General Motors we never stop thinking about safety," said Gideon. "It's our No. 1 concern. Our job is to do everything we can to make the driver safe, the cars safe and to the extent that we can, the spectator safe. It's a never-ending process, something we're constantly working on and we hope to lead by example." [1-27-2003]

NEXT PAGE >>