ORLANDO SIGNS LONG-TERM LEASE

Orlando Speed World Dragway has been in continuous operation since 1966 and operated by Speed World Motorsports since mid-1987. A new lease agreement gives Speed World Motorsports, Inc. the rights to operate the drag strip at Orlando Speed World through December of 2015.

Speed World Motorsports President Carl Weisinger said, "We plan on continuing to offer the type of events that best serve the interest of those that choose drag racing as their performance related recreation and entertainment."

Orlando Speed World will continue their special event schedule with the 11th World Street Nationals on October 10-12. The special pre-event "International Drive Cruise to Race Rock" is set for Thursday evening, October 9. [9-8-2003]

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

Street racing has been around the Los Angeles area for years, but now in an effort to curb illegal street racing LAPD Chief William Bratton wants to do things a little differently with

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confiscated vehicles.

At an LAPD news conference the Chief said he would like to make an example of the owners of two Chevy Camaros bagged during a street racing sting operation over Labor Day weekend. That undercover operation put six street racers behind bars, so instead of selling the vehicles at auction, as the Chief put it, "I'd rather take these two cars down to a junkyard and crush them and have these two nitwits watch."

The Agent asks, how about getting the force of the LAPD behind an eighth-mile drag strip in the San Fernando Valley? That might be more effective than crushing the classic cars of 20-year-olds, as well as providing the outlet so many street racers seem to need. Can anyone say, "Community relations?" [9-8-2003]

CHRIS VANDERGRIFF CRASHES AT INDY

Rookie Top Fuel driver, Chris Vandergriff, crashed his Efans.com dragster during the fourth qualifying session at the rain-delayed U.S. Nationals. The front end lifted up about the 300-ft mark, then flipped over backwards and made hard contact with the wall.

"He took a pretty hard hit to the head," explained his older brother, Bob Vandergriff Jr. "The blowover was relatively soft, but the hit to the wall was a hard one.

"The good thing is that he will be okay," Vandergiff continued.

It was Chris Vandergriff's second of three planned race appearances in 2003. [9-8-2003]