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10/8/03
Notes and news
from the Editor's cluttered desk
don't know about you but the top of the old Burkster's desk
could easily be confused for an EPA Super Fund site. Every
once in a while I just have to sit down and clean it up just
to make some room for my phone, laptop, and three-White Castle
burger/diet beer lunch and... well, you get the picture. Anyway
in the process of doing that I found a few notes, photos,
brochures and unanswered mail that needed to be thrown away,
answered or burned. I was also stuck for a subject for this
Burk's Blast so I decided to kill two birds with one stone
by not only cleaning up my desk but also using the contents
as the subject of this Blast.
PICKS AND PANS
The first thing I came across was a copy of a list I had sent to National Dragster editor Phil Burgess at his request with my prognostication for the POWERade points finish in the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock classes. The date on the page was February 6, 2003. For the sake of brevity and the fact my predictions were wrong as often as they were right, I'm just going to show my top five picks in each class.
Fuel Funny Car: 1. Tony Pedregon;
2. Whit Bazemore; 3. John Force; 4. Ron Capps; 5. Gary Densham.
Breakthrough long-shot pick: Scotty Cannon.
A funny thing about picking Tony Pedregon to win is that
after the third race of the season I went up to my long-time
buddy and crew chief for Tony Pedregon, John Medlin, shook
his hand and whispered to him, "I just want to be the first
to congratulate you on winning the World Championship."
He looked at me like I had just asked him if it would be
okay if Chris Martin started dating his daughter and he
muttered something like "What are you trying to do to me?"
I just knew it was going to happen, John.
Top Fuel: 1. Larry Dixon;
2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Doug Kalitta; 4. Doug Herbert; 5.
Cory McClenathan
Pro Stock: 1. Gene Wilson;
2. Jeg Coughlin Jr; 3. Warren Johnson; 4. Jim Yates; 5.
Kurt Johnson
I really showed my ignorance of the class here. I have just three words for my Pro Stock prognostications: Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
WHAT DID THEY KNOW AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT?
On my desk I came across a Sonny's Automotive flyer for
a 737 cubic inch big block nitrous motor. It reminded me
that the same day that we all got the news that IHRA had
increased the maximum cubic inch for nitrous oxide-injected
engines to 740, Sonny had an ad in National Dragster for
his 737 Pro Mod Nitrous motor. That wouldn't normally be
of any interest unless you happen to be in the advertising
business and know that Dragster ads have to be shipped to
that magazine a minimum of two weeks and a day before it
goes to press. Kind of makes you wonder if some of the IHRA
engine builders had some advance warning about the rules
change doesn't it?
Oh, and one more thing. You all know by now that as a racer I'm a hard core supercharger guy, but based on the performances late in the season by Rickie Smith, Mike Castellana, and others, if I were building a Pro Mod from scratch now I would seriously have to think about building a nitrous oxide-injected car instead of a blower car -- or maybe one of each.
GARLITS RETIRED AGAIN, AGAIN!
Found a note I had scribbled on a scrap of paper that I'd forgotten all about. Evidently Don Garlits has sent out a letter telling a few racers that his "Mono-strut" Top Fueler has been retired and put back on display in his Florida Museum and that all of his late model engine and driveline components are for sale. It is true that the car is illegal after the 2003 season, but it is known that "Big" told people that if he could get funding (sponsorship) for a new car he would like to race in 2004.
Either he didn't get the money or he got enough for a new car and new engine parts.
THE EXTREME RACING LEAGUE
Going through the piles on my desk I came across a prospectus for the Xtreme Racing League from something called RaceTec Marketing. After re-reading this prospectus for a "no rules" Pro Mod circuit, I have to wonder what these people were thinking, smoking or drinking when they sent this deal out.
They were asking for $150,000 for the title rights sponsorship of one of the proposed races. They were offering the prospective clients a television package on ESPN2 with 90,000,000 viewers, the best racers on the best tracks and a lot of benefits including free tickets, signage on all race cars, etc., etc. You get the picture, don't you? The only problem was that no racers names were given nor a list of tracks -- just a contact name and the $150,000 price tag to be a presenting sponsor for a race. Where do I send my money????
NOSTALGIA RACING
Came across a package sent to me by my friend "Berserko Bobby" Doerrer. It had a nice shirt and a press pass for the "Funny Car Reunion" that he promoted at E-Town for a couple of years (and is no longer associated with). There was also a note telling me that he was going to have another "Funny Car Reunion" next year only this time it would be in my backyard at Gateway International Raceway which is just across the Mississippi from downtown St. Louis. I'm sure there would be a lot of fans interested in paying bucks to see these cars if the Blue Max or the Chi-Town Hustler or even one of Gene Snow's old cars were involved or, better yet, if one of those guys showed to drive and race one of them, but what is the big attraction of these cars to fans who are going to see real 4.70/320-mph cars run at that track at NHRA's national event before this race happens?
I guess if they run the "can" (100 percent nitro), automatic trans, they run them hard and 16 cars show up I'll be interested, but only because I'll pay money to see anything that burns nitro. Even slow Fuel Funny Cars or Top Fuel cars.
CAR CRAFT ALL STAR TEAM
I opened a package that came with my old boss, Jim Adolph's, name and address on it. I thought perhaps it might be a check he forgot to give me while I was working for him and Dave Wallace during my time at Petersen Publishing. It wasn't, but it did contain something almost as good. It was an announcement that The Car Craft All-Star Team program was returning after a one-year hiatus. I'm going to give that program a blatant plug here. Drag Racing needs an All-Star program where we can recognize and praise the stars and genuine good guys in the sport. We need to do it during the season at our biggest race and the industry needs to support it no matter what. This one isn't about the Benjamin's; it's about the sport. Oh yeah, there are a few gratuitous self-serving awards given, but for the most part being recognized by the fans and peers through this program is the career highlight of many drag racers, manufacturers, and executives. It is also by the way to only program in drag racing that gives the crew chiefs, engine builders, chassis builders their proper recognition.
ONE LAST THING. . .
Starting with this November issue I'm going to start writing a couple of Burk's Blasts per month. I have a lot on my mind and I can't always get it done in one column. Besides, most serious print journalists write at least one column a week, if not more. Don't know if this is good news or bad, but I thought you might like to know anyway.
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