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Big Fun at Big’s Bash
3/21/06
Nattering nabobs of negativism. Former president Richard Nixon’s embattled VP, Spiro Agnew, used that term to describe the journalists that hounded the corrupt politician before his resignation. Based upon a few of the letters I get after I’ve been critical of someone or something, apparently a lot of you think I’m one of those nabobs; that I’m just a curmudgeon that doesn’t enjoy or like anything connected to NHRA drag racing. Well that simply isn’t the case. For example, take my recent attendance at the Don Garlits International Hall of Fame induction ceremonies where, I must tell you, I had big fun.
Just because we printed a series of articles that reviewed the accomplishments of some racers in the Hall of Fame and questioned why some other racers haven’t yet made the HOF, some people decided I don’t respect the HOF itself -- a completely wrong assumption on their part. If I didn’t think the Hall of Fame was a very important part of drag racing, I wouldn’t have bothered to do a four-part series on it in the magazine. . .but that’s another story.
So, when Hall of Fame photographer and my peer Jim Kelly wrote to tell me that Jon Asher was going into the Hall and asked if I would like to sit at his table at the function, I jumped at the chance. Now Jon and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on everything, and over the years we’ve been pretty serious rivals, but his credentials for induction into the Hall are unassailable.
As soon as I arrived at the resort where the ceremonies were held, the first people I saw in the parking lot were Rahn Tobler and his wife Shirley Muldowney. Shirley was being inducted and I could tell as soon as I began talking to her that this was an emotional time for her. Shirley Muldowney has earned her reputation as a tough-minded, talented, and outspoken World Champion driver, but it was obvious that night she was touched to be honored and recognized by her peers. It was a side of Shirley not often seen and that alone made attending the event worth the trip.
Inside the reception room the crowd was a living history book of drag racing. Tom McEwen sat against one wall holding court. Chris Karamesines stood in the middle of the crowd with a scotch in his hand and a big grin on his face, surrounded by his peers and fans. Since it was the cocktail hour (or more), I worked my way through the crowd to the bar. Along the way I saw Steve Reyes, Tommy Ivo, Dale Funk, Jim Dunn, and many other faces I recognized but didn’t know well.
I stood at the bar and shared a jar with a couple of guys known as the “Technicoat Cowboys.” Their company is involved with all of the Kallitta cars. I don’t know their real names but I promise once you’ve spent a little time at a bar with those two gentlemen you won’t forget them. Those two gents with the cowboy hats know how to brighten up a party.
We all knew that the cocktail hour was over and it was time to get to the main hall when another HOF photographer and pal, Steve Reyes, started heading toward the dining hall. Reyes stands head and shoulders above most people and as he headed to the room it reminded me of a heavyweight fight with the champ moving through the crowd like an ocean liner. The crowd parted in front of Reyes’s entourage and reformed as he passed through.
I saw the father and son team of John and Eric Medlen. Eric was in a suit and I asked the former bull rider why he was wearing a conventional suit instead of formal cowboy attire. He answered, “Ever since that movie (Brokeback Mountain) I’ve been a little careful about what I wear.” I looked down at my own dress jeans and cowboy boots and winced.
The NHRA president Tom Compton and his buddy Jerry Archambeault were there too. Tom was very relaxed and was working the room like a pro.
Once inside I found my table and saw that my tablemates included Jon Asher, Tommy Ivo, Tony Shefler, Jeff Tinsley, and my and Asher’s old boss from our days at Petersen Publishing, Jim Adolph. Adolph and I sat together and shared a few more social drinks. We talked about drag racing past and present with Ivo, Tony Sheffler (who once raced a Warren Johnson Pro Stocker at the U.S. Nationals in Pro Gas) and those around us at other tables. We were all having a great time. Some might say too good of a time. (Sorry, Mr. Asher, I meant no harm.)
The induction speeches were poignant, many times hilarious and, for the most part, mercifully short. Who knew “Big Jim” Dunn had a suit and is a very funny guy. Arnie Beswick, Steve Gibbs, Shirley Muldowney, and the rest of the inductees were all entertaining. Jon Asher devoted his time to speaking about the necessity for freedom of press and honest reporting. Well said, Jon.
After the festivities I, along with Jim Adolph, Dave Densmore, Dale “the heartthrob of drag racing” Funk, Chris Karamesines, Donna Garlits (Big's daughter), and many others through the course of the evening, retired to the bar. I have to tell you that bench racing and swapping lies with that group was about as much fun as I’ve had in many years. I laughed ‘till I was crying.
The next day I thought about the previous evening and realized more than ever that it’s the people that really have kept me in this sport for over 40 years. The racing is important (damn important) and we do have our differences, but in the end it is the genuine affection for each other and the sport that drag racers share that keeps me coming to the drags. And, for that matter, back to the Hall of Fame ceremonies next year -- because this year I had a really, really good time. 
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