Naturally, we came to find out they were "holding" about 50 nice flat spots for the alcohol dragster and Funny Cars. That is OK but only about 24 teams showed up. Like always these events create a lot of stress for me, and it always seems to be centered around parking. I think from now on I am going to drive right by everyone and go find a spot I like and sit it down there. Why in the world a track like this is not forced to accommodate the 400 or so sportsman racers with better parking is still beyond me. It seems like they didn't even know the event was coming until the day before!

The race itself was run very smooth, except for the new blacktop problem that partially due to record hot weather (98 degrees Saturday!). Seems the track forgot the race was scheduled and the blacktop was so fresh it was beginning to come apart in the heat. That caused a cancellation of the third time trial session for sportsman racers. It still amazes me how all the racers take something like that so calmly. Myself, as a former track owner, can't stand things like that. The track owners have known for a year this event is coming and that they will make a ton of money, yet it seems something like this is a common occurrence. We finally went a few rounds in the Super Comp class and lost to a friend and Midwest legend; "The General Ron Folk," when he pounded me with a .001 light and a great job at the stripe.

Next it was back to my daily job as an auto damage appraiser for American Family Insurance Co. We had a busy month as the next event was the 50th Annual World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova Dragway Park in Illinois. We watched one of the last remaining "old style shows" still alive in drag racing. Scott and Laura Gardner booked in every conceivable racing "act" they could find. From fuel altereds to Nostalgia Jr. Fuel and Top Fuel to eight jet cars, alcohol dragsters and alcohol Funny Cars and Pro Modifeds as well as two Nitro Funny Cars and two of the biggest name Top Fuelers in the history of the sport, Shirley Muldowney and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. The run of the weekend had to be Shirley laying a 4.68 at 314.00 on Big in the final round. It was a great show and bracket race with the largest crowd in World Series history. Congrats to the Cordova crew and especially Scott and Laura Gardner on a terrific show.

After a couple days of work it was off to Eddyville Raceway Park for a two-day big bucks bracket race. It is always the most well prepared track I race on; Gary and Jodi Shearer had everything in tip-top shape. It was the first real competition for the "Back to Basics" Vega and it ran well, but I was still adapting to the bottom bulb and took a loss first round when my .568 was no match for my opponents .507 start. (I thought these bottom bulb racers would be a little "easier" on an old guy like me!!) Andy did pretty well in the "Project 4-Link" dragster, losing a close one to the "Legend" Lane Dicken.

We were actually going to take a week off but the lure of a rescheduled National Open and a NHRA Division 5 Lucas Oil Series event only 70 miles away was too much for me. I loaded up the motorhome again (I think Barb is ready to wring my neck by now) and go to Tri-State Raceway for four more days. I am writing this as I make time trials so I don't know the results yet, but the weather is the best of the year as far as temperatures go. After a summer of 95 degree days and 65-80% humidity it feels like fall with temperatures in the upper 70's and humidity near 40%.

"Project 4-Link" is running great and I actually made my first seven second pass on Thursday in a Top Comp race. The Indy 540 Bracket Master engine is just cruising along and all that is missing is some luck during eliminations.

I know a lot of you guys who read this race every week in everything from brackets to import races to street drags to NHRA and IHRA divisional and national events. In ending this column I think the one thing that keeps coming up at these events when I sit around and talk to other racers is the lack of courtesy from the track officials. Maybe they are just stressed out or underpaid but as you know it can easily cost half a paycheck to enter one of these races and a little common courtesy would go a long way on keeping their customers happy.

Here is one observation I need some answers for: I am still amazed at the amount of cars that show up at NHRA Divisional races. I have enclosed a photo of the pit area at the event I am sitting at right now. Looks like about 600 racers are here. The payout is weak when compared to entry fees collected and yet I never see many of these cars at any big bucks bracket race in the Midwest. Anyone know why that is? The cars are immaculately prepared and would be a contender at any event. The tow rigs are capable of coast-to-coast runs. Is it the search for National Dragster glory, the deep urge to earn a Wally or the atmosphere of a large picnic with some racing mixed in that is the biggest lure? I don't have the answer but I know I enjoy bracket racing a lot as well as the national and divisional races. I am pretty sure that next year we will focus on IHRA Top Dragster and Hot Rod on the Division 5 level and hit as many bracket races as we can. The lack of going rounds in bracket racing has hurt my driving at the nationals and divisional races due to less seat time this year. That will change in 2004.

I hope you can relate to the month of racing we have enjoyed. It is a lot of work and we are either dedicated or NUTS to do this. Maybe I don't want to know the answer to that one!!

Have a great month and I know a lot of you are waiting to attend an E.T. finals in your area. Good luck if you are racing and remember to enjoy life one day at a time and try not to take things too seriously.

nicholson@dragracingonline.com