THE FIRST (AND LAST) OF JULY

As dipped in drag racing chocolate as I am, the most memorable (or certainly one of the top three) July events for me occured last year at Pomona Raceway. As much as I shake my head at NHRA's underlying conservatism some times, their move to hold an all-nighttime national event at Pomona Raceway definitely was a step out of character, and a good one. The Pep Boys NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals held last July 5-7, was a decent show, and was something I secretly hoped would continue. Night-time racing and Southern California are as compatible as corrupt business practices and the Bush Administration. Nothing but nitro header flame and sparks from real Fourth of July sparklers. Like any other place, So. Cal was hot in July even at night, yet the Top Fuel cars ran as fast as Gary Scelzi's 4.55 and Andrew Cowin's 321.12, and Funny Car as quick as Whit Bazemore's 4.81 and Gary Densham's 319.07. The Pro Stocks were a bitter disappointment locked in the mid- to high 6.9s and low 7.0s, and clogging the lavatory facilties and beer lines with disgruntled fans.

Bazemore's 4.81 came alongside John Force's 4.85 in a qualifying heat that brought the house down, and whettede their appetite for more. I wish there was.

The way the NHRA tour is set up the Fourth of July the impossibly uncomfortable fanbake at St. Louis and the Mile-High Nationals at Denver two weeks later. That's genuinely tough shit because I think an annual "Crazy Eddie's Night of Thrills"-type Funny Car show along with a couple of super two-out-of-threes between some top-line NHRA Top Fuel dragster would be a real moneymaker.

Twenty years ago, it would've been no problem to do this. True, the Don Prudhommes, Dale Puldes, Tim Groses, and Tom McEwens were all back east match racing, but Southern California had more than their fair share of more locally-based cars and a few match racers to put on super match race shows. How many remember Orange County International Raceway's last year of operation and their annual "64 Funny Cars extravaganza" followed a week later by the "Son of 64 Funny Cars" gala. John Force, Tripp Shumake in Johnny Loper's Camaro, Johnny West, Mert Littlefield, Sherm Gunn, and touring pros Kenny Bernstein, Billy Meyer, Prudhomme, and Pulde filling in made up both weekends of competition. Hell, yes I'd go out and pay $25 to see a show like that.

I still think people would. Today, you could get local bangers like Greg Daebelliehn, Louis Sweet, and John Lindsay's piece, mix them in with California-based cars like a few of the Force floppers, one or both of Prudhomme's cars, Bruce Sarver, pay 'em a good match race wage and run them "Chicago-style." Everyone who shows up runs in round one, and the four quickest come back. In between rounds, a "King of California" match between Top Fuelers Larry Dixon Jr. and Cory McClenathan or Scelzi if he can latch onto a car. The California emphasis is mine because this is where I live, but the night-time match race could be revived here and elsewhere, and it would be a good thing.

For so many areas, the circus (NHRA or IHRA) comes to town just once a year: I can't believe that the fan base could be even more expanded-upon with a couple of match-race teasers. I know there's a beef in California with the Pomona neighbors, but a show like the above could be run in a fairly tight time frame. And besides, California's economy is getting a first-classed reaming. So, anything that makes a few bucks should be welcome in this state under seige.

For me, July is a month of hope, at least, when I think along these sordid lines.

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