MICKEY THOMPSON PRO SPORTS BIKE

This class was yet another heads-up, no breakout class that was slightly reminiscent of the old Pro Street classes for door cars. No wheelie bars, DOT tires, working lights, 60-inch wheelbase maximum, and the bikes had to complete a 10-mile road course to compete. These bikes were way cool.

John Flood qualified on the pole with a blistering 8.108/178.45 lap and then ran a second round 8.132/176.56 to get the record. He couldn't carry that performance to the winner's circle, however, losing to Chip Ellis in the semi-finals. Ellis in turn lost a very close final round with a 8.234 to Mike Slowe who didn't live up to his last name by turning in winning time of 8.204 at 178.54 mph.

This class had 26 entries and was one of the few where this reporter actually saw bikes going into tire shake off of the starting line. If really fast street bikes are what blows your dress up, then this class is for you. But it isn't for the faint of heart. These bikes are felony fast.

WORLD FASTEST STREET BIKES

There were only six of these bad boys but what showed up were bad fast. Barrie Henson towed up -- or maybe he drove with these guys, who knows - - from Davie, Florida. He set the record during eliminations with a 7.662/190.03 blast on his 2000 Honda Blackbird. He overcame a tenth of second holeshot by Mooresville, NC's David Stewart in the final who ran a respectable 7.87 in losing.

BRACKETS/ QUICK EIGHT RESULTS

Former Rockingham track champ Alan Fields from nearby Climax, NC won the 5.60 index heads-up class, coming from the number 19 qualifying spot on his Kawasaki for the win. Another back to front winner was Robert Hunnicut, who came for the eighth spot in the quick-eight for his win. Tyrone Perry won the bracket Nitrous Express Pro ET class and Erick Norton was the dragbike.com Street ET winner.

CONCLUSION

I have to admit that I'm not a hard-core bike fan. Show me a nitro Harley or nitro-burning Top Fuel bike and I'm there, but I have to admit that I really like the racing I saw at this event. Anyone who isn't impressed with motorcycles that can run in the sevens and eights without a wheelie bar just doesn't like fast machinery. These are serious, hard- core racers riding serious, hard-core racing machinery.

And what can I say about the Fat Man class? I'm one and I dig the class. I'll be coming back to see some of the action of this eight-race series that runs at Rockingham and Maryland International Dragways. It is definitely worth the price of a ticket.

And one more thing. You guys are going to have to make a little room in the "betting box" for the Burkster and Uncle Buck next year.