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I think the actions of NHRA to the fuel classes are going to make racers mad, but if they think about it, it will save them big bucks. It seems the fuel racers are like Lemmings, if the last winner had one, "I have to have one, even if it blows the ass end off my car every pass." These guys and gals will spend themselves and their sponsors into the poor house to have the latest and greatest, and the sponsors are tired of it. The fuel classes are very inefficient and wasteful. Having said this, I love the fuel classes dearly. It just boggles the mind to see them continuously hopping up the engines when the traction is so marginal at most tracks. I think that is why some of the IHRA guys have good showing on NHRA marginal tracks; the NHRA guys are always set for kill on the super tracks, whereas the IHRA guys know how to adjust for varying track conditions. Love your webzine, but can you put a date on each column when it is updated? I would appreciate this. Thanks, Dick Burbick
The Webmaster has been duly notified. —Ed.
Jeff, I totally agree with your views on the NHRA nitro class changes. Prior to the rule changes everyone was screaming for "something" to be done. Then when the NHRA does "something," practically everyone cries; the end is near for nitro racing! Worst of all is the fact that apparently none of the "nay-sayers" can read. The NHRA press release said this was a "first step" not the only step. The 90 percent rule is a good first step towards a controlled cylinder pressure format such as the "fixed blower O.D. coupled with lowered static compress." As both Dale Armstrong and Ron Armstrong have stated to me, cylinder pressure is the big killer problem. I totally agree. The IHRA on the other hand, must be working in a "dictatorial" vacuum. Why they would adopt the fixed blower O.D. (overdrive) rule without doing something on the compression side makes no sense. Most of the teams will now be forced to buy higher static compression pistons to make up for the lost blower O.D. which will results in a much higher probability of detonation. Len Imbrogno
Jeff Burk, "Burk’s Blast, It’s About Time" is the best work I have seen in a long time. Jeff shows good character, judgment, and compassion for the sport and everyone involved. Thank you. Tom Lukans
Thanks, Tom. I like to keep in touch with my compassionate, "feminine" side and not be too "negative." My mother is very proud of my good character; although my wife considers me just more of a character. — Ed.
YOU LIKE US Hey guys! You asked us to drop ya a line as to how you are doing. Well, I like it. I have been a drag racing fan for over 30 years and seen a lot of publications and you are doing all the right things. I just wish you updated more than once a month cuz I have to wait what seems to be a long time in between. Great photos, articles and I like the columns the best I think. Keep up the good work!!! Alan Davidson
I really enjoyed the refreshing, professional, non self-serving coverage on your site of the sport that has been my life since 1954. My first visit was an enjoyable experience and it is forever bookmarked on my computer. Hats off to all of you who put your time and effort into this noble and entertaining site. For those of us who "paid our dues and retired from active involvement in drag racing" it’s a great way to keep up with what is really going on in the sport. You’ve put together a great collection of respected and insightful observers of the sport (and industry). Best wishes, Tod Mack
Guys, I was out doing that last minute "Mosh Through the Malls" to finish my Xmas shopping and couldn’t resist grabbing an issue of the latest Drag Racer Magazine. While flipping through the back pages I did a double take of this picture of Chris Martin doing his best Blow Fish imitation, which lead to my finding this site on the net. Your list of contributing editors reads like a Who’s Who of the best names to ever grace the pages of a drag rag, all wrapped up in an unabashed format! Thanks for the best evening of entertainment I’ve had in a while. I’ll be back…with some friends! Dave Tuttle California Chassis Engineering
Who says advertising is a waste of money. Guess now McEwen is going to want us to sign that advertising contract. A tip of the hat to Kay at Autographix for the eye-catching ad design.
Hey Guys, You have put together a really great webpage/magazine (e-zine?). Anyway, I hope you can keep this going for a long time. The articles are first rate and the Department writers really got this stuff down! The feature on John Force (InnerView) is really what the fans/racers enjoy reading more than the ND sano-massaged stuff. Best of Luck to you all in the coming year. Regards, Dave Atchley
Great material, great depth of talent here! Seems that you guys tell it like it is. I respect that. In this day and age speaking one’s mind is, well…not seen or heard too often. Steve Rocho
SHUMAKE MEMORY Chris Martin, Great article on Tripp Shumake. Tripp was one of my all-time favorite nitro FC drivers. I lived in Pennsylvania as a kid and saw him at the Summernationals one year attempting to make the show. Must have been 1979. Was a tough year for Loper. Blew up lots of parts that year and Tripp was there with an ugly Mustang body. He didn’t make the show but it was just great to see him there putting forth the effort. I called Tripp up on the phone one day. He didn’t know who I was and we chatted on the phone for over an hour about drag racing and what goes on behind the scenes. He was a genuinely unique person. I was looking through a 1977 U.S. Nationals yearbook printed by an unknown printer and it had Tripp Shumake behind the wheel of the Power’s Steel Camaro. He had qualified for the show. Just thought I’d mention that. If I can mention one thing that I find distracting on the site it would be the "What’s New on DRO" window that pops up. I don’t like it. I read each and every article that’s up on the site and I don’t need a reminder to find out what’s new. Perhaps it would be better to come up once when I open up the site, but it comes up over and over after I close it and open up another article. Pat Welsh Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The Webmaster has been duly notified. —Ed
RIGHT ON, PAUL WRIGHT. MORE SPORTSMAN COVERAGE To Paul Wright in your December issue I say here here. Couldn’t agree with him more. I too am a sportsman racer tired of watching the Safety Safari do their fine job. It’s to the point now that I spend my time at national events in the staging lanes or in the stands watching the sportsman racers. And when the pros come up I go back to the trailer to take a nap (as you can guess I spend a lot of time napping at national events). I get tired of watching 2 cars run and then spend the next half hour doing cleanup. I paid for and watched every minute of the Atlanta race that they sold on pay for view a few years ago and enjoyed the sportsman stuff much more than the pros. In my opinion they ought to offer more coverage of the sportsman stuff other than just the final rounds. Enough of my whining. You guys are doing great. About time somebody had the balls to voice an opposing view. Thanks, Mike Musgrove
We like to think that it doesn’t take balls, Mike, it just takes brains and professional journalists. —Ed.
BRACKET RACING AND STUFF Enjoy your site immensely. Am new to your site; wondering if you cover any of the big bracket races and some associated issues (i.e. down track times, computers, etc.)? They are apparently illegal but lots of rumors that they are out there. Also like to see coverage of Moroso’s big New Year’s event. I’m an active bracket racer in the Cincinnati, OH area in a 440-powered "71 Duster that runs high 10’s in good air. Keep up the good work. Stu Carey
Great minds think alike, Stu. We have just enlisted that famous racer and promoter, Jok Nicholson, to write a bracket racing column for us. He is busily scribbling and we will post the new column as soon as we get it. As for Moroso, check out "Millennium Mania" in our Race Coverage section this issue.
DRO REACHES THE WHOLE WORLD, QUICKLY I am writing this from "abroad" and you wanted to hear from me, so you do. I think DRO is on par or better than the best printed mags which, after viewing the list of contributors, is not really a surprise. Please keep up the good work. Being online saves the time delay caused by a printed mag being sent to Sweden. Best regards, Torsten Dahl
This message is winging its way to you from across the pond. I like your magazine and have enjoyed the articles. In Europe, drag racing is a very small minority sport so most fans also follow the NHRA and IHRA to some extent. In the past I have subscribed to both sanctioning bodies’ magazines, but given that they are shipped via sea, they always were between four and six weeks out of date. I like being able to keep up with the national events and the gossip, but miss some of the technical articles that ND used to run. I would like to see some in-depth articles about fuel and Pro Stock motors (stuff like stories about the 5 disk clutches, Rodeck blocks, computer read-outs, etc.) I used to like WJ monthly in ND. You may have already seen a site called Eurodragster. If you have not then check it out at www.eurodragster.com. The stories here are more like notice boards and updated daily. I think that an E magazine should follow this format. I find that I prefer to read new articles as they are added rather than having many dropped on me at one time. This format allows the site more hits since people will check back more often to see what’s been added. I am glad to see that you have avoided going down the race report route, of this car beat that car then got beat by another car. There are other places to find this out. I subscribed to ND eight years (Must get round to chucking some out) and it got to the point that the only parts of the race results I read was the elimination ladder and the "Notes" section. I have attended races all over Europe and without a doubt Sweden is the best country in Europe for racing. Check out www.dragracing.se. My favorite classes in Europe are: 1) Top Fuel Dragster Yours in Nitro, Robert Cook
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RE:
NEW NHRA RULES
Some
of you seem to like the pop-up "What's New..." box.
Others of you do not like it at all. Here's the trick, folks,
leave the box open and minimize it using the button indicated in the
picture at right. As long as you leave the box alone it will not
keep popping up. Think of it as an annoying little chihuahua -
if you make it go away it will only come back, but if you let it sit
under your chair it will eventually shut up. Okay, my analogy
is a little stretched but look at the people I have to work with.....
- Your Webmaster