(ALMOST) REMEMBERING PETE ROBINSON
Terry Cook made a "blooper." Pete R. died at the 1971 Winternationals, not the '73 race.

Thom Bockelman

Yeah, and he won Indy in 1961 not 1963. We've slapped Terry in the head a couple of times to clear the cobwebs (or whatever), so he should be straight on his facts in the future. Heck, he even thought this was 2003! -Editor

ON NHRA TV COVERAGE: THUMBS DOWN
I think Jim Martin needs another column or two on the NHRA TV coverage. The coverage (of the Winternationals) was about the worse I've seen and this includes the early IHRA shows last year. Marty Reid doesn't know the difference between drag racing and drag queen. I give Cruz a pass for awhile since he is new to broadcasting. There is, however, no excuse for Reid to be so unprepared. I never thought he was very good doing off road truck races on ESPN, but he is really out of his element when doing drag races. If he shows up on the next telecast he must be related to Wally Parks.

Ron Burke

Jim?

ON NHRA TV COVERAGE: THUMBS UP
Just wanted to say this has to be the best group of announcers for NHRA for their tv show in ages and that comes from someone who thinks almost everything NHRA does sucks.

Tony Galo

CROWD COUNT DOWN
Regarding the kudos to NHRA on Pomona crowds…the Sunday show was much less attended than the Saturday show. Even the Saturday show had many empty seats. I think it was less attended than last Fall's finals.

I am from Colorado and see as many races as I can. While I am sure happy to get to see the opener, I am disappointed that they cannot draw the crowds that other, less populated, venues can.

Just a clarification from my observations.

Thanx,
John Sheldon

WE WANT YOU HERE EVERY DAY, FRANK
I haven't visited your site in a while, guess I should have. It's the best unbiased good reporting all sides considered site I have found. Reminds me a lot of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated in its heyday. Keep up the good work.

Frank Parks Neil and Parks Racing Ent. Inc.

SHOW ME THE MONEY, NHRA
Love your e-rag! When you compare the NHRA to NASCAR, the most obvious difference is what they pay the racers. In NASCAR one can finish 32nd and collect $10K. The top runners collect tens of thousands on a bad day. In NASCAR they pay the racers. In NHRA they pay the corporate spin machine. NHRA will "never" become an autocultural icon until they pay the grass roots guys.

For example, what's up with the alcohol classes? These are the nursery grounds of future PRO racers. NHRA pays the winner 5K for a national event win? That's an insult to the guys who spend countless hours and dollars just dreaming of competition at this level. Even middle of the pack NASCAR Busch racers can earn more than that on an average weekend.

NHRA, wake up and smell the nitro! No racers, no show!

Respectfully submitted,

Randy Watkins,
NHRA member Bristol, Tenn.

Get ready Webster. Randy, you're setting some new dictionary precedence here. We hate the term "e-zine" because it brings up images of dot-com failures, amateur writing, chat rooms and unsigned character assassinations, but since all DRO staffers come from working on print magazines, we proudly accept your calling us an "e-rag." We must admit that "autocultural icon" has us puzzled, but it's growing on us. However, Randy, we LOVE the "respectfully submitted." We'll take all the respect we can get.

WELL, AT LEAST HE SIGNED HIS NAME
Subj: Densmore (idiot) The sentence at the bottom of the latest Densmore manure pile says it all! He works for John Force. (who I do respect and admire) Drag racing is about the cars or at least it is to those of us who participate. It is not about entertaining the couch potatoes, corporate America, or providing a living for Densmore, Asher, Burk, or Martin. My unique position as a participant as well as some business connections, continually expose these peoples inept ability to get the news correct and/or tell the truth. But then again, how do they say? Those that can't, write.

Perhaps you all need to read the excellent book HIGH PERFORMANCE and get Dave's head out of his ass!!!

Steve Sullivan
Stock Eliminator
West Chester, Ohio

Because of your "anal" fixation and seemingly dyspeptic disposition, Steve, we think that more bran in your diet might help you feel better.

SPEC DRAGSTER: WHO KILLED THE IDEA 2 YEARS AGO?
How about the "Spec Dragster" that NHRA announced 2 years ago? It's a coincidence that I found the rules the other day in a pile of papers that I had printed off of their web page. After looking through them, I threw them away in disgust!

I remember going through the parts books to figure the cost of an engine to put in my dragster. It sure looked like a good way to get into Comp racing without a $30,000 motor. Unfortunately, the guys with the $30,000 motors killed the idea before the NHRA could even answer my e-mail about the class. (They never answered, can you imagine that!)

I would love to see it, I would probably race in it, but I don't think its wings are big enough to fly.

Thanks for listening,

Jeff Grebe
St. Louis, Mo.

SPEC DRAGSTER: WHY CAN'T WE WORK TOGETHER?
Finally, someone that is siding with the new guy. Now I'm not new to drag racing, I've been going since I was eight weeks old. My dad runs a '73 Nova SS in Super Street and Super Pro. Now I have driven it a few times and I have also raced a season in another guy's Super Comp dragster. I want my own car. I'm now 23 and have a daughter that when she gets older she will want a junior. I feel we need a good entry level dragster class.

Take a friend of mine. He has a Honda Accord with tons of work, turbo, N2O, and it runs high 10's. He wants a dragster, but the outlay to set it up is now prohibitive. He has slowly put the Honda together and progressed with his skill.

Last, why can't we get track owners, sanctioning bodies, and racers together, create this class and help expand this great sport?

Scott Inman
Noblesville, Ind.

MEMORIES OF DAVE SCHULTZ
We lost a great racer, innovator and competitor in Dave Schultz. We also lost a guy who called a couple of nobodies back when they were looking for a dragbike chassis and spent far more time on the phone than we deserved.

He will be missed. My sympathy to his family and friends.

Jim Barnsley
Saskatoon, Canada

BIG BUCK EVENTS OR SMALL LOCAL PROGRAMS…YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH
Jok wrote: "… The biggest news in my opinion is the unprecedented growth of big bucks bracket racing…"

Absolutely true, I'm not sure you could really call it "news"

Jok also wrote: "…Local drag strips will have to do their homework to stay profitable. A lot of track owners have found street racers to be their newest crowd and moneymaker. Special events are filling track schedules. Events like Ford Weekends and rock concerts are taking the place of regular bracket races because they are more profitable. What can we bracket racers do? In one sentence I can give you my opinion of what we can do: "Support your local track!" It is that simple. If you don't race there, why not go out and help a beginning racer or just hang out. You might actually enjoy it after putting up with NHRA/IHRA point's races and National events. I guarantee you the small tracks are important to our sport and they will appreciate your support…"

Um, you sort of have two opposite forces working there. The huge growth of big bucks events vs. the survival of small local programs. As it turns out, we can't have both. Large groups of competitors are flocking to big buck events, whenever and wherever they are held. The local track is then in the position of either trying to "keep up with the Joneses" with big purse events of their own, or looking at alternatives to brackets entirely. Hence, small tracks are indeed leaning toward test and tune and other non-bracket activities. In my book, this is a bleak situation. One that I'm afraid is going to eventually escalate to the point that many smaller tracks go solely to test and tune weekends or outright close up shop. Shame. It's been a damn cheap, fun, and clean hobby.

Take care,
Tom Worthington

LITTLE TRACKS ARE IN DANGER
I am writing this email in response because (Jok) said some things that hit close to home. I am a beginner bracket racer. I have a F/E nostalgia dragster that my son, friends and I built. We will race at the MO-KAN drag way in Asbury, MO.

MO-KAN has been open since the 60's and has been host to some of the bigger names in drag racing that got their start in the 60's. MO-KAN has been open every year since it started. It is well known and is run by some very good-hearted people. I agree that bracket racing is the backbone of the sport. We need the local level tracks to remain open to shape future NHRA/IHRA drivers and teams.

MO-KAN is in danger of being shut down by one man. I am worried that the small tracks across the country are in danger of falling victim to the same fate as MO-KAN. A man from Springfield, MO area owns land surrounding the MO-KAN track and has filed a lawsuit to shut the track down. The man does not have a full time residence on the land; he visits his property on the weekends. He is using the "system" to get what he wants and has a ton of money to do it. His plan is to run the track owners out of money to force the track to close. In my opinion, he will get what he wants if MO-KAN does not receive some outside help.

I am hopeful that you would consider writing an article about the track. Tell people about the history of the track and what the future might bring if we don't help fight this battle. This might help spark someone to join in and help in some way, we can't afford the death of small tracks in this country.

Thank you for you time,
Guy Nuzum

SMALLER IS BETTER
Excellent article on bracket racing. I totally agree with you. I have watched the sport progress over the years. When I was little only the pro teams had enclosed trailers, now it seems 50% of the racers have very expensive trailers. It costs so much to be even competitive in bracket racing. I went to a national event in Topeka this past fall. I hadn't been to one in five years and I couldn't believe how much it had changed. I won't go back to another one.

Donny Peak

CROOKEDHEADS?
I just read Chris Martin's TV piece and would like to add my two cents worth. The biggest problem with NHRA's TV package is the lack of LIVE coverage! Years ago before computers, I used to sit by the TV and watch the drag races to find out who won. Now with the tape delayed broadcasts, I already know who won before the race is shown. So now I just have the TV on, watch what I want to see and not have to deal with the endless commercials, sponsor plugs and gas burners. Do you think NASCAR would sign a TV package of their races were tape delayed? No, only the crookedheads in Glendora would do that. Way to go Tom.

Berserko Bob Doerrer

P.S. Blatant plug here: Jungle Jim fans should go to "Berserko Bob remembers Jungle Jim" at www.70sfunnycars.com and see some rare photos from my collection.

HEY, HOW ABOUT US?
In response to the recent death of Mr. Steve Collison, I do agree that his writing will be missed but there are writers out there with somewhat the same style. Neil Van Opre and Tony Defeo to name a couple. These writers always have something to write that peaks my interest. I wish there were more guys out there writing like these two.

When an article is written in a way that is simple and easy to understand, there is a very honest style about it. Every word makes you want to read more. I don't know what it takes to write like the few I mentioned but we need more of it, it can only lead to the growth of drag racing and drag racing journalism.

Sincerely,
Wayne Roatche

IN DEFENSE OF JOURNALISTS
Thanx for defending the drag racing publications, in particular those of Becky White and Todd Silvey. Becky does an outstanding job for a niche market, and covers the bracket scene well. Todd is a champion of the sportsman scene in general, and both he and Laurie do their best to get all sides of any controversial issue. This I know from personal experience.

John Potts

FIFTIES? …OH NO,WE'RE OLD AS DIRT, TOO!
I sure hope ESPN doesn't read the Martin Chronicles. Last year on TNN there was no second round Pro Stock coverage, and as far as they could tell, there are no alcohol cars at all. Back in the olden days when American Sports Cavalcade actually covered real drag racing, there was always the Pro show, with nitro and Pro Stock, then the next week there was often a sportsman show with the two alcohol classes and something else- I used to love it when they would show competition eliminator-you got to see real racing with cool cars. David Nickens got coverage-Rick Santos got coverage-Pat Austin got coverage. The guys running fuel are old as dirt, or run for old guys who used to race back in the fiftys. And if a little TV will help some new young faces get enough attention and sponsorship to move up it can do nothing but improve the sport.

Having said that, I like your site. (What is the cyber word for rag?)

Jim Barnsley
Saskatoon, Canada- Where it seems we may need an illegal satellite dish to even watch NHRA racing this year. No ESPN up here and I have seen nothing about TSN picking it up. Check that out for us Canucks, please.

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