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NHRA TV COVERAGE IN CANADA
I'm relatively new to DRO, and it's great !! Nice to see names like
Raffa, Cook (who let him out of the asylum?) and Agent 1320 telling
it like it is.
In response to letter from J. Barnsley of Sask. I contacted TSN to
inquire about their possible broadcasting of NHRA racing, to which came
the reply, "we have no plans to broadcast NHRA racing at this time."
To our uninformed friends south of the border, TSN is the Canadian "equivalent"
of any of your sports cable networks, and due to regulatory conditions
ESPN is not available. If you have a "dish" you're in business, but
TSN would rather show dog trials, billiards, darts, ping-pong (all of
which I'm sure has it's niche market, and of course draws 10s of thousands
of viewers) and by their response to my inquiry leads me to believe
that perrier, beemers, and F1 rule. Funny thing is, a lot of their programming
is purchased from ESPN and other American sports networks!
Straight and Strong down the 1320
Jim Millard
Toronto, Canada
WELCOME TO IOWA, MR. LEEK
When I found out that Cedar Falls Raceway closed its season early last
year I was very disappointed. As a drag racing fan who grew up in Cedar
Falls I spent my years attending races every Sunday. When I read the
Ron Leek had purchased the track I was very excited. With his promotional
gifts he can help resurrect one of the great old tracks of this country.
How about it Ron, a 32 funny car meet again?!
Bob Baldwin
Norwalk, Iowa
WELL, AT LEAST WE GOT A LETTER FROM RAFFA
Subject: Densmore on IHRA sale Nobody could have done it better. You
got the facts straight, the perception 20/20, and the flavor mellow.
Thanks,
John Raffa
ANY FUNNY CARS IN ARIZONA?
Arizona is starting its own 6.90-7.50 (or as decided in the meeting)
index Funny Car Association. We have a potential 7-8 bookings in Arizona.
Anyone with a Funny Car interested in racing in Arizona, please contact
me.
Jim Maroney
jimm@engineeringresourcegroup.com
ANYBODY WANT A TURKISH PENPAL?
Hi I need your help. I'm looking for information, documents, etc. about
drag racing. What is drag racing, driver's thoughts, history of drag
racing. Where can I find them? If you can help me I'll be glad.
Thanks for all.
Eralp Hiçsönmez
Eralph@superonline.com
www.turkishracingclub.com
NHRA MISSED CHANCE FOR PRO MODS
Just finished watching the ESPN coverage of the Gators qualifying. Rain
out was a bummer. But instead of watching track drying equipment run
up and down the track and boring interviews, maybe, just maybe, they
could've given us a few minutes of Pro Mod. Oh, maybe this isn't the
race that they're being showcased. Unfriggin' believable.
John Pattison
Albuquerque
WHEW, WE'RE GLAD HE DIDN'T TELL US WHAT DRO
MIGHT STAND FOR
Do you know what IHRA really stands for? "Ignorant Hillbilly Racers
Association." Yes, like an old vapor from decades past, maybe the IHRA
is "just a suitcase full of money under a motel bed…somewhere." The
IHRA organization is bush league! Can you imagine Pro Mods pitted next
to Monster Trucks and Top Fool Tractor pullers?
Is it time to run the bushhog?
Great March issue!
Randy Waklins
from Bristol USA
DON'T FORGET THE ALKY CLASSES ARE THE FUTURE
I go to about 10 NHRA nationals a year. Getting to know a number of
racers and crew members in the process. The Pro Mod situation dominated
the talk at the Winter's. A number of FMD and FMFC owners, drivers,
etc. I talked to are VERY worried about the future of their classes!
As you know, NHRA has always considered sportsman racers expendable!
And if Pro Mod does become a Pro category, NHRA may as well scrap the
Alky classes! The only problem with that, however, is where are the
FUTURE nitro racers going to come from? NHRA has definitely opened a
can of worms on this one!
Joe
BUT AT LEAST JOK HAS BOTH OARS IN THE WATER
I think (Jok is) missing the boat on a couple of the (Spec Dragster)
rules.
- Footbrake racing sounds great, but the real reason everyone uses
a transbrake is that it is almost impossible to foot brake a dragster
with any kind of torque. They don't have any front brakes and the
brakes they do have are disks, which do not hold as well as drums.
A transbrake is inexpensive and would save money in the long run as
people were trying to put larger brakes, power brakes, etc. to keep
the car on the line.
- Two steps are also inexpensive. They serve a useful cost containment
function, i.e. if something lets go in the drivetrain they keep the
motor in one piece. Since it is insanity to run a drag car without
a rev limiter anyway, the electronics to rev limit the motor is already
there. The two step is usually just a relay to switch resistors and
cost about 45-60 dollars.
- Some of the engine rules are a phony cost saving. An example would
be no roller rockers. You can buy a good set for about $160 and in
a lower powered car they will last forever. I would suggest you take
a good look not only at the initial cost but the likely maintenance
costs. I run a 7.60/175 mph hard tail dragster (real men don't drive
4-links) and most of the stuff I have in the motor is put in first
and foremost to be reliable. You can get more reliability in a lower
powered car, but only to a point. Ask people running crate engines
how reliable they really are.
I think the idea for a spec dragster class is great, but in the enthusiasm
to cut costs, don't forget the real costs of running the car week in
and week out.
Ron Burke
MUST BE A FORD GUY…
Spec dragster…I love the idea. I would try this myself even
though I am a door car fan. What about front engined cars and altereds
using the same format? Which heads are going to be allowed? Iron or
aluminum? What are the short block rules? Flat top pistons or ?? Hope
this doesn't become an all CHEVY class.
Terry Bell
AMEN, BROTHER!
Jeff: "Who woulda ever thunk it" could very easily apply here if and
when we were to think about it. With the rapid demise of a lot of the
9.873 e-commerce sites in the last year, you have done great, my friend!
Keep preaching the gospel and all will be well.
Regards,
Camp Stanley
AW, GOSH, YOU'RE MAKING US BLUSH!
I just wanted to send you a note regarding the content of the magazine.
Jeff, I am truly happy for you and your staff with the quality of work
that is put together every month. I personally feel that the sport of
drag racing needs more people like yourself to present the race coverage
and quality insight your staff works so hard to produce.
Most of the average fans do not understand the tremendous effort it
takes to create this publication. All of the time spent taking photos,
doing the interviews, transcribing the interviews, writing stories,
editing the stories, making phone calls, etc. It takes a full-time effort,
24-7. I have seen the quality of this e-zine reach dynamic proportions
in a very short time. Mr. Burk, you and your staff deserve a huge amount
of congratulations for a job well done on providing the racing community
with a source of journalism that is truly outstanding.
Mike Aiello
Marketing Director,
www.competitionplus.com
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