5/7/03

HERE'S HIS 2-CENTS WORTH

Here we Sportsman racers, the grassroots, the back bone of this great sports, do nothing but bitch and complain about the poor treatment we get at national events, the joke they call a purse, and the general attitude given by NHRA to us. But here is the question: why should they treat us any better? We still show up. They have to turn cars away from some events (like Indy). If I don't show up they have ten others waiting for my spot. I wasn't at Gainesville but I bet that the stands had spectators. We are not the show; we are filler and in that respect expendable. What do I say to that is to really have no one show up. I don't mean just us little guys; we need the sponsored sportsmen to do it too. But that can't happen because if you get 100 S/G cars to stay home, another 100 show up and we are still in the same boat. So quit complaining, it won't do any good. NHRA doesn't care. We are a dime a dozen. Nothing will ever change -- period.

Scott Inman

BURK'S GOT NO LEG TO STAND ON

I am surprised at you! The article on the Hemi, part 2 asks about a stick in Garlits' car. This was commonly known as a "clutch stick" or "third leg."

Those cars were direct drive, and had no slider clutch, so this made it easier to move the car around, or tow back to the pits. I have even seen clutch sticks with a leg off a fire suit, and a fire boot on the bottom end. I do hope Garlits' stick is disengaged as it will kill the clutch springs if left compressed too long.

From old timer drag racer,

Richard Burbick

SEEING RED

Your former Agent 1320 is falling short. I always tuned in to the Agent to find out what was going on in drag racing, but now there is no real news, just a repeat of uninteresting drivel. Get with it and while you are at it lose the red background. It is enough to make me do like Kid Rockless and lose my cookies. Get back to the old Agent 1320 and report the things that are not popular with the sanctioning bodies, not just the normal NHRA party line. You have become agent 1319: a foot short.

Paul Volk

YOU GOT THAT STRAIGHT!

Surely the term Drag Race implies two cars starting together, with some kind of system, i.e. flagman. A street race can occur at any time when two cars start to outpace one another, on a straight or winding road. A Drag Race is always on a straight course. If an accident occurred on a curved road it must be illegal NASCAR racing!

Malcolm Dyer

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

I just read (Dale Wilson's) drag racing/street racing story -- good story.

A question that comes to mind is how can drag racing be legal and illegal at the same time? Isn't that somewhat of a double standard? Is it safe to assume that we all live under double standards, but will not admit it?

I find it very disturbing that the AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) finds it "ok" to use the term "drag racing" as a cause of or as an association with car accidents/death/injury. I believe that there is a medical term used in reference to people who think that way. A few "local" terms come to mind as well.

Since drag racing is legal in some places and many people enjoy it, then we can safely say that drag racing is a good thing. If someone does the same thing on the streets, whether they hurt anyone or not, that is a bad thing according to local law enforcement agencies.

Since this type of drag racing is illegal, the AJC should at least make the distinction between legal and illegal drag racing.

Mike Pittman

BY THE NUMBERS

After reading Jeff's editorial on coming changes (maybe) in Pro Mod rules, I offer some thoughts. As a drag racing fan I thought the NHRA, IHRA, and whoever else matters (sponsors) should know these truths.

1. We fans like hot rods that look cool, have blowers, burn nitro, go fast and shake the ground.
2. We fans like hot rods that look cool, have blowers, and go fast, but not as much.
3. We fans like hot rods that look like our cars and go fast, but not as much as 1 and 2 above.
4. Apparently somebody likes to see motorcycles drag race but I haven't ever met such a person.
5. Every fan below the age of 25 is ga-ga about fast, foreign, four-cylinder cars.

When thinking about selling tickets, attracting sponsors and changing the rules these truths are or should be self-evident to the powers that be.

Richard Burk