Sorry, I couldn't
resist. Got to have some fun!!
Don Richerson
Somerset, Kentucky
Excellent, Don. You've got our "different
perspective" perfectly. But how did you
know where Martin hangs out?
REMEMBERING FORDS. . .KINDA
I just read your Ford article, and found
it good, but I remember a vehicle called
the "Bronco Buster", it had an aluminum
frame, and a nitro small block Ford, (289
I think).
The owner-driver was a guy that later started
building transmissions with the overrunning
sprag like a Liberty. At the moment I cannot
remember his name, but that vehicle impressed
me!
Richard Burbick
STOTT'S RECORD NEEDS AN
ASTERISK
I just got done reading an article about
the first 5-second run for a "doorslammer"
car. While reading it, I thought, cool a
doorslammer has hit the 5's. Then I went
on to read further and discovered that if
the run was done at an NHRA-sponsored race
it wouldn't have been allowed because he
was 250 lbs light. When this run goes into
the record books I believe that an asterisk
should be placed next to the drivers name,
and have an explanation at the bottom of
the page. They compared this run to Tommy
Howes first doorslammer in the 6's. He ran
a Datsun (Nissan) 300ZX bodied car with
an alcohol funny car engine in it, but it
was a legal car/engine combination.
Just my opinion.
Russ Hoffman
Russ, just of the record, I was at
Darlington and had something to do with
organizing the race for the fives. We never
claimed that the pass was a record, just
that it was the first door car in the fives.
NHRA doesn't keep records for Pro Modified
other than in Competiton Eliminator, which
has rules that are different from the IHRA/NHRA
legal Pro Mods. So the records for the class
as far as we are concerned those recorded
and backed up within the required one percent
at either an IHRA otr NHRA event. So, Mitch
was first in the fives but his won't be
the first official five, although, like
Kuhlmann's 200-mph pass which was run with
a Top Sportsman car, it will probably be
accepted as the first Pro Mod five-second
pass. Also, I don't know what other magazine
you were reading but the NHRA tech department
weighed Mitch's car after the pass and it
was 170 lbs under the 2700-lb legal minimum.
--Jeff Burk
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO
KNOW
Just what boiled to the top in Denver between
T. Pedregon and Bazemore again? All we heard
on TV was... "there was a very vocal exchange."
Was Whit upset with Tony for slacking in
stage beams again? I can't tell who's lacking
more professionalism, Tony for screwing
around (and he knows it), or Whit for venting
his frustrations publicly (too often).
Don and John need to reel their boys in
and get back to racing. Tony, if it bothers
Whit, don't jerk his chain. Whit, if it
bothers you, there are much more subtle
ways to handle it. I'm sure your crew can
tune around a six-second delay in a run.
Make his arse wait a few times.
Ohhh, the drama of it all.
Michael Richter
WHERE ARE THOSE MRE'S,
SARGE?
I recently watched the T.V. coverage of
the Sat. Seattle race and was shocked when
they showed The Army boys and their seafood
stockpile. It struck me as a class-less
thing when there are hundreds of Army Reservists
that are taking a huge pay cut to serve
and Don Schumacher spends tons of Army money
to feed his crew and cronies. Scallops as
big as your fist and two-foot long crab
legs was the way they were described on
T.V. How about the spouses and the children
of the troops trying to figure out where
the money for school clothes and supplies
are coming from?
If the Army really thinks this money will
help recruit is one thing, but to use it
for this extravagance is appalling. I know
he has his own money and it could be said
he paid for this out if his own pocket but
the message it sends is a bad one. This
is not the way to become a hero, Sarge.
Unless you're one of the ones who was invited
to eat.
Joe Keightley
Glenwood, Iowa
