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MAKE IT SPECIAL

Subject: 50th US Nationals Just found your site and it is great. I wonder if you have any knowledge of the above event's schedule. I wrote to them last year suggesting they have a chance to do it right and differentiate on the track, i.e.: 32 car Top Fuel and Pro Stock; increased points and $$. They responded that these sounded interesting, but so far the only information I can find relates to the predictable and boring nostalgia/memorabilia/former champ type things.

I wonder if Mac Tools, who will be all over this as sponsor of the 50th Mac Tools US Nationals (wrong, it's the 50th alright, but your fourth or fifth) could be persuaded to pony up $$ to Eddie Hill, Shirley and others for a one-race comeback to increase the field.

Yours truly,

Lorne Brady,

North Bay, Ontario

Lorne, great minds think alike. I've editorialized about exactly the subject you mention in your letter on numerous occasions and voiced my opinion in person with the persons who make those decisions, to no avail. I'm convinced that NHRA's problem with increasing the fields is related strictly to finances. At this point with the extremely bad year they had in 2003 due to rainouts, etc., spending a lot of extra money to put on the Nationals isn't a realistic goal. I sure wish it were but as I've said many times here, "It's all about the Benjamins." -- Jeff Burk

SLICK CHICK

PLEASE keep the articles from Pammy Utterback coming.... they were f****ing hilarious. It was cool to see a different perspective on the drag racing scene.

Stephen Lamphier

MAYBE JOHN FORCE IN A THONG?

Susan Wade's attempt at getting any kind of press coverage reminds me of an incident that happened at my local track this past season. The track had been trying to get coverage of events in the local paper and so far had not received one line. An innocent bikini contest turned wild one night with tops flying off and bottoms being dropped. The manager turned off the mike and stopped the contest immediately. I ask later why and he said, "I was afraid I would be arrested." "Yeah," I replied "but you would have been front page on every paper and lead story on the 10:00 news. You can't buy that much publicity."

There is nothing wrong with bad publicity when you're getting none now!

Joe Keightley

THE GOOD OLD DAYS STILL CAN BE FOUND

Dale, as a 51-year-old, I can relate to a lot of what you said in your article. Sadly, all motorsports seems to have a built in death wish that is fueled by money. Even super successful NASCAR is not immune. There are no little guys left. Does a NASCAR Taurus resemble any Taurus you ever saw? Factories are seriously deranged if they think anyone buys a Cavalier because they saw a Pro Stock Cavalier, let alone a Funny Car.

Sport Compact racing hit the same slippery slope. When it first hit the scene, there were individuals in somewhat home built cars doing some amazing things with some unusual cars. When I first saw a picture of a Cavalier, backed by GM, with Summit on the side and John Lingenfelter (God rest his soul) running things, I smelled doom for the regular guy.

I bracket raced successfully for over 25 years. I won a lot with home-brewed machines with a minimal investment. They were consistent cars, I could cut a decent light and had a good understanding of the sport. That was enough. Now it takes a purpose-built multi-dollar car with thousands of dollars of electronics to stand a chance. Most of the guys I used to race with, who still continue, have motor homes, enclosed trailers with motorized pit vehicles. Age and money left me behind even in bracket racing.