A FEW CHANGES OVER THE YEARS

After a long time gone from drag racing, I rekindled some friendships with some long lost friends from the 60's and 70's, and attended the Winternationals this year. We had a unique history with drag racing, having been raised at Lions in the early days. We saw it all happen and grow for around 15+ years, then went our separate ways. A few of us actually ran a few of the hot dog stands at Lions, basically so we could get in for free and make a few bucks for inhaling Nitro, and running our T/F gambling pools every weekend. Nearly two decades of Pomona, Bakersfield, Riverside, Carlsbad, OCR, Ontario, Irwindale for most of us, and even Fontana and San Gabriel for a few. We won't talk about the Tijuana strip - we never got past the strip joints after telling our parents we were going to the races, even there. Sixty-four car single day Top Fuel shows, 32 car was the norm at

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major events, balls out racing. Granted, the investment was more affordable, and a few average Joes could team up, assign the most brave (or stupid perhaps) to straddle the axle, and go racing. You get the picture -- go as fast as you can with what you got!

After many years away, imagine my misunderstanding what Super Gas competitors call racing, when I first saw a car launch wheels high at Pomona this year, then go into the orchestrated pull-down of RPM, then resume "racing" at a pre-determined pace controlled by a frigging computer box. What definition of Drag Racing did these dorks look up? Has not the epitome of the "drag racer" been that of one trying to make it from one end of the strip to the other as quickly as possible? What was once a sport that bordered on chaos and an attitude of "rebellion", is now not only corporate, but -- the NERDS are racing!! I have 575 C.I., 850 HP, and I have programmed in 6 new algorithms to have it launch for 16 feet, then idle at 3500 for 142 feet, then it's balls to the wall.

Anyone that ever dropped the clutch at 7,500 and speed shifted with the front wheels still in the air, is rolling over in their graves, let alone the brave axle riders of nitro burning status. This stuff should be, well, it should just not exist. While it may be racing in some form, it is not DRAG RACING. Have them read some old Drag News, or Drag Sport Illustrated etc., and maybe they will realize the error of their ways. As an aside, how can NHRA think that's entertainment?

I am more than willing to sign my name.

Sincerely,

Bob Runne

P.S. Super Gas sucks

IT'S ACES WITH HIM

Loved the innerview with ACE: I get the impression the NHRA thinks the SUN SHINES out of Prudhomme, K.Bernstein and FORCE but not on the same day. Last saw ACE in TOP FUEL at POMONA '94. Good to hear he is having fun again.

Rob MASON

(ANOTHER AUSSIE DRAG RACE FAN)

IS HE AFTER BURK'S JOB?

I'm both stunned appalled at the complete lack of flathead and Australian rules early Mazda Rotary racing coverage on DRO. Oh, and there should be much more carping and whining going on. Yeah.

Mike Bumbeck