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7/9/04

Jeff, A great column! I wanted to fire this off to you as something that has stuck in my mind for a number of years. I remember reading this in an interview with Leo Mehl when he was retiring from Goodyear back in the mid-90's. The interviewer asked Leo what has been the biggest challenge of his career; and his reply was so surprising - that's why it lasted with me.

Out of all the years he had been involved in motorsports, his toughest challenge has been trying to develop a top fuel tire that would withstand the forces exerted going 300 miles per hour.

That alone should speak volumes that these guys have been outpacing the engineering of the parts that make the sum vehicle, the facilities, etc., for some time.

Jeff, I used to work at the NHRA (7+ years in the marketing dept.). And I sat in the board room once while there was a brainstorming session about how to grow and promote the sport. And one of the points I tried to stress vigorously...and this was almost 8 years ago now...is that we (the NHRA) needed to think how we were going to package, present, and promote this sport when the cars have gone as fast as they possibly can...that we couldn't live forever on promoting "record breaking performances", etc. But instead, what is this sport going to be when fast becomes fast enough. That it needed to be about exciting and Close competition...not (at the time) sub-4.7 second runs at 315.

And this isn't just a drag racing issue, look around - all motorsports are having to deal with the issue of speed.

I think I was looked at as being a pessimist or a Chicken Little, but I think that time has come. I prefer to think that I was being a realist.

Thanks again for all your great work.

Best regards,

Mitch Cooper

Plain and simple -- if you want to slow these things down, take away 1 magneto. The Russells are VERY good friends of mine and the racing community CANNOT let something like this go unchallenged.

Your column just started to touch on the problem. Thanks for listening.

Denny Hummel

I rarely agree with (Burk), but I value all opinions, and believe that you can learn as much or more from someone with whom you disagree than a yes-man. That being said, sometimes you say things that make 100% sense to me, and your article on T/F and F/C is one of the times where I could not agree more. I hope something is done to help, and I hope is it done immediately, if not sooner.

Tim McCain

Jeff, Please have the comment removed from Susan's story which states some members of the crew "defected". They did not defect and this comment is just hurtful to them. I can tell you this was NOT the case. Those guys were friends to Darrell also.

Thanks.

Steve Metzger

Jeff, You should be NHRA president. I am not kidding.

I really enjoyed Top Fuel and Funny Car when they were going 260. I thought 300 was crazy.

I hope NHRA wakes up. I think you should call for a drivers boycott of the Nitro Classes.

Thanks

Scott Grant

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Jeff, I can understand your displeasure of certain internet message boards. I too have a problem with some things that are said at some of them as well. That is why we strive to maintain an atmosphere of respectful debate and discourse on our site over any number of subjects. We don't lend credence to the "Bash and Trash" genre that has taken over the majority of internet message board sites. I know you have no love or respect for internet message boards. We have gotten into it a time or two in the past on just this subject. But there are sites out there that are respectful and responsible and deserve to be noted as such, and not lumped into the rest of the garbage that litters the internet. You say a driver made a serious charge against Hadman and his chassis. You should be specific as to which site and which driver has made these accusations, and not lump all sites together. We have busted our collective humps in the last two and a half years to provide an atmosphere that is good for all involved. I enjoy your ezine, although I don't always agree with you. We even send our members here via the links page to read up on your ezine. I would appreciate it in the future if you would extend us the same respect as we extend to you in the future by not lumping us in with the rest of the internet rabble.

Mark King
Webmaster
DeepStage.net

Jeff, To those that believe a shorter track is the answer, trust me on this, you will not like a 1000-foot track. I have raced on a 1000 ft track. Many moons ago a local track went to that format due to a short shutdown area and there was nothing more confusing to racers and fans alike. Try telling someone with pride in your voice what your ET was on a 1000 ft. Talk about an incredulous, confused look. It just does not compute or relate to anything else we inherently know or understand.

While I cringe at the idea of back pedaling TF, I have to wonder how many NASCAR drivers would not be with us today if it were not for restrictor plate racing at the big tracks. If it is deemed necessary to implement "restrictor plate" racing for TF, so be it.

All safety rules that have been handed down over the years have always been a retroactive thing because "Who Knew?" I say let's not dog NHRA totally about not taking care of business, at least in this case. Within a day or two they have already implemented a couple of, hopefully, helpful measures.

Have a safe race.

Dave Koehler

Dan Horan just might be the smartest guy on the planet. Take 200 feet away from these cars. There is no reason that justifies them going 330 mph when it results in someone dying. What's next 350...400? This has turned into insanity. Back in the early fifties 1320 feet was an acceptable distance to race but that's all changed now. I remember some college math professor saying that 150 mph was the absolute maximum speed a car could achieve in a quarter mile. Boy was he wrong!

It's time for a major change in this sport, NHRA and IHRA need to step up and do the right thing. Even the crew chiefs agree, 330 is just too fast! Like Larry Dixon said, "I'm just the guy that gets shot out of a cannon." Problem is, the catch net is way too small, one little mistake and you're dead.

Run them 1020 feet.

Bob Mendenhall

Dan Horan's suggestion to shorten the distance to the finish line is nothing new.

Someone needs to go back a decade or more ago when NHRA Division 4 Director Dale Ham made the same recommendation due to increasing top speeds.

If memory serves, he was tarred and feathered by many for such a suggestion.

Wayne Darlington

Jeff, great editorial about "Putting Safety First." I agree 100% (and I am old enough to remember the 1st 200mph run) This was an avoidable tragedy that NHRA should have seen coming. Keep up the good work.

Jack Issi

Jeff, Nice piece. Says it all..........

Garry Fish

Dear Jeff, I do not totally agree with you, both classes may be going to fast.

I think we need open competition as far as companies producing tires. Let's give Firestone the opportunity to build fuel tires again. Look at other types of auto racing, every time Goodyear had a competitor, Goodyear ended up leaving that series. If NHRA really cares they would at least ask Firestone, Hoosier, Mickey Thompson if they they could or even want to enter the fuel ranks. Remember Goodyear always insists that they lose money producing fuel tires. How much do they really spend on new R & D?

I am not blaming them at all, but I bet Firestone would be willing to spend big bucks.

Short term, 1000' for fuel cars only, but the track can only be sprayed to 900'. Why? Because now if you shut down a car at 1000' tires they sometimes still have areas pulled off, ask around.

If Goodyear cries, let them leave; someone will fill the void.

David Miller

Jeff, In short, I would like to see the 40-inch "Monster Mo" get tested.

"Monster Mo" is the internal name for the big tire you saw at PRI some years ago. At the same time we can increase the front tire diameter to keep the chassis level as it is now (we don't have to build all new cars). Currently we use the same tire as a super comp car.(front) Most of the Top Fuel teams are going through lots of fronts. I have a woman friend of mine that took a hell of a ride in Montreal because of a front tire failure. So I say we change 'em both. Goodyear has a large investment in the big tire and I think we should move in that direction. You don't see little bitty tires on Land Speed cars do you?

Well I could go on forever or until we change them. See ya at the track.

Mike Kloeber