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ON TARGET
Just read your latest installment (7/9/04)
on the state of affairs at NHRA and IHRA...bullseye...well
said!
Bob Mendenhall
Lakeside, CA
KEEP ELBOW ROOM
(Burk's) editorial of 7/9 makes some good points,
especially when it comes to the need for safer,
and more side-by-side racing. However, I do
not want to see drag racing rise to the level
of NASCAR, as far as attendance. Sure, the more
modern tracks like Joliet, Topeka, Ennis and
even Indy, could add more seats. But, at what
cost? Would the average fan have to give up
access to the pits? Pomona and Gainesville get
extremely crowded as it is. Adding just another
10,000 people to the mix would make a tough
situation even tougher. Where would you put
more fans at those tracks?
Even today, walking through the pits on eliminations
day is an exercise in patience, and courtesy
is becoming a rare commodity. The pushing and
shoving that goes on takes away a lot of the
enjoyment of the pit experience. If pit access
is ever restricted, or eliminated, that will
be the end of my attending drag races. I've
been going to drag races since 1966. Never once
have I been content to not buy a pit pass. The
pit pass, to me, is as essential as the admission
ticket itself. I don't want NHRA's drivers to
become like NASCAR's where the fans have access
only through a chain link fence. When I see
pictures of NASCAR drivers on one side of the
fence and people thrusting pictures and pens
toward the drivers through the fence, it reminds
me of feeding time at the monkey cages in a
zoo.
If NHRA reduces the size of the fields, as
you suggest, does that also mean a reduction
in ticket prices? For some reason, I think not.
To attract more fans, NHRA needs to concentrate
on increasing the competitiveness of the racing.
IÌm sick of seeing one car blow its tires off
while the other makes an all out charge. This
happens throughout eliminations. Often times,
you'll hear that the race track has become a
one-lane track. Why should an NHRA national
event track have only one good lane?
I enjoy seeing the spectacular numbers of today
and am afraid we have outrun safety technology
for the time being. But, we lost many more racers
when 230 was a big number than we have since
Kenny Bernstein blew past the 300 mph barrier.
Instead of making knee-jerk midseason changes,
NHRA needs to sit down with all the crew chiefs,
track owners, car builders, and safety manufacturers
to come up with a well thought out plan to bring
about more competitive racing, and most of all,
increase safety.
Sincerely,
Ted Kuburich
Springdale, Arkansas
LET'S THINK OF SOMETHING
After the tragedy at St. Louis, I sent you
a letter that you used, and I really appreciate
having my opinion heard. (don't we all.) I also
sent this letter to Tom Compton at NHRA, and
received No response, period.
All other forms of Professional racing have
taken giant steps in the safety of its drivers
and fans, and NHRA is in the back of the pack
on this one instead of being in the forefront.
I realize drag racing is a dangerous sport,
and as a drag racer I remember signing a liability
release when competing in NHRA, and IHRA. By
signing this release you are allowing NHRA to
AGAIN manipulate the bottom line of the CASH
COW.
If the rumors are correct, and a piece of the
chassis, wing strut, tire or engine entered
the drivers cockpit, then it IS the responsibility
of the PARTICIPANTS, NHRA, IHRA to seek out
the truth, publish the findings and FIND a SOLUTION.
Don't get me wrong here, but it seems to me
some of the other forms of racing (IRL, NASCAR,
etc) have witnessed these type of incidents,
(cockpit intrusion), and have taken IMMEDIATE
and CORRECTIVE steps to effectively address
an obvious danger.
NO other cars in ALL racing go as fast as the
Top Fuel classes, and a concerned effort should
be launched to ensure the safety of all concerned.
We have MANY brilliant people in drag racing,
and I am sure that some thought would be appreciated
by NHRA and IHRA, from these INNOVATORS (ASAP).
Don't let this boy's death be in vain.
A loyal follower.
Gene Wagner
Boca Raton, Florida
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