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8/9/04
DANGER IS OUR BUSINESS
I believe safety is important, but I also believe
that you don't need to have knee jerk reactions.
NHRA should have allowed input for years from
teams and chassis builders to help alleviate
this issues which maybe they have. But there
is something everyone must remember, these drivers
are test pilots. Gary Scezli said it best, "there
isn't one of us out here that thinks that when
we make a run it might be our last". People
die in slip, trip and fall accidents all the
time yet we continue to live and perform these
same tasks.
NHRA will mandate these changes like they did
in the early 90's when they first hit 300mph,
then the brilliant minds and techs of the teams
found ways to go 320. Now we are back again
where we were then.
Since the teams are such innovators I can't
believe that they shunned safety for speed.
All I know is that it was an unfortunate incident
that claimed a loved and devoted mans life,
yet he died doing what he loved.
I believe that if we knew the exact cause of
the crash it makes a fix that much easier which
I believe was from debris and shielding is the
answer along with tire issues, but we need not
reinvent the entire car if we correct the condition.
As with any form of racing there is risk, and
this is the adrenaline that drives the fan,
sport and drivers.
Oh well just my thoughts, to the family of
Darrell, my sincere condolences. He will be
missed. God Bless.
James Drew
LIKES THE MONO STRUT
I like Tim Gilbreth's suggestion (slowing down
the dragsters) for a mono strut, but have not
read much from other individuals about the possibility
of this occurring. I thought Garlits' mono strut
car was very cool, especially with the enclosed
canopy and all. Guess it
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is
time for drag racing to recall 'Big' for another
design innovation for the dragsters. But, I'm
not an engineer, so I don't know if Tim's suggestion
has any merit to it. Ok engineers, what do you
think? I know I don't need my t/f car to go
4.4s to get amped; I remember when Ivo and Prudhomme
jumped into the 7s and I thought that was outrageous.
I wish I could say that t/f racing is as exciting
as it used to be, but it just isn't. Qualifying
is a joke and the multi-car teams dominate the
landscape. I find alcohol dragster much more
exciting, especially in Division 7 where I live.
The alcohol guys are really cool and will spend
a lot of their time chit-chatting with you.
Shoot, Randy Johnson talked to me for a long
time and i learned a ton about his car and what
it takes to drive one. Well, that's a Lakewood
(CA) boy for you!!!
Thanks for a great mag to read (online) when
work is not getting it. Hope somebody can come-up
with some good ideas for saving t/f racing.
I think streamliners and aerodynamic cars would
be very cool even if not as fast.
Steve Justice
Pinole, CA
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