SANCTIONING BODY DOESN'T MOVE TOO FAST

Just came upon an interesting FACT concerning NHRA's Seattle racing facility. Did you know that it has taken almost 7 years to address and correct the PROs complaint that the racing surface was indeed DANGEROUS and had to be resurfaced (Bazemore 1997). It has finally been accomplished with complete resurfacing, and will again become a first class facility.

This got me to thinking, that IF it takes 7 years to address an OBVIOUS safety issue, THEN how long will it take NHRA to address the CURRENT safety issues and institute CORRECTIVE measures. This ADOPTIVE attitude that NHRA is currently engrossed in

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has NO BUSINESS in hindering the outside help that has been offered recently by various safety oriented, concerned individuals and corporations.

PRO has become an OBVIOUS toothless tiger and is just paying HOMAGE to the NHRA dynasty, (dictatorship is more like it). If this continues, the INSURANCE companies WILL dictate the rules to NHRA, and that will be the beginning of the end for ORGANIZED drag racing.

Lest we forget that NHRA was formed to get drag racing OFF the street so LESS people will be KILLED, (think about it). The solution is for the common drag racing competitor or fan to e-mail NHRA, PRO, and the various TEAMS of their wishes and SOLUTIONS, and perhaps there is a common sense solution in the near future.

I am a devoted racer and fan, and it gives me NO pleasure to knock this sport, but maybe this could be the start of a NEW improved sport.

Nuff said.

Gene Wagner
Boca Raton, Fla

HAMMERING IT HOME

Jeff, I am a fairly new reader of the site having wandered here when "Nitronic" was put to sleep. I like your column, and after reading your comments today I can't help but wonder if anybody in Glendora ever takes the blinders off and looks around. I wish the Amato crew had been able to stick with development of the "new" body last year, I don't know if it would have made a difference in Darrell's accident, but it could have been a start to cutting back on those huge wings. With the stats I've seen on downforce, I still say the wings are equal to using a sledgehammer to drive a thumb tack!

Jerry Miles

THE REAL DEAL

Jok, I was at the pro am race at CFR last weekend talking to a few guys and it seems you might have struck a nerve. I can understand how going from a 7-sec ride to an 11-sec one could seem boring. But there are a few guys there at your home track that do run no box and do it in an 11-sec door car. As far as lower payouts, yes when you can't get out of first round there will be less money. When the real guys show up and not the street cars like in the fall series all of a sudden things get a little tougher don't they. So that's when some change their attitude and the others get going.

Kevin Cooklin