8/12/04

SIGN LANGUAGE

In regards to the comments about scoreboards I would like to add the following. Why don't they put the RT up there for all the fans to see? It is very important and I have never seen a track that shows it.

Why don't they have a scroll LED sign that sits beside the wall on the outside of the concrete barrier lining the track facing the stands? It would work the same way as the boards at Houston and Chicago so fans would know who is racing when the PA can not be heard. It could also show results for the people like me (51 years old) who can not see the boards at the end of the track.

Gatornationals attendee who was so disappointed this year with the racing and qualifying that I may not go back in 2005. I have been 32 years in a row by the way.

Dave Schopp

SOME QUESTIONS & SOME ANSWERS

What's with NHRA and Graham Light? Top fuel, enclosed cockpits such as Garlits mandatory. Either go to the mono wing or smaller rear wings. Top fuel & funny car 70% nitro. Go back to single mags, single fuel pumps, possibly a smaller slick size, revert back to two-speed trannies. Pro Stock - mountain motors! Promote the drivers why don't ya? 32-car fields at E-town, Indy and pick two other locals.

What happened to Dale Pulde being bounced is a damn shame! I guess that's why no one was around to talk about it from NHRA after realized they screwed up?

Anyone have an idea to help IHRA other than 32-car Pro Mod fields?

I went to E-town after a 7-year absence -- prior to that I went 18 years straight plus other venues across the country. While I had a blast this year, seemed more entertaining 'back then.'

Bill Miller
Midland Park, NJ

WONDER WHY?

I read your thing about nitro; why not have a pro nitro racer association? Have like 5 classes: nitro coupe, nitro bikes, front engine nitro dragsters, injection nitro dragsters and funny cars. That would be a good show.

Also, I love your just wondering column. Why not have one every month?

Eric Street

RACERS SHOULD SUPPORT LOCAL TRACKS

Jok: How about the .03% local racers that bitch all of the time. They say are the "stars of the show" in a heads up program... they bitch about how POOR the track is prepped but ran .10 quicker last week-end. Bitch about the one lane track, WEEK after week BUT NEVER go to any other track's heads up programs. The car is 500 plus ci in No. 2 motor with power-glide -- in a 15-year-old tube chassis with ladder bars and 10.5W tires and has NEVER went straight down the track while other cars seem to get down the same lane with no problems. They bitch about the pay-out, but the track has been paying them about $200-$400 per race date in runner-up mode.

Another local racer won about $500 racing a NHRA national event last year driving over $1,500 miles round trip, 4 days off, motel for three days, $200 plus entry but...will NOT support a track 15 miles from his house to race for a $600.00 winners purse and a $40.00 entry. This AFTER he won $1,000 from this track one week before and one week AFTER the national event.

Another racer bitched on the internet about the NEW track surface being slick at Tulsa, other racers answered their cars were ok, could it be the racer's car? The racer came back that maybe the 200 runs on the slicks MAYBE had something to do with the "slick" track.

Question is...does the .03% always expect national event level prepped tracks, flat smooth, large pay-outs and low entry fee?

Jackie Winton