SHORT AND TO THE POINT
I am in full support of the owners and drivers!!
Greg Fedak
(UAW member)
MISSING THE FUN
Why do the ticket prices at the races go
up and the attractions for the spectator's
go down at the same time? I realize
that the racers are the reason for the event.
They used to have Jet Cars and Wheel Standers
run after eliminations and they would be
on display in the pits for checking out the
cars and drivers during the event. They used
to run a few down the track between rounds,
which was great for the fans because some
would stay in the stands and watch and the
rest would check out the pits. If you ever
went to any race you know how the stands
empty as soon as Top Fuel is finished.
I love the sportsman categories with all
the different makes and models of vehicles
racing. Cutting the classes out of the event
is not good for the sport. If you have a
race car and race in the NHRA you should
be able to race at any NHRA race, I think.
Why not add another day for the extra cars?
The Safety Safari would not be necessary
at the same level that the faster cars require
and the travel time for the Pros will be
the same.
Another thing that gets to me is that you
can only buy souvenirs such as T shirts,
hats and other items from Pro teams only.
Like I said earlier, I like sportsman racers
and they are not allowed to sell their goodies
because the NHRA said they can not. Not fair
to the spectators who spend lots of loot
to be there, not for the NHRA but to see
RACERS AND THEIR CARS. Up at E-town this
year I could not buy a single item from anyone
and I went through the pits and asked people
in the pits from Pro Mod, Alcohol and Comp
and went back to our RV a little dejected.
I remember buying a T shirt that I still
have that says "Vinnie Barone bad to
the bone" and a sharp picture of his
Ford roadster but that was about fifteen
years ago. Every year I would buy some cool
stuff from the pits like the Chicken Chocker
dragster and also from the Pros and NHRA.
But now I only spend about half as much so
it offsets the ticket prices. Good job NHRA!
???
John Bassett
North East, MD
NO BALANCE OF POWER NOW
IMNHO, NHRA has been a very thoughtless
dictatorship for at least the past 30 years.
I doubt that Mr. Wally Parks intended for
NHRA to be an arrogant, self-serving, vindictive
organization for the exploitation of racers.
I'm sure Mr. Parks' intentions were far more
civilized and considerate!
Based on my participation in NHRA for close
to 15 years, NHRA goes out of its way to
quash any positive suggestions for change.
Bill France Sr. would be proud of the ruthless
acts perpetuated on racers by some of NHRA's
top brass and power hungry lieutenants...
If NHRA thinks it can continue down this
dead-end road, it's in for a big surprise.
Until NHRA's management treats all of the
racers with respect and values their participation,
there will be a major imbalance in power
and that will cost NHRA where it hurts, in
its pocket. NHRA and its National Event Tracks
generate healthy profits from all racers.
There simply is no reason for the thoughtless
dictatorship NHRA's management has created.
It's to the point now where the Pros could
take their show some place else with full
TV coverage and excellent spectator attendance.
If NHRA isn't smart enough to see the hand
writing on the wall then they deserve what
they get.
Randy Hubbard
ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA
Action Required:
Recommendation: Chow down!
Agent 1320: Thanks for pointing out another
advantage of electronic media ... "Instant
crow"!
Your correction of the story concerning
Scott Palmer's sponsorship was as timely
as it was amusing! :)
Billy Baer
EIGHTH-MILE DRAGS
I read (Ian Tocher's) article about 1/8
mile drags. I was interested in what you
said about T/F and F/C running on the 1/8
mile. You mentioned that this would slow
the cars down and be safer because of it.
I agree that seeing a 3-flat ET (or maybe
2.9 or whatever) would be too much for the
fans - you wouldn't be able to see what's
going on before the race is over. It's kinda
like that now with 4-second ET's. Anyhoo,
if it did come to pass that fuelers would
run on the 1/8 mile, I can guarantee you
that it would not be long before someone
would run 300 in the 1/8 mile. I've been
going to the drags for many years. I remember
that it wasn't that long ago when Don Garlits
broke the 270 barrier in the 1/4 mile. What
is a good 1/8 mile run today in T/F? About
278, right? Even with 85%, it's over 270.
Go back to 98% nitro and how long do you
think it would take to go 300 in the 1/8
mile? Just gear the car for the 1/8 mile,
and I bet it wouldn't be long!!
Like yourself I feel 1/8 mile would diminish
the Pro show to a point I wouldn't be interested
anymore. But how about 1,000 feet? I'm serious.
It would be a happy medium. As you stated
it would address current safety issues. It
would allow the Fuel cars to race what ever
setup they want (nitro, blower overdrive,
wing angle, etc.), bring back the "cackle" and
reduce all the policing. It will reduce the
cost per run which might bring back
the non-corporate racer, increasing field
size. Besides MPH on the board what does
the average fan at the track get out the
race after the cars are past the 1,000-ft
mark?
Cliff Morgan
Phoenix, AZ
