VIEW FROM THE SPORTSMAN
PITS
So if the PRO classes don't really rely
on the prize money, what's the big issue
here? As a sportsman racer that attends as
many races as I can AFFORD, I grow tired
of listening to the whining of the PROS.
I realize that they are the ones that fill
the stands and what the paying public comes
to see. I realize safety is an issue here
and if so they should police it themselves;
they need to quit swinging for the fence
every pass and concentrate more on getting
from point A to point B without leaving half
of the motor, clutch, oil, etc. on the track.
At a recent race I attended I had the misfortune
of following some of FAST CARS and geez.
When I went to leave the starting line the
car spun the tires and moved right 5 inches
before it even went forward because the guy
in front of me had a loose oil line and sprayed
oil everywhere. It cost me a race. But in
NHRA's eyes it doesn't matter because we
don't fill the seats we are just FILLER between
the FAST CARS.
I spend MY money to maintain my car, get
my car to the races and my money for entry
fees; if I go to a race and I'm not comfortable
with something going on the track or with
my car I load it up and take it home. It's
a safety issue, so if the fuel cars don't
like what's going on then they either slow
themselves down or leave the car at home
in the trailer.
Thanks,
Mike Musgrove
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, DOES IT?
We keep hearing about big ass settlements
or big payouts to the Pro Stock Truck
owners, but why would NHRA settle a case
like this without any kind of trial? A
dragstrip like IRP? No way, never. NHRA
has another 15 months before the case is
even heard before the Judge, what do they
have to lose to wait it out? They also
have appeals to drag out a decision that
goes against NHRA, if it does.
Is everybody so tight lipped so nobody has
a comment from owners or NHRA, can't anyone
set the record straight, the rumors are getting
boring.
Tom Conifer
P.S: Keep up the heat
TOP FUEL V. FUNNY CAR = ONE WINNER
I think I have a solution that would please
everybody. Let there be a winner in Top Fuel
and Fuel Funny Car .... and then have the
winners race against each other in a Grand
Final. To equalize the two classes, institute
a handicap start, with the handicap time
determined by the difference between the
top qualifying times of the two classes.
It's simple and equitable.
I also would suggest that instead of Top
Fuel being the last elimination category
to run at an national race, perhaps Pro Stock
or Pro Mod (16-car field) would be the last
to run, thus giving time for the Top Fuel
winner to prepare for the Grand Final, and
also this would maintain program continuity.
What do you think?
Howard Urtick,
Montreal, Canada
P.S. I'm still pissed off that the NHRA
Grand National Molson race at Sannair was
cancelled back in the early 90's, but that's
another story.
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Thanks for taking the time to write about
the Nostalgia Funny Cars. I really like the
pictures. There are a couple of corrections
to your story. I own the Chi-Town Hustler
funny car. It is a VRA legal funny car & I
was there for display, but decided to make
license passes only, since there were nitro
drivers that could sign application. The
article says Eric Martin, (no relation) instead
of Troy Martin owner of Chi-town. Eric owns
the Wildfire Outlaw Funny car. My name is
Troy Martin & will run VRA trim with
the Chi-Town. This was the first time the
Chi-Town had been fired & seen the track.
Sorry we had problems, but the help & experience
we received was priceless. We are testing
this weekend (many more) & will be working
on BIG Smokey burnouts & fire out the
pipes. Thanks again for your time & hopefully
next time you see use we can put on the show.
Thanks.
Troy Martin
Chi-Town Hustler
