SAFETY OR RIP-OFF?

Are the sanctioning bodies worried about safety or money? I don't think it's fair to have to replace perfectly good and safe equipment. For example if I have a 70's vintage car I can show up at the strip with 30-35 year old belts and race all day but put in a 5-point harness and get ready to shell out money every 2 years if you use it or not just because the date code has run out. I would be happy with let's say 5 years with a yearly inspection.

Who is in bed with whom? Is it possible for the sanctioning bodies to be getting kick-backs from the manufacturers? How about it, let's get this changed. For a low budget Sportsman footbraker it hurts.

Thanks and let's get to work.

Derick Morgan

SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Just wondering if the NHRA has ever released the REASON and the CIRCUMSTANCES attributing to the death of Darrell Russell?

ADVERTISEMENT

Also wondering if the teams now have a carbon fibre tub installed to protect the driver in case of a mishap?

Even though this was a tragic and possibly avoidable accident, I hope that some new developments have been achieved and have been put into place.

Some good has come from NASCAR regarding safety after Dale Earnhardt was killed, (mandatory use of HANS device), and if I remember correctly immediate investigation and consequent advances in safety equipment has been mandated after EVERY untimely death at NASCAR.(soft walls, onboard fire systems, fire suits and boots, etc).

If NHRA ever hopes to be in the same league as NASCAR, maybe they should be more open in their findings and more open to suggestions, and corporate help.

The American public has a right to know what happened and what is being done about it, don't you think?

Just a thought, I DON'T THINK SO, CONCERNED and DISENCHANTED would be more appropriate.

Gene Wagner
Boca Raton, FL

P.S. Also think it STINKS that our enlisted men can't even AFFORD some tickets to the NHRA national events. Shame on you, NHRA.

TIRE TROUBLE

I noticed your paragraph (and the picture) concerning the tire trouble on Jim Head's car.

Certainly after last year's fateful event, we would all love to see every tire look brand new at the end of a run. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't most of the tire issues last year revolve around chunking at the edges of the contact surface?

The image of Jim Head's tire as well as one shown on the ESPN2 broadcast that came from a Top Fuel car (I believe Brandon Bernstein's) sure looked like the centers had been burned out of them due to a loss of traction, not some sort of tire construction failure.

I know you guys do your best to be accurate in all you do. Please keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Wayne Darlington