4/26/05

SWITCHING TO SAFETY

I think the Shelly crash shows there might be a need to have remote kill switches on the real fast cars - like any car that goes faster than 200 mph or quicker than 7 sec. in a 1/4 mile - like the one's used in monster truck racing. I just could not imagine what it was like to see that happening and how helpless everyone there must have felt at the time.

I crew on a TA/FC. We were at the points race in Tucson and got a call early Sunday and then remember that you're in a very dangerous area when we go up to run.

Bruce Conradson

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR CAR DESIGN?

Jeff, maybe you know who in their infinite wisdom allowed fuel coupe bodies to resemble a wedge with a bubble on top?! I swear you could use the same shell and just change the grill and headlight decals and call it anything ya wanted! I'm sure there's millions of dollars in wind tunnel testing that's to blame for this fiasco, but to try to tell anyone that Tim's in a Monte Carlo is a real stretch. If Ford is picking up the tab for those carbon fiber "things" on Force's hot rods and believe anyone goes to the dealership on Monday has more than one wheel in the sand! If we ever break our current body and we can't find another that really looks like a car, we'll just leave the roadster deal on and forget fuel coupe racing. As far as I'm concerned, when Pulde parked the Buick, we lost the class.

Thanks for your continuing insight! Do ya think we can get this reversed?

Ron Evans

BURK HAS A BETTER IDEA?

Jeff, as usual your stories always are good and hit the nail on the head. Your article on getting NHRA and IHRA to sell cars that kids can relate to. Maybe the new owners will get some drag racers back in the front office instead of the suits. Now you see why they got rid of Mike Lewis and Carl Olson. Yeah, maybe you and me making the decisions and making the big bucks.

Keep up the excellent work.

Fred Frey

P.S. You in a big block Ford -- thought you be a Chevy fan

SELLING CARS

I just turned 51 this year and have been watching or participating in drag racing since 1973. Much has changed, but your letter about Factory involvement with cars they make now is something I also have thought about. You are dead-on in your letter. It's almost like you were reading my brain.

If I'm Chrysler, I want to sell more Dodges. Neon SRT/4 DP with a drag pack option (gearing, exhaust, etc.) Nothing that violates emissions laws. Same for, say, the new Cobalt and Focus or even the new Mustang. A Drag Pack option just like the old days. If the GTO was a $26,500 car instead of $34,000 you could even go with that. I think the Japanese companies would have an easier time, since the explosion of the tuner market. Get some young ad guys and put the ads on TV. Car commercials are just about the most boring ads on TV (what does Aerosmith and a Buick have in common like the new Lacrosse ad).

What I'm saying is, create an atmosphere where kids want the car and want to take it to the track like the old days. The buzz in 1970 was certainly horsepower but don't forget wild colors, stripes, hoods and car names that screamed look at me (SS Boss Cuda). Take a Dodge Stratus R/T add some stripes put a DP badge (drag pack) on the rear, add 20 horses and you're off.

Sell the DP for $1500.00 or less on any brand. The key is promotion by the car companies and NHRA or IHRA. The safety aspect must be stressed. As a police officer of 26 years I have seen the results of street racing.

Sorry for the rant, Jeff, but I think it could work.

Geoff Bradley