A SHARED MEMORY
As a 15-year-old, starry-eyed drag race creep in 1964, we
used to take pleasure in riding down to the starting line
in the back of Top Fueler push-trucks to get a better look.
This day in particular, the push-truck belonged to Red "the
Animal" Latham and he was pushing the fabulous pearl
yellow Fueler of Croshier, Baltes and Lavato. The "hometown"
dragstrip was San Diego Raceway at Ramona, Ca. Jerry launched
and took "the long way down" the track and it
scared the crap outta me.... I quizzed him down at the other
end as to what went through his mind as the car turned sideways
and snaked its way through the traps? Jerry smiled at me
and calmly explained, "Hey, kid, this car always go
real straight. . .it's this race track that is crooked!"
A fond memory...
Enjoy DRO and your "wondering" articles.
Thanks,
Rik Chidester
Poulsbo, WA
A REALLY DIFFERENT VIEW
I have followed drag racing since the late '60s from Irwindale
Raceway when it was the Freight Train, Kohler Bros. King
Kong and Gas Rhonda. Worked for Super Shops for 20 years
and was involved when they sponsored Garlits and Eddie Hill.
The sport of drag racing is going fast and trying to make
each one go faster and quicker. All I see is the suits at
NHRA which probably never got grease under their finger
nails or have ever had a race car go down a track, and no,
racing the rental car down a race track does not even count.
I see drag racing as a sport that cares nothing about the
racers and looks at it as an entertainment venue like going
to see the latest movie that came out. Well, NHRA, it is
hard to see what is going on when your head is shoved up
your backside and you are trying to view the picture through
your belly button. NHRA and drag racing in general lacks
personality and excitement. They have tried to make the
sport to vanilla.
Maybe I came from the old school as I want to see a braless
big breasted woman such as Jungle Pam guiding the car back.
I want to see guys like Big Daddy having a scorecard on
his trailer door and his races against Shirley. I want to
see gals like Shirley knock a guy on his back for running
his mouth about her. I want to see the lovely Linda Vaughn
in her see-through jump suit. I want to see a Top Fueler
go 4.3 seconds at 340 mph.
I have the rocket science mentality that let them go as
fast and quick as possible and let them develop the technology
to get then there as well as develop the safety aspects
to go along with it. When you restrain the talents of guys
like Austin Coil, Alan Johnson, Lee Beard, Dick LaHaie and
others, we are developing a sport that is as exciting as
sitting home and watching the grass grow. I truly hope someone,
someday will purchase NHRA and the knuckleheads then can
practice the line for their new jobs, Would you like fries
with that burger?
I could have followed NASCAR in my youth but I was hooked
at 10 years old at Irwindale Raceway when the Kohler Bros.
King Kong came to the line and someone in a gorilla suit
ran around the car at the starting line. I have been hooked
ever since but the excitement of the sport is dying and
the guys at the top really and truly do not understand.
Bruce Banker
Miami
5 SECONDS OF EXCITEMENT FOLLOWED
BY BOREDOM?
I am a basic grass roots sportsman racer for the past 20
years. Running S/G at local tracks and divisional and national
meets as the budget allows. I also consider myself a casual
NASCAR fan, I often have the tube on in the transporter
on Sunday afternoon. I agree with (Tocher's) lack of promotion
thing, partly. It's tough to get my buddies and co-workers
to come out to the local strip for a points meet or booked
in show, but if someone says let's go to KC for a Cup race,
the motorhome is loaded with people and the road trip is
on. Old people, young people, men, women, and children.
Part of the problem with drag racing in general is that
we are really not a very good entertainer. Too much down
time, too many classes, too confusing. And the casual fan
doesn't appreciate how challenging it is to get a 2500-lb
door car down the track in 6 seconds. NASCAR is simpler.
For those of us who do appreciate the Pro Mods, what made
it an entertaining class lost a lot of appeal when they
let the blown alky hemi in. Now they are just alky funny
cars with L/H drive...BORING.
Scott Cornish
