OR WAS IT BUGS BUNNY?
Burkee, how can you equate honesty and NHRA in the same
sentence? It's an oxy maroon, to steal a line from Daffy
Duck. In your reference to attendance figures. . .you've
been around long enough to know the truth seldom comes from
the Glendora castle. . .only misleading facts, honest.
Mike Dakin
Ohio
JUST LIKE HARRY TRUMAN
Jeff, I love reading your rants and your more composed pieces.
It's good to see someone say something that actually has
a logical thought behind it! Keep giving them hell!!!!
Rusty Ward
Dallas, TX
YOU BETCHA
Hey Burk - you are right about some stuff, but you are dead
wrong about drag racing needing a big race paying 2-300K
to a 32-car-field winner. They need to be paying that amount
to the POWERade series winners - then maybe a few new teams
may actually show up and have a chance to compete. And they
need a major event that pays a million or so.
I have a crazy idea - I actually tried to contact LVMS
to inquire about event leasing costs to try and pencil a
scenario, but they did not even have the decency to respond.
How about a 64-car NITRO eliminator show - POWERade, Nostalgia,
IHRA whatever - Top Fuel and Funny Car in the same class.
All race against indexed lights based on the national records.
You qualify against your national record, and race against
it. Schumacher giving a big head start to Harris' Nitro
Thunder, or a Nostalgia Flopper - it would be interesting.
Here's the kicker - a good chunk of the prize money is
put up by fans making donations and raffle ticket purchases
- I'm sure Force could convince Ford to throw in a few Mustangs
(maybe a GT too) for raffle prizes. See if the faithful
can raise enough for an all-out anything with blowers and
nitro fest, paying a million to win. By the way, I claim
a trademark on this deal - Nitropalooza, or. . .damn, I
forgot the other name I had. Oh, it's also a rock concert
too. . .just like some of the old days events. And, the
reason for Vegas as the prime venue -- just think of the
betting Barrick Gaming (Mendy Fry, Sean Bellamuer NTF teams)
could host at their downtown digs.
You said drag racing needs some racing - here's the ultimate
handicap event of all-time. Damn, I had a great second name
too!
Robert Runne
Northern California
VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER
Dear Jeff,
I can't thank you enough for your 'proper' perspective on
drag racing. I'm 54 in Oz [remember when Force couldn't
change a spark plug and Densham saved him, the Michigan
Madman, was it Steve Carbone in a tasty Soapy Sales Fueler,
ah the good old days].
I agree with you totally on the way NHRA has gone "cap
in hand" to corporate America and basically IMO prostituted
the sport for corporate greed. I used to watch the ESPN
coverage, but with the ads and junk I don't bother anymore.
So, like you suggested, 32 Fuel car fields, racing on 'average'
tracks, good people handling it, not suits. You have to
look at real racers and real fans, that are prepared to
get into it. Remember the huge 32-car funny fields [was
it at Irwindale] back in the late '60s? Fans were nearly
on the track.
This is a bit too short to really give my thoughts, but
you guys are really on the right track; someone has to let
the suits know that real drag racing still exists.
Thanks.
Jim Davidson
Sydney, Australia
