SELLING WITH SIZZLE

I'm sorry, but it seems to be a rant that a still smaller slice of the public is going to pay hard money for. I think the Chicago Outlaw Super Stocks put on just as good a show as 10.W and with wheelstands!

I went to the Pro Street event at No Problem Dragway in the spring and it was lousy. I think people want to see the older body styles like Anglias, Willys, Studes. Maybe there should be more Nostaglia events-especially on the East and Southern Coast and get people fired up with the radio ads that we used to have -- "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday." Many of these events at the track a not sufficiently advertised or are not advertised at all except by a flyer. How can you get folks interested without some sizzle?

Eddie Mihalow Jr.
New Orleans, LA

BLASTING BURK

Jeff, I like DOL and read your column a lot but, come on, say something positive about the sanctioning bodies. I'm the high side of 50's but I do enjoy one major NHRA event and one IHRA event each year and those racers do put on a good show. Even in the '60s the only thing stock about Sox and Martin's car was the outside appearance.

Keep up the good work but please, a positive view once in a while.

Fred Serbst
Rhode Island

BURK RESPONDS

Fred, if you look back at the body of work that is my columns over the years, I've given NHRA and IHRA their props when they did something worthy. The only problem is that it's very hard to find something positive to say about a group of businessmen now running what was originally a social club for the benefit of the racers and fans as strictly a business. I've written several columns over the years lamenting the fact that I see very little positive to write about a sanctioning body that apparently is bent on wringing every dime of profit out

ADVERTISEMENT

of the business regardless of how that affects the racers and fans, sanctioning bodies that currently stifle any kind of innovative thinking in the top classes, sanctioning bodies that only make "improvements" in their facilities designed to improve revenue streams.

Whenever NHRA or the IHRA does something worthy of praise we generally put up a 1320 note marking the event. The problem remains for me and my peers (who attend way more than one or two races per year) is that both sanctioning bodies continue to lie to the public and the racers, and, unlike NASCAR, treat the media as though they were the enemy not their allies.

In conclusion let me say this. If you or your any of your friends can find some really positive topics that I can use as the basis of a column please, please, let me know. I don't relish writing critical columns but the sad fact is the sanctioning bodies generally leave me little choice in the matter.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to write. -- Jeff Burk