8/16/05

ONE-DAY RACES

Ian, that was a good article since I follow local dirt track racing quite a bit here in NM. As far as drag racing here most of our shows are one day unless they bring in jets or Alky FCs. Other than that the other major hurdle is down time from oil-downs or crashes. Most local tracks don't have the equipment or personnel to deal with such incidents quickly! I've announced here at our local DS, and we've gotten done at 11 PM before. That's with over 100 cars on the property, and Elims starting at 8PM.

It can be done, but you need a lot of luck and the will to push the racers to the lanes! Racers can get lazy about getting their cars ready for a 2nd or 3rd round race, taking they're dear, sweet time! I've had plenty of bracket racers tell me that 15 minutes is plenty of cool-down time between rounds once they are in their pits, yet some bitch that they don't get enough time.

Joe Sherwood

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Bruton Smith buys IHRA. . .well you could say the NHRA was too pricey. So you try your hand at IHRA with greater chance of success. The next question should be would this be for the betterment of sport? In the short term, yes, it makes NHRA react to the political situations it creates. Poaching sponsors from race teams, equal footing for teams in certain classes and the head in the sand attitude to the internal problems. Whatever comes from the Bruton Smith maybe buy, let's not forget one thing: he's a business man and there to make money. So this has potential of being war between two NHRA type businesses and that spells the real beginning of the end of drag racing as we know it.

Regards.

John Geltink

Arnhem, The Netherlands

GIMME A BREAK

I saw on NHRA.com that NHRA lowered the weight for Suzuki based on

recent data. Is that data the only chance Suzuki has of winning another championship going to be with NHRA's help? Or is that data that it is cheaper for Suzuki or their teams to bribe NHRA than to pay their engineers how to figure out to beat the Harleys? I can see changing rules in mid-season for safety reasons, but to give one team an advantage over the other, shades of NASCAR. I believe that Harley will -- as they have done in the past -- prevail with hard work and good engineering.

David Garcia

New Mexico

David, you might be interested in Jim Hawkins' current "Statistically Speaking" column, which compares Suzuki and Harley performances.

YOU MIGHT THINK SO. . .

Here is a tip for cheap advertising: Put weekly race results in the sports section of the local newspapers. Send in photos of winners of big events. Its news, so the paper should be interested. People read the sports pages (granted, here if it ain't about the Cowboys, most folks ignore it).

Advertise big $$ Bracket Races/King Of The Hill/Pro Mod, etc. etc via local country/rock stations. Most markets are so saturated with FM stations these days that advertising rates have really fallen (it's true!)

One other thing for track owners: don't gouge the spectators on tickets. That's crap! (I've seen it done). Tracks make a killing on concessions, why charge more than $20 for a carload of fans?

Paul Blumhardt

Rowlett, Texas

THERE'S NO CRYING IN DRAG RACING!

I can't take it any more! Erica Enders crying like the little girl that she is after losing her first round match at Sonoma. Now it seems little Hillary Will is going to get to pilot the 4th Kallita T/F dragster next year. Great...I've spent 30 years trying to sell the NHRA to all my pals as the most exciting and dangerous of all motorsports. Now it seems the NHRA is hell-bent on promoting the fact that they have young girls with little seat time driving for top teams and sponsors. Is this some politically correct plot to attract new fans? I know that females are very capable of driving race cars. Shirley Muldowney is one of my heroes. She earned it!

What's next, NHRA? How about the first totally blind nitro driver! If I see one more "cute" little child crying at the finish line I'm gonna puke!

Mike Bowers

Ft. Wayne, IN

ON THE POLE

I believe Shawna Robinson was on the pole for the 1994 Busch series race in Atlanta.

Keith Bartels   

Stockbridge, GA

THERE'S NO POLES IN DRAG RACING

I just read the Agent's take on the Danica Patrick story. And while I agree it's a slight against drag racing, the report is actually accurate because there are no poles in drag racing. Check the NHRA media guide. Shirley Muldowney didn't qualify on the pole; she qualified No. 1. She is one of six women to qualify No. 1, but neither of them qualified on the pole. And don't blame Mr. Scott for this. He was just reading a report that was sent out on the Associated Press wire. His report is word-for-word what was written in the AP story covering the race where Danica qualified on the pole.

Steve Ramirez

Covina, CA

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

I have never written to DRO, but I read your site almost daily, and use it to keep up with my drag racing news, since you will never get any real new from NHRA or IHRA. Thanks for your work. I cannot thank you enough for keeping the drag racing world informed about the Russell lawsuit. People need to know about that. 

I got a good laugh out of your headline for Agent 1320, but there is one thing I don't understand. A LOT of the drag racing community has been whining and complaining about Danica Mania. It's annoying, but it's pretty much over anyway.

You guys wrote a nice little piece about Erica when she got her job, just like CompPlus just put out the Hillary Will junk. Not that these ladies are bad drivers, but they definitely wouldn't have been given their jobs if they weren't female. There are many, many more qualified people for both of their seats who want it just as bad.

But you haven't complained about how Erica has done I noticed. I can't knock Hillary's performance, as she's done a damn good job in her Alky car. After reading what Bucky Austin said, there isn't any room for argument, is there? But at the same, still not very experienced, and not the most qualified. Erica won a national event, and I think maybe a divisional or two. But she had two top dollar cars to race, and lots of seat time in them.

All I am saying is it doesn't seem totally equal or fair. If I'm wrong, let me know!

Sean Kennedy

WE REPLY, OR IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE. . .

We introduce new drivers to the public and then let their performance dictate any additional coverage. Erica was of special interest because she had come up from Jr. Dragster and had a Disney movie made about her, so we thought our readers would be interested in someone a bit out of the ordinary. Her on-track performance, however, has not warranted any additional coverage. Hillary has had some previous success, so we'll wait and see what she does in her new ride. When they win something, they'll get the ink. There are plenty of male drivers that we don't write about either, because they simply don't do much. Well, maybe except Luigi Novelli. -- KB

WONDERING AND SURPRISED

Burk, sitting here in my chair I was wondering about a few of the very things you have expressed. Dunn singing in the shower was funny, but too weird. The tent deal probably lost his seat with Kalitta. But the Palm Springs venue announcement might hold a key to the aloofness the NHRA seems to be living in these days (or years as the case might be). The Springs is all about an alternate reality with more plastic making up the bodies and souls of the people there than any cookie cutter funny car body could ever boast. It seems it is all being driven to a fool's paradise under the shadow of such a rich history. Hopefully, the light ahead is more than the light resulting from a drag racer's performance touch on a mere rental car.

Brett Porter

Seattle, WA

DEEP IN THE HEART

I'm done feeling depressed about what has become of NHRA drag racing.  Being a fan beginning in the early 1960's I have a lot to be depressed about, and so do a lot of people from what I read at DRO. I decided to look for what I liked about drag racing and wherever I found it I would support it.

Last night was the third annual BHRA Nationals at Texas Raceway in Kennedale, Texas. A small 1/8 mile (well known, though) track that started this race in memory of Bill Hielscher (Green Valley Raceway).  First rate facility at Texas Raceway.

But what attracts me to the BHRA Nationals is that it is an example of what I think is missing in modern drag racing: a well rounded, exciting show at a friendly track that lets you get REAL close to the action.  Typical of what I used to experience in the 1960s and '70s.

You could tell from the packed house that everyone anticipated what kind of action was coming next. Something different all the time.  Start out with 16 Outlaw Fuel Altereds, move on to the Simpson Racing team nitro funny cars side by side (just a few feet in front of you), then a pair of A/Fuel dragsters (Gene Snow!) going full bore side by side, the unlikely pair of a jet funny car vs. Pro Mod, then a pair of jet dragsters, followed by the Texas Bandit wheelstander and topped off with the vintage Mr. Bardahl Vette vs. the recreated "Sump'n 'Else #2" '60s funny car of Grady Bryant (driver even donned a vintage fuel race suit)!

Stand no more than 20 feet from that action and you can't wipe the smile off of your face! Now that's drag racing! Thank you, Texas Raceway.

Alan Lewis

BRING ON THE WHITE HATS

Being a Drag Racing Fan my whole life, I've got to admit the Powerade NHRA fiasco is getting redundant and boring! Goodguys here I come! Love those Nostalgia FUNNY CARS!

Michael Stemler

Whittier, CA

Was reading the Darrell Russell lawsuit you folks posted. Then I drifted off to a column you wrote about fuel, brackets, slowing the cars down. It was stated that nothing happened till a prominent player (my term not yours but the same drift) was killed.

Please don't get me wrong here, I liked Darrell a lot. Met him in his alcohol days. (He) was the kind of guy you are proud to call your friend. He was not the first. Why does NHRA and everyone else have such a short memory?

What about Blaine Johnson? He was well on his way to a world championship when he was killed on track at Indy. There was a moderate

fanfare and a few dedications, but nothing like this! Then take your memory back to the Texas Motorplex a few seasons ago. What about Jimmy Nix? A nicer guy I never met. Jimmy even opened his house and shop for me on the road when my truck tossed a crank. When he died there was a line in National Dragster, Bits from the Pits. Jimmy was a two-time star having raced the early days and returning with Dan Olson to run a quality top fuel car. There was absolutely nothing, no tributes, didn't even name the scoreboard he hit after him!

I know this will be a very unpopular statement but enough with Darrell

Russell, he wasn't alone. More popular racers have been killed at the height of their chosen profession. That is the ultimate gamble.

Rick Vogler, Aerton Senna, the list could go on. You don't hear of these people every time you read of a race.

I say let the man rest in peace. Julie was given a Queen's welcome by everyone in the sport, auctions, dedications, recognition. Now she attempts to bring down the house that made her anything but another Texas housewife.

OK, I'm done; let it fly. Geiger would kill me if he saw this but they are the facts.

Bill Dee

MEASURING PERFORMANCE

Whooah there, have you ever measured a 33.5 10.5W MT? It's only

11.25; that's just a smidge over 10.5. Now that said the days of wheelstanding overpowered chassis 10.5 cars are dying quick and lets face it a Pro Mod chassied 10.5 a 740 with 4 stages a slew rate rev limiter is about as exciting as any low tech Pro Stock. I am with you 100 percent. Maybe a claimer 10.5 class is the answer...Naaaaaaahhhhhh.

Sincerly yours,

Richard Gavle

Maryland

Outlaw 10.5 Monte Carlo

BEARD VINDICATED

After this weekend I think Lee Beard has vindicated himself in the eyes of any doubters. I never thought he was all at once brain dead. Look at

Bazemore's performances since Beard left, little changed, but Beard stepped up with a winner on a new team in just a couple of races.

Sometimes I wonder about Beard's tactics, like the deal with Force, but never his intelligence. With his new assistant, Mr. Cunningham, he should be in the hunt if the owner keeps the parts supply and enthusiasm up.

Schumacher should have switched crew chiefs for a couple of races rather than lose a great talent like that. The switch would have shown the problem was not in the head crew man!

Richard Burbick

STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE

Burk, not only are you a pretty damn funny guy...but the points you make are on the tip of sooooooo many tongues. Problem is, most of THEM are trying so hard to bite their tongue they'll never get to the meat-n-potatoes of stuff that needs doing with NHRA. GREAT WORK you do!!!! Keep 'em coming.

Jeannie Allsage

TECHNICALLY WONDERING

Jeff, I would love to ask the same questions I asked the NHRA. Why don't they just simply lower the rear gear ratio to a 4.11? That would quicken them up and slow them down, would it not? Also my understanding is that the nitro engines are not running on the spark plugs at 3.8 secs but are firing off the red hot exhaust valves, so how can retarding the timing help slow them down?

Just Wondering myself. Keep up the great work.

Best regards,

Robbie Gaines

Greenville, SC

GETTING TECHNICAL AGAIN

I think that NHRA should take 30% of wing away. Same on the front and reduce the side thing. Even take away one element. That will slow them down and make things even. For F/C reduce the rear wing and side air dam. Open the side windows by fifty percent. And make them look like real cars not generic NASCAR. Pro Stock is getting real boring.

Jon Graves

Colchester, CT

WHAT'S THAT, SONNY?

Burkerster, I take offense to your comment on age.   

Mike Kosky

Pennsylvania

WHAT A WAY WITH WORDS (letter unedited)

Just woundering where you were when the Brainerd event was beging run? Because I was there and I taped the sportsman highite show and the stands are full in the real and on tape

Just Wondering do you even like motor sports? Just Wondering are you freaking perfect? and if so; why arent you winning the race named after you!!!!!!!! That would be the brain less -ball less 500!

Bruce Conradson

Placentia, CA

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoy the column. I try to entertain the readers. -- JB