FIRESUITS AND GREEN EYESHADES
From (Burk's) column... "I know that drag racing, and
especially NHRA drag racing, will never get back to its
past. There are just too many guys who never owned a firesuit
or took dad's car to the drags without telling him running
the show now."
How true. I understand that in this day and age of corporate
sponsorships, it is absolutely necessary for a sanctioning
body to employ marketing professionals. But when the scales
become heavy with bean counters and light on gear heads,
it dramatically changes the experience of drag racing.
Scott Brown
REMEMBERING FORCE VS PEDREGON
AT DALLAS
Re: Martin's Time Machine
I was there that day. I was going to school in Houston at
the time and some guys I worked with were going up there
and wanted to know if I wanted to go. Me being the racing
junkie that I was/am said hell yes. So we load up early
and head out. Along the way we stopped for breakfast and
other things. When we get there they are already running
the first pairs of fuel cars down the track. The first thing
we see as we come out from under the bleachers is Doug Herbert
and another car leave the line, when Doug's car gets to
about half track it does an amazing blowover. We then proceed
to our seats and watch the first round of racing then go
down to the pits and take pictures and all that jazz. We
come back for second round and do this over again until
the finals.
Everyone was talking about how Force was going to win and
nobody was going take away his championship. Me being a
fan of the underdog I made a couple of wagers with some
guys from backing of my boss who went also. I remember that
race very well it still stands out in my mind as the best
side by side race of all time. They did their burnouts then
backed up, staged the cars, then the green came on and both
cars left. Cruz was smokin' 'em good, then he lifted, then
John smoked 'em. Back and forth they went then John hit
the wall and Cruz matted it and went on to win.
It is the best side by side race, in my mind, ever!
Thank You,
John Brady
GETTING DOT-LEGAL
I read with much interest your article "Sorting out
the DOT rules", since I have had several "run-ins"
with the DOT in recent years. Three years ago, I was put
"out of service" because I didn't have a CDL and
the GVWR of my duallie and trailer was 26,800 lbs. (799
lbs. over the minimum). After paying a truck driver $200
to drive my rig 40 miles to the state line, I decided to
get my CDL, which was actually easier than I thought it
would be. Since then, I have kept a logbook, carried triangles
and fire extinguishers, and the last time I was stopped
by DOT, it was a breeze since I was 100% legal.
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I
wanted to clarify something in your article, however. You
stated that it's "easy to obtain a DOT number"...
and that is true. Just fill out a few forms and you'll be
assigned a DOT number. But as you know, nothing in Government
is quite that easy.
After you are assigned a DOT number, you'll get a phone
call from a local DOT officer who will need to come to "inspect"
your operation. You will need yearly DOT inspections on
your truck AND trailer, you will need to join a "random
drug-testing company," you will need to keep files
on all maintenance performed on truck and trailer and a
maintenance schedule for both, you will need to keep employee
records on anybody who will be driving your truck and trailer
(what I thought was funny is that I have to keep an employee
record on MYSELF! Complete with job application! That's
Government for you).
In addition, you're required to notify the DOT if you ever
move or if you "sell everything and go fishing."
Once you are assigned a DOT number, you are also subject
to random, "surprise" inspections to make sure
all your paperwork is in order. I know this because I applied
for my DOT number earlier this year and experienced all
this first-hand.
Just thought you might want to mention this to your readers
so they realize once they apply for a DOT number, BIG BROTHER
Government will be watching them! Ha ha ha.
Thanks for a great article... keep up the good work!
Milt Gedo
