5/7/03

On a visit to "Drag Digest" in 1966 Suzy suggested to the newspaper owner what was lacking in drag racing was a social column dedicated to the people behind the sport. "Suzy's Scrapbook" was the result of that conversation and Suzy has been dedicated to "bringing the human side of racing to the forefront" ever since. In 1968 she moved her "Suzy's Scrapbook" gossip column to "Drag News" and was with that publication for several years before going to work for "National Dragster." While at Dragster she wrote "The Social Side" of drag racing and several human interest stories for editor Michael Dougherty. In the '70s Suzy wrote a series of articles for National Dragster, "Women In Drag Racing," which featured the private lives of the women who were the backbone of the sport; drivers, wives, sisters and the mothers. Along the way Suzy has written for "Drag World," "Drag Times," and wrote several feature stories for various programs and magazines. In the early 1980s Suzy was the publisher of the "Sand Paper" which was the official newspaper for the National Sand Racing Association. Her responsibilities ranged from taking the photos, writing the stories, laying out and pasting up the newspapers to selling and designing the ads. "As long as you don't take it too seriously, gossip can be a lot of fun. But you'd better watch out," she states, "it can also be addictive."

amily friend has reported that Brandon Bernstein is now dating Shonda Whipple, daughter of Art and the ex-racing partner of Ed McCulloch. No one knows if it's serious, but people close to the couple are keeping their fingers crossed because they are both such nice people . . . Tony and Cara Schumacher will be adding to their "army of one" soon and the news couldn't come at a better time as Tony and his sister Samantha lost their mother in March to an apparent heart attack.

Josie Kalitta is another beaming mother-to-be and is expecting to double her and Doug's growing family this year by presenting two-year-old Mitchell (photo) with a baby brother or sister.

Ashley Force will be wheeling a top fuel dragster for her dad next year . . . Happy Birthday wishes to Kim LaHaie-Richards who celebrated her birthday at the Bristol race by helping hubby Tim win top fuel! . . . A public apology seems to be in order from Tony Pedregon to Whit Bazemore about the so-called starting-line incident at Houston. The ESPN tape didn't back up Tony's claims that Whit did a number on him and if anyone sounded like a whiner it was Tony during his TV interview. If Tony was trying to sully Whit's public persona it didn't work; he's the one who came across as a spoiled driver who's been reading too many of his own press releases . . . Good news for all of Kenny Safford's friends. He's recuperating from major surgery that followed a massive stroke in March. He's resting comfortably in his Chicago home surrounded by family and his wife of 41 years, Carolyn . . . Get well wishes also go out to Junior Kaiser who was sporting a new cast at the Las Vegas race. "Too many years of extreme, down-hill snow-skiing has caught up with me." Junior has also had to suffer through two previous knee surgeries from his active youth . . . Ernie Hashim, another drag racing icon, is waging a war with his body in a Central California hospital. The doctors are trying to build up his strength before taking him into exploratory surgery and his family isn't sure what the future holds . . . Mickey Thompson's son Danny reported that 80-something Fritz Voight had a heart "tune up" recently and is doing just fine . . . Congratulations to Marvin Rifchin who will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame on July 25th at their annual gala event held in Orange County, California.

Paula Murphy, who retired from driving race cars years ago, is now an active dog show participant with her Chesapeake Retriever Annie. Annie is joined at their Palmdale, Calif. home by Storm, "who likes to chew on doors and just about anything that doesn't move," and Tule, Annie's mother. Paula admits dog shows aren't as exhilarating as driving a rocket car but it keeps her occupied.

Herm Petersen, who is a fishing guide in Alaska, is awaiting a liver transplant due to a form of hepatitis, which he contacted when he received a blood transfusion while recovering from his racecar burns of years ago. Anyone wishing to send Herm a note may do so by writing him at P. O. Box 2536, Belfair, WA 98528 . . . Jack Clark, ex-baseball player and top fuel driver of the Taco Bell-sponsored dragster back in the late 1970's, survived a motorcycle accident when he made contact with a van in San Diego, Calif. He was well enough to join the Dodgers less than a week later. Some of you may remember Jack as Tom McEwen's old boss who, by the way, actually let McEwen "go" after telling the Goo$e that he was "too old to drive a race car." Yeah, like Jack did such a bang-up job. Now if he'd only pay back some of those old debts he reportedly owes to drag racers . . . Another person who could use a get well card is Jack Shores, you may reach him at 811 North Street, Jackson, NJ 08527 . . . Henry Walther, one of Gary Beck's crew members back in the '80s, reports that the two stereo units that Gary won from Pioneer for all those NHRA Event Low E.T.'s allowed the crew members to "rock and roll to some great tunes while working on the (race) car" after everyone left the track for the day. Gary had set up the sound system in the race car trailer and the guys played it as loud as they could to keep them awake. "Well, OK, GB (didn't listen to rock 'n roll) but he did have his Willie Nelson tapes." Gary recently revealed the he still uses his stereo and that Bernie Fedderly still has the other one . . . Sorry to report that Earl Mansell is now in a nursing home due to a stroke and other "age related" conditions. Earl is 95 and began his racing career in 1927 and has raced everything from bathtubs to open-wheeled race cars . . . Don Moody, top fuel idol of the '60s, was in Phoenix, Arizona, recently where he spent some time with his daughter, Darielle Moody-Price. Don is still living in Thailand and still raising children. Whew! No wonder he doesn't have time for the California Hot Rod Reunion held each year in Bakersfield . . . Speaking of a gathering of old-time racers, what gives with the story that some of the vintage race car owners (John Loukas among them) are reluctant to attend the first Bowling Green reunion because NHRA can't afford to give them free entry! Does anyone else see a problem with this picture? . . . Don Prieto's new book, "Hot Rod Chronicle," is finally on the market and from early reviews is the "must own" coffeetable book of the season. Anyone interested in an autographed edition please contact Don at dprieto@prietive-group.com . . . All who anticipated the debut of Tom Hanna's restoration at last year's CHRR are now holding their breath with anticipation for Pat Foster's retro of the old "Surfer's" Top Fueler. Patty states that he "expects the major components will be on hand by the time I'm ready to start the car-building stage, which will be in a few months."

Until we meet again, Suzy welcomes your input at suzysscrapbook@sedonalink.com.

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