4/7/03

CORRECTING MR. GRAVES

In response to "Correcting Mr. Kozak" (letter last month) I would like to correct Mr. Graves. While Kenny Bernstein did drive all of those cars you mentioned. And even though he took a break in the mid 70's from driving, he did drive the LA Hooker at the 1977 IHRA Winston Nationals in Lakeland.

Rob Kozak

WHO NEEDS A CIRCUS?

No! (Burk isn't) the only one who wonders what they are thinking when they waste time with T-shirt throwers and guys jumping motorsickles and, especially, some clown yelling that he can't hear me. If he could hear the miscreants at 1,000 feet, his feelings sure would be hurt. It shouldn't be too much to ask that drag racing events be focused on drag racing. It seems to be a new fact of life in the twenty-first century that the folks at the top are way out of touch with the folks whose lives they effect.

Sigh, I miss the old days.

Phil Cox

WHO HAS THE BENJAMINS?

Mr. Burk, Welcome to California. We have reached and passed the $2.- per gallon level here for gas. The first and only big money bracket race is here this weekend and it is going to rain for the first time on a weekend in 3 months. Your commentary about will sportsman racer stay on the sidelines because of many factors is true. If track owners and NHRA people think I'm going to fire up my dragster to go to my local track for the chance to win $600 at a bracket race they need to wake up and smell the coffee. You know who the NHRA needs to bring on as sponsors. The oil companies. Talk about companies making money hand over fist. I used to live back east in both MN and TN and the racing was really racing due to track owners working to get us some real purses. With 40 million people living in this state you would think that one track would put together some type of big money multi event series. My hat's off to LACR trying to get at least one event for racers. It is ridiculous a guy can't fire up his race car without the chance to even pay for expenses to go race even if you win.

Thank you for listening to me gripe.

Kurt Carlson

A FEW THOUGHTS ON THIS & THAT

Loved (Burk's) latest edition of "Just Wondering..." and wanted to share some thoughts on a few in particular.

With regards to sportsmen participation at national events... it goes way beyond fuel prices and the economy. NHRA has done an abysmal job of maintaining its relationship with the sportsmen racers. And they certainly don't appear to be interested in doing anything to change this fact. A look at the way they handled the situation in Gainesville is a perfect example. There's plenty of high dollar bracket racing out there where the promoters are thankful to have us.

With regards to "Crash Gladys"... you couldn't have hit the bullseye any more dead center. She just doesn't have it when it comes to the art of top-end interviews.

And lastly... 'Sports Magic' and their ilk that "try" to entertain the fans during clean-ups is nothing more than pandering to the moronic and drunken. I'd bet 99% of the fans would rather see quality info on the Motel 6 Vision. Either that or bikini clad nymphets in high heels!

Your deranged Super Class racing reader,

Greg Stanley

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