5/20/03

SPORTSMAN REACTION

KEEPIN' IT REAL

Good story. . . . Reality is a beautiful thing....

Wally Bell

NOT WORTH THE MONEY

NHRA major events do not need sportsman racing. Heads up fast cars is the attraction. Sitting in some crappy bleacher, baking in hot sun, watching hours of GT Super stocks and garbage like the .90 cars is not something to pay 50 bucks for.

Norman Hechtkoff

CAN RACERS DO BETTER?

Dear Burk

Finally! The facts speak for themselves.

I never forget an article Reher wrote a while back referring to whining racers and he said the way some of them complained of NHRA and still went there racing, that they must be forced under gunpoint to go to the races.

So I think we should be happy that we can go racing in the best country in the world, have fun, and stop complaining of the parking spot etc. Or open a new organization and make everything PERFECT......

Sincerely,

Birgitta Bergqvist

IN IT FOR THE FUN

Man, Jeff, you nailed it. I grew up watching my dad run an A/A in Comp, so I'm very fond of the sportsman cars. Only real diehards like us try to take in everything at a national event; for the most part the stands empty after the last pro car runs. And you know what? That's not really so horrible; I don't think there are many sports of any type, where fans can sit still for 8 hours to see everything. My point is, you're right. If NHRA was thinking absolutely in a

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marketing mind-set, it would streamline the shows and make national events pro-only. Of course, I hope it never happens, but a case could certainly be made for the benefits in an effort to take the sport up another notch.

I learned a long time ago that if you're going to go drag racing (like any racing, really), unless you're of that very small percentage of racers with big backing, you need to realize it's for the fun, the competition, the comraderie, etc., 'cuz it ain't gonna make financial sense. It's really no different than buying that offshore boat or custom Harley. You don't do it expecting anything but fun. In the case of sportsman drag racing, if you're going to lay out the cheese to do it, isn't it cool to be able to do it at the very same tracks and events as the big dogs? You just have to take the good with the bad sometimes. Guess I'm rambling a bit, but bottom line is I think NHRA's sportsman program may not be without flaws, but I hope it's always there.

Hey Jeff, I never realized you ran so many types of cars. Very cool. Show a pic sometime of your nitrous twin dragster.

Nunzio Valerie Jr.

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