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12/8/05
 LIKES
THE WATER
You guys rock with the IHBA story! Drag Racing does not exist
only on asphalt, remember where Eddie Hill came from? I think
this should be a regular feature, but that’s just my
opinion. Thanks again.
John N. Monaghan
NOSTALGIA PRO STOCK?
As a kid growing up in the DC area in the early 70's we got
to see all of the great match racers in both Nitro FC and
Pro Stock (I, for one am a dyed in the wool Dyno Don fan-and
if you ask me he put on some of the best shows!) I think Oglesby
is correct in the statements that we hard core fans and racers
would much rather see cars we can identify with and that put
on a show-I know 4 current P/S racers from my area and they
are on both sides of the fence (NHRA/IHRA) and I go to these
races to see them do well, but as far as I am concerned these
classes are now boring to watch and are very dry. I for one
am interested to throw out there this possibility: a Nostalgia
Pro Stock class, 600ci or less, pre-'82 bodies, manually shifted
4-speed Lencos and, most importantly, no electronics, single
disc clutches and PRODUCTION type blocks, heads and cast intakes
-- no generic Chevroldsmobiles or Chrysler new generation
Boss-mo-Hemis -- Just like they used to be.
Gordon Moore
WHAT A DRAG (CITY)
What a farce, huh. I have been going to city council meetings
since the drag strip was supposed to be built in Rialto. The
(promoters) have a reputation for being (somewhat questionable)
since they owned a VW shop years ago. I think they have gotten
a lot of red tape done, and I really wish some promoters who
actually have a legitimate way to go would take over and get
it done. I work for a Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership, and
I know the poor sole who shall remain nameless at “MOPAR”
is feeling the wrath from talking their bosses at Mopar Performance
into investing a $100,000 into something that isn’t
going to happen. The problem is, I’m sure they can’t
account for where that money went, much less the donations
from associate business’s who were hoping, like we were,
this was a reality.
Thanks for an article that continues to remind us we all
were naïve, maybe just because of our dreams that a new
dragstrip was actually going to happen.
Take care,
Jay Chavers
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
As I look back on the 2005 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel season I
must admit I was a bit surprised of how it ended. As much
as I like Tony Schumacher, I thought this was going to be
Doug Kalitta's year. At the start of the season Tony Schumacher
did not rotate the earth like we all thought he would. If
anything, he proved himself to be human when he double stepped
the start in the second round at the Winternationals. Ok,
after that he did go out and win the CSK Nationals in Phoenix
for like the 20th time...
After that Doug went on to win Gainesville and Tony won Houston.
After that Tony had a MAJOR dry spell; he had a first round
loss in Bristol, TN, where Doug won. Tony also had a first
round loss at the K&N Nationals in Englishtown, NJ. Tony
did not make his move till the Columbus race. No one ever
suspected that National Trails Raceway would have a 336.15
MPH run in it.
From there things seem to be going Tony's way. After he ran
337 in Brainerd, MN, things really got interesting. Other
than his final round loss to Larry Dixon at the Mac Tools
US Nationals, Tony Schumacher obliterated Top Fuel for the
remainder of the 2005 season. Not only did he win 20 rounds
in a row, he won the Budweiser Shoot Out in Las Vegas and
he even peddled the car in the final.
All I can say is WOW!!! I was lucky enough to see Tony win
in Columbus, Chicago, Vegas and Pomona! Just when you think
he can't do any more he goes out and proves us all wrong.
They say 3 times is the "hat trick." I am putting
my money on Tony to do just that.
Kevin A. Bennett
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