12/20/05

EVANS MEMORIES

Yes, Steve Evans was one of a kind.

I was the kid from Louisiana who followed Mel Reck as the Irwindale Raceway General manager in 1972, when Steve ran Lions. The next year, Lions was gone, and he joined me at Irwindale, and we were off to a wild ride--64 Funny Cars, motocross and speedway motorcycles.

Before there was TV for drag racing, the PA announcer was the "voice of drag racing." This was the era of Bernie Partridge, Dave McClelland, and Steve Evans and Bill Doner.

You have not lived until you witnessed a Saturday night Top Fuel show with push cars down the "fire up" road, with Bill Doner and Steve Evans behind the mike. No corporate pitches, no "let's cut to the top end" for the obligatory interview, no reaction times or incremental times to numb the senses. Just Steve Evans telling you about the car and the driver. Why the next pair was important, why you were there in the first place. And, by the way, don't forget the hamburger stand and the T-shirt shop.

I, too, had the "Sunday, Sunday" CD, and relived those years, but Katrina took it along with everything else. Your editorial reminded me that I must order another one, so I can picture Steve's twirling cigarette, and the way he pushed back the hair on his forehead, and pointed that finger to make a point.

Glenn Menard

NO MORE 'MONSTER' FOR HIM

Mr. Burk, I have to agree with your assessment of the TV show, "Monster Garage." I watched the show in its infancy stage and enjoyed it due to some of their ingenious projects.

Working long hours has caused me to miss episodes of late, but I happened to catch the tail end of that same episode with the '49 Anglia as the crew failed to get it to fire.

I was shocked to see Roland Leong as part of a failed project considering his awesome resume in car building, but was incensed at the sight of a 10,000 lb. weight being dropped on a beautiful project that was short a wrench-turn or two from success.

I have lost all respect for the show as well as the host, Jesse James. I used to think he was a humble person whose success came from his ability to fabricate custom bikes, but now I see that he is just spoiled brat in dire need of some therapy to help resolve his personal (and sometimes violent issues).

I refuse to watch the show ever again and will urge everyone I know to boycott it also. I also plan to let The Discovery Channel know how I feel.

Frank B. Jackson
Montgomery Village, MD

WHERE ARE THEY?

I am very disappointed in the Coca-Cola, POWERade. If they are the official sponsor of NHRA drag racing why don't I see that put on any of their products? I live in the Midwest, which is a hot bed of drag racing. I have looked all over the area and have yet to see on any POWERade product, the statement "official drink of the NHRA." Why is that? And where is that bottle we voted on? Are they and the NHRA just blowing smoke?

Jeffrey Kammes
DeKalb, IL

IHRA NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED

We ran IHRA for several years in the rod classes. After switching to Comp Eliminator, IHRA dropped its Modified class, leaving us with only one body to run. We enjoyed racing with the IHRA up until that point. I would love to see them bring back Modified as would a lot of the other comp racers

Kevin McDowell
Kentucky