Back to wondering

Just Wondering … Did you know that when the NHRA headquarters building was in North Hollywood and Wally Parks was the prez there were just 11 employees total in the building not counting the division directors?  At least that’s the number some former NHRA employees who worked at NHRA back then tell me. These days I understand that, after many layoffs, there still are more than 200 employees at the Glendora headquarters alone.

Just Wondering … What exactly NHRA board member Dallas Gardner does on those 12 or so days a year he has to work to justify his $300,000+ salary?

Just Wondering … Do any of the board of directors at the IHRA (which includes NHRA promoters Bill and Billy Bader) get a stipend close to what Dallas Gardner does?

Just Wondering … Am I the only one who thinks that the NHRA ought to do away with the auto-start on the starting line and give the controls back to Rick Stewart? I think the auto-start dehumanizes the sport. When the late Buster Couch ran the starting line like a little kingdom I have to say he certainly contributed to the overall entertainment of NHRA drag racing -- and his word was law!

Just Wondering … Does it appear that most of those in management positions in drag racing continually underestimate the intelligence of their racers and fans? I think the execs who have never been directly involved as racers themselves are especially guilty of this.

Just Wondering … If the 300-mph speed number is so important for the attraction and success of NHRA or IHRA drag racing, why then, when either sanctioning body does a promo piece for TV they never show a montage of 300-mph passes but instead they concentrate on the crashes, engine explosions and fires?

Just Wondering … If NASCAR survived and even grew tremendously despite radically changing their engine rules to basically prevent 200-mph lap speeds, why would fuel drag racing be any less exciting at speeds under 300?
Just Wondering … Will John Force sooner than later have to give up driving to spend more time promoting and getting sponsorships like his peers and fellow team owners Don Prudhomme, Don Schumacher and Kenny Bernstein?

Just Wondering … How much longer will the Ford Motor Company continue to support four John Force Funny Car teams and two Tasca Ford FC teams? That's six teams and a lot of money to invest in just one class where, if we weren’t told the cars are Mustangs, no one would know.

Just Wondering … Why the NHRA sees a need to engineer a completely new engine combination to slow down their Top Fuel and Funny cars when the nostalgia nitro burners have proven beyond any doubt that mandating a single fuel pump with less volume, a smaller supercharger with less overdrive, a single mag and a smaller tire, or any combination of these, will slow down nitro cars? It's not rocket science, people.