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It’s all Greek to me

Ja, Jeff, well put! I think the issue of the 204 by Chris "The Great Greek" Karamensines should left alone and the 204 stands. Thanks, Cole, for a great OVERDUE article on Chris in Hot Rod mag.

As for the 4-wides at Z-Max, the safety crews better be ready for the full-bodied Altered Pro Mods as the most ill-handling class. I love them but... Keep them cameras ready.

Back in the days at Aquasco Speedway in the early '60s "The Greek" was booked for three exhibition runs. The dragstrip was being redone and the shut-off area was being lengthened, but it was not paved yet about three hundred past the finish line. It had rained that morning. Well, Chris made a pass and went off in the mud and made a mess of the car. Don Maynard asked him, "Are you crazy? Why did you go so fast and into the mud and mess up the car?" Chris’s reply was, "I am paid to put on a show. Didn't I do that?" We all grinned and walked away. He is funny too!

Congrats on your award. You deserve many more. By the way, how is Chris Martin doing, and will he be back writing anytime soon?

Jack Redd
Camp Springs, Maryland

Sadly, Martin has given up on writing and spends his days in front of the television railing at capitalists and the rest of the world. In other words, about what he has been doing for most of his life.

Still racing after all these years

Amen on Chris Karamesines! The guy is a legend and hero to me, always!  Long, long, after TV Tommy, Big Daddy, Snake, Mongoose, etc. shelved their gloves, here is the Golden Greek, eight decades on, still qualifying for NHRA events. Still getting his hands dirty on the car between rounds. Harkens back to (for me) better days when there were more job titles of "owner/tuner/driver".

Yeah, Greek is what passes for a "low buck" racer now in Top Fuel. Even though not one out of 100 of us could put together the scratch to go race one weekend in NHRA Top Fuel as a "low buck racer". His small, plain-vanilla hauler doesn't see the crowds that Schumacher and Force get. But I never miss the opportunity to go stand near the hauler of a real groundbreaker in our sport. It is an honor for me just to be in the presence of the team and watch them work. Four-second passes in a nitro car when you're over 80 years old, are you kidding me!? I hope I can still make the walk to the bottom row of the grandstands when I hit 80!

Jeff Wood
Port Clinton, Ohio

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