If it didn’t happen in California, it didn’t happen?

Burkster, right on about the Golden Greek. Californians always have the philosophy that their cars are faster, but that just ain't the case.

I particularly recall when we were running in the Midwest and tracks were giving Gary Dyer times in the eights in the Grand Spaulding Dodge.  All the Western-based newspapers said those times were bogus. Gary went to Lions and came off the trailer with an 8.63, and won the meet. The California press quit dissing him after that.

I also remember when we were beside Danny Ongais when he ran the "first six-second run" at KCIR. Our 7.20 car was ahead of him until we lost the rear end.

Give us a break, California. Yes, you were the pioneers, but you are seldom the best because of your attitudes. Ask John Force how many races he won before he purchased Austin.

John Martin
Nixa, Missouri

An eyewitness

Well, Jeff, everyone can say what they will about Alton, The Greek, and the 200 mph shot, but I was there that day and I've never doubted the time! Chris was head and shoulders faster than everyone else on the grounds that day, period!

Nowhere is there any mention of that nasty stuff being mixed in tanks at that time, but smart money says that they probably had some chemical assist in the fuel tank above the Devi's juice.

Whatever the real deal was, he's got the first 200 in my book. Thanks for the article!

Ron Evans
Lovington, Illinois

Better racing through chemicals?

One of the things I heard was that (Karamasines and Maynard) used hydrazine. If so, that could very well be the reason the car ran 204. I've heard many stories that cars running hydrazine would run incredible speeds on a pass, then melt the motor the next pass. I also heard that Karamesines ran 199 MPH that same year at different tracks, which would have backed up the 204 pass.

By the way, who gets credit for the first seven-second ET? Garlits was credited with a 7.88 ET that some thought bogus. Tommy Ivo ran a 7.99 in Dec 1962 that was supposed to be the first legit seven-second ET. Be interesting to know who was first.

Well, at least we know that Eddie Hill ran the first four-second run and Kenny Bernstein the first 300 MPH run in Top Fuel. Although, if ya wanna argue those figures, who ran the first 300 speed and four-second ET in a non-wheel driven car (jets or rockets)?

Cliff Morgan
Phoenix, Arizona

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