: Like all sanctioning bodies involved with Pro Mods, NHRA is learning what IHRA learned a long time ago with this class: You change one thing, it just switches the balance of power. So should the NHRA have just left the rules unchanged?

BA: I’ve always felt that if you just leave the rules alone, the racers will work it out.

: Did you make the switch to a turbocharger to make a point with the NHRA?

BA: No, not really. The blown car’s sitting upstairs (in the trailer) and I’ve got another one at home, and they’re all ready to run. But I just wanted a new challenge. I’m not going to be doing this much longer. I’m getting old. I really enjoy the competitiveness of it. It’s a great class, if they don’t screw it up. And they’ve been famous for screwing a lot of things up.

: You mentioned you’re getting older. How old are you now?

BA: Seventy-one.

: You don’t look your age

BA: I feel 71 though.

: You say Pro Mod is a good class. Are you still enjoying racing in it?

BA: There are a great group of guys out here in this class. It’s a lot of fun, there’s a lot of camaraderie, and it’s very competitive. I just don’t want them to do to this class what they’ve done to the alcohol dragsters and funny cars. We (BAE) have made a lot of parts for those cars, but they (NHRA) have made Pro Mod  a cookie cutter class. They don’t let you do anything! Drag racing was built on ingenuity. Ingenuity! And they’re taking that away from everybody.

: Is what appeals to you about this class is that it’s kind of a throwback to the old days?

BA: That’s right. You can do whatever you want. If you want to build a Hudson Six, go build it! You can do it, and I like to see people do things.                                                                                                

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