Less time between rounds makes it hard to enjoy the total race experience

At 59 years old, I'm a lifelong drag racing spectator, competitor, sponsor, crewmember, etc.  I've attended the US Nationals every year since 1969, and have been to numerous events all over the country.  I just wanted to express my feelings about the TV coverage. 

I'm all for anything that helps the sport, but I have to say that from my spectator viewpoint the shorter times between rounds makes it harder to enjoy the races.  If you want to go to the pits to check things out, or go to the Manufacturers Midway, almost anything, you’re going to miss part of or all of the next round. 

I could go on but there is a whole lot of little things that have changed over the last 15 years or so that have really made it harder for the hardcore fan to enjoy the races.  Heck, I liked the TV coverage back in the ‘80s better than now.  Just my two cents.

Rick Brown

Another track for Baker’s list of forgotten drag strips

I just finished reading Jim Baker’s column about forgotten drag strips.  He always does such a great job!

Please ask Jim if he ever heard of White Hall, Illinois?  When we were beginning to make a name for ourselves in AHRA Ultra Stock (the class NHRA copied for Pro Stock), I got a call from a guy wanting to book us into a match race with the Biggers and Loo ultra stock Hemi car on the 1/8 mile.  I quickly accepted knowing our 409 – style Chevrolet powerplant (Z-11) in our ‘65 Chevelle could beat the Mopars on the 1/8 mile every time.  I never thought to ask the promoter if the strip was dirt, because I’d never heard of a dirt drag strip.

Imagine our surprise when we showed up and cars were running up and down on a dirt drag strip trying to pack down the watered dirt.  I must admit the bite was better than expected, but I wouldn’t go back because the car handled very poorly on the top end on dirt.  I have no idea what our times were, but we beat the Mopar.

John Martin