Picking up a little side work

With the economy still slow, racers have to pick up sponsors and extra money where they can find it. Over the past couple of months, the “Invader” jet dragster team have been involved with a few television segments.They are prominently featured in the new 2010 Ford Taurus ad “Sound Check” which depicts an interior quietness test with the Invader jet-powered dragster between a 2010 Taurus and 2009 Acura RL. Also the Invader team just completed shooting of a segment of the new NBC-produced show, WX Proof, which will air on the Weather Channel starting in August. The show tests “weather proof” items. Here’s a link to the Ford spot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn1JhzWPmMQ [8/3/2009]

New AAFC makes debut

Claude Lavoie out of Sherwood Park, Alberta, has been a regular in A/Fuel nostalgia dragsters, but this past weekend during the 'Loafers Old Time Drags' at Mission Raceway Park he debuted his new AA/FC GTX.  He had hoped to have put some passes on it at the recent NFC race at MRP but wasn't quite ready. After some half-track shut-off passes, he ran a 6.16 at 206.28 mph clicking it off around 1100 feet. He completed licensing Sunday with a 6.08 pass. His dragsters run Kenny Youngblood paint, so we are looking forward to seeing this one finished. (Paul Grant photo) [8/3/2009]

Nitro Harley record falls at Rocky Mountain Raceway

Phil Schmidt of Orangeville, Calif., set a new Nitro Harley record of 6.667 at 212.41 miles per hour at the Salt Lake City, Utah, track. The previous record of 7.063 was set by Joe Timmons in 2005.

Tony Palo took home the win for Rocky Mountain Raceway’sfirst annual $10,000 MFactory Shooutout. This shootout included some of the west’s fastest front-wheel-drive sport compacts.
  

The night’s winners included Mike Green (Top Sportsman), Tracy Holt (Top Dragster), Ryan Cook (Super Pro), Jesse Sanderson (Pro), Jeff Zogg (Motorcycle/Snowmobile), Jay Schumer (Sportsman).

Ron Maroney’s “Shark Attack” was one of the cars taking part in RMR’s Funny Car Fever.  (photos courtesy Rocky Mountain Raceway) [8/3/2009]