WHAT WOULD JUNGLE BE LIKE TODAY?
"Berserko" - Thanks so much for sharing your memories and these photos of the all-time greatest showman in drag racing history. I was just 14 when I found out my hero, Jungle Jim, had been killed in a highway accident. Believe me, I cried! What a sad day for drag racing.
I think Jungle was what John Force became - the ultimate showman and yet dedicated to winning as well. I have always wondered what he would be driving now, what kind of sponsor he would have, and how many wins he would have ended up with. I'd love to see some sort of art contest on this website with entrants drawing or Photoshopping some modern Fuel Coupes in a way they think Jungle might have his car painted if he were still alive.
Again, thanks, and stay well.
John Murnan
Cottage Grove, Maine
MOVIN’ TO JERSEY?
As someone who is an old geezer, who saw Garlits break 200 at island who saw 100+ funny cars/match bashers at one race and saw most of the touring pros of the ‘60s, I wish they would bring this type of racing north to E-Town.
Thanks. Great mag.
Gene Cistaro
New Jersey
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WHY NOT DRAG BOATS?
They need to open a new track in Oahu. There is nowhere to race besides streets.
Logan Ator
Hawaii
TRACK WATCH
Have you guys heard anything on either of the two new tracks that were to be built in Illinois (one near Kankakee and the other near Minonk-which I believe was to be called I-39 Raceway)?
Thanks!
Dan Watrob
Chicago
HOW’S WEIS DOING?
I believe the photo that you ran in the Agent 1320 article about Scott Palmer was a photo of Scott Weis. BTW, does anyone know how Scott Weis is doing after his wheelstand in Joliet?
Randy Hancock
Claremore, Oklahoma
HEAT STROKE
Will Hanna's heart is in the right place, but he obviously does not live in Division 2, or does not get the Weather Channel or own a house with windows. It is insane to schedule a divisional race anytime between mid-June and the first of October in the South, as it will be miserable or raining or both.
However, four races in seven weeks is designed to appeal to the Northern racers who want to claim Division 2 rather than the local low-buck racers who don't have unlimited vacation time in a two-month span or the patience to explain to our bosses why we need four Fridays off in a row.
John Rollins
Tallahassee, Florida
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YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS, WE’VE GOT ANSWERS
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John Force Racing Inc. epitomizes the term professionalism and should be considered one of the sport’s greatest and probably already has been!
And whatever became of Eddie Hill, Chris Karamasines and Tom McEwen?
Who was the first driver to break 200 mph?
Dom Fiorino
Boone, Iowa
Eddie Hill retired from drag racing and lives in Texas; Chris Karamesines still lives in Chicago and races Top Fuel on the IHRA circuit; Tom McEwen is Advertising Director for Drag Racer magazine in California. Don Garlits was the first drag racer to make an official NHRA run over 200 mph in August 1964, but Karamesines turned in an 8.82 at 204.54 mph at Illinois' Alton Dragway on April 4, 1960.
SANITIZED FOR YOUR PROTECTION?
What's wrong with saying "save my ass"? I watched the coverage of the Dallas race and after Force's wreck, Larry Dixon made the statement that he feels safer in his race car than a rental car at 55 mph. I believe the quote is: "I feel like I could run over a nuclear bomb and the racecar would save my ass". All the written reports I've seen since have quoted him as saying "I feel like I could run over a nuclear bomb and I trust in that."
How can they put quotation marks around it when he didn't say it? Just a gripe of mine.
Here's wishing John Force a complete and speedy recovery. He's an amazing person who has been a major boon to our beloved sport.
Tom Schiltz
North Canton, Ohio