RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM POMONA
Some random thoughts on the four days I spent at Pomona. I will start by saying I had a great time as I have for the past 35 years at the season closer. The only thing I have a beef with in the cost of parking. It is handled by the fairgrounds and not NHRA. I pay for pitside preferred and it is somewhat worth the 25 clams when you can drive right out. Driving into the track was a breeze.
In my view the races were very well run even though the number of classes was high. Everywhere I went the track personnel and concession folks were all very nice and courteous. The variety of food and the quality was also good. Man, those Pinks hot dogs were awesome! From what I heard from a close friend who was the event supervisor for the ambulance company contracted there was one person taken away by the police.
I thought the crowd was well behaved and fun. I met people from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. On Friday I met five brothers from Australia! I think the new suites are nice and look good too. It seemed to me that the crowds were bigger this year, especially the Thursday crowd.
I had a chance to talk to starter Rick Stewart on Sunday morning for about 5 minutes. He was still so mad over the Schumacher deal. He said he was so ticked that he forgot to put the redlight on Tony. Just human error. So to all the letter writers who ripped Stewart last week, just clam your pieholes for once.
To all the haters who berate the NHRA, stay home or go IHRA or independent racing. For the most part the sanctioning body is doing a good job. Not everything is perfect. This Finals had to be one of the most dramatic and action packed races of 2006, maybe of the last 10 years. I started going to the final race of the NHRA season by going to Ontario from 1970 to 1980, then OCIR from 1981 to 1983 and then Pomona from 1984 to present. It is a good race at a storied and legendary track. What bonehead said that no national records would be set at Parker Avenue? Track and national records took a beating.
Looking forward to 2007, the Winternationals are just 3 months away! Oh yeah, that race will mark my 40th consecutive race at Pomona. I am no newbie or rookie. I support the NHRA and consider myself a proud member.
The Lions Drag Strip DVD is just awesome, it is and always will be the "Greatest Drag Strip" of all time.
Is a $20,000 fine for Schumacher appropriate? Maybe.
Mark Hendon
Granada Hills, CA