SHIRLEY'S LUCK
I've been around drag racing since the mid 1970's. I have noticed one thing that stands above the rest. Shirley Muldowney has ALWAYS had a chip on her shoulder. If she won, she was arrogant and condescending, and when she didn't qualify, she was a miserable "person". I couldn't STAND seeing her interviewed. And it hasn't changed to this day. The same venom.
Shirley was the beneficiary of the same "luck" that Melanie Troxel received, MANY times. Perhaps she should talk to her husband about what it takes to tune a car against a strong opponent. That's the gamble. Either a great run or you go up in smoke trying.
In all honesty, I don't care if it's a guy or girl behind the wheel. It's who gets from A to B, without "attitude". I do have a soft spot for Scelzi and Force's commentary, though. Besides making a person laugh, those guys can even lose with class. THAT is a competitor, not Shirley's venom.
Jeff Parker
New York
REMEMBERING RONNIE SOX
May the best guy to ever bang a 4-speed rest in peace. Ronnie Sox was a stud shifting gears. Why does some guy always come in and screw a good thing like that ugly power steel Firebird, that is not in the spirit of the class.
Mark Hendon
Granada Hills, CA
'DA GRUMP' IS STILL OUT THERE
With the passing of Ronnie Sox do yourself a favour and get to an NHRA National event and witness the wonderful tuning skills of a living legend. Bill Jenkins you have to admire. I
love watching him do his magic. I was at Seattle a couple of years ago with my stepsonwhen Bill was the crew chief for Dave Connolly and it was wonderful watching him do his stuff.
Sure, I'm from the sixties, and I'm a racer to this day, but to hear my son say look at how young the driver looked I couldn't help but say, Son look at the man standing in front of the running engine. That's who I was watching. He said, Who is that old man in the polyester. I said, Son there is a living legend. That's why you like Dave Connolly.
I had tears in my eyes just watching Bill Jenkins and I love to this day watching him stand next to the starter with his note pad in his hand.
This is a gifted man and everyone should get to witness and enjoy a LIVING LEGAND while he's with us.
Terry Spargo
Vancouver
FOUR LANES, NO WAITING
A comment to a letter grom Richard Burbick about four lane racetracks:
Good idea, and I can remember very early in the mid-sixties, seeing a track that was wide enough to run four Top Fuelers AT ONE TIME. It was unreal! The amount of launch tire smoke was like a forest fire. I remember attending rock concerts with two stages.... one would finish and the next would start up. No lag time, but the bands didn't have rev-limiters and hardly ever scattered oil everywhere. Subtle '60s humor, but you all get the point!
Rik Chidester
Poulsbo, WA
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