PUTTING THEM OUT OF OUR MISERY?
Burk, I just have to add, all those people who call you jaded, and cry about you not being ecstatically happy about the degradation of the NHRA, probably believed in Reagan's voodoo economics in the 1980's. They are the disciples of the glass half full philosophy. Well, for those in power, the glass is half full. The rest of us in the unwashed masses watch our glasses slowly being drained past the half full mark. I refer to the conditions of drag racing these days rather than money. Tom Compton has become the Uriah Heap of the NHRA. And the good ol' boy system could care less what we think. Don't even waste your time writing to the NHRA. You will not get an answer and you will never get that 15 minutes of your life back.
Burk, keep writing about the reprehensible condition of the tracks and the aloof attitude of the management. I doubt it will change things, but it will keep the rest of us mindful of the dog and pony show it has become. And I personally don't believe that PRO will ever develop enough spine to directly confront the issues or switch sanctioning bodies. And I don't think Bruton Smith buying the NHRA will be the salvation everyone expects. You think he got where he is by listening to the little guys? Maybe he would best serve drag racing by forming a new body, or reviving the AHRA. That would put a log in the NHRA's eye. As far as a boycott being the harbinger of drag racing's collapse. Maybe the upper echelons of the pro classes. There are two many grass roots racers to ever say drag racing is dead. Maybe it's just time to euthanize the two existing bodies.
Keith Lewis
Carlsbad, New Mexico
AND THE OSCAR® GOES TO…
I would love to hear that conversation again between John Force and Bernie (Fedderly) prior to his car blowing the tires off in the final round in Atlanta. Sure sounded like a planned event to me. Anyone who was watching on ESPN2 heard part of what I am talking about.
Wesley Young
Kettering, Ohio
YOU ‘DA BAUM’
Listen Burk, you may not know your right from your left... Just don’t forget who the original ‘Bomber’ is. LOL, Timmy boy is long dead and I am still going.
Tom Baum
Des Plaines, Illinois
PASSION VERSUS DOLLARS
A passion for the sport. Those days are gone and now driven by the very light green dollar. The Steve Gibbs days. A love for the sport, and worked hard no matter what his position was in the NHRA. He was at the track, day and night, and was their most of the time to either be yelled at, although not too many yelled, or to be asked why or how come? And most of the time he would look you in the eye and give you a good reason. He truly had a love for the sport. And yes there were others, Jack Hart, Dale Hamm, and many others.
Now the sport is driven by the dollar! And I assure you that not much of that dollar goes to the racer, not even the pros for all they do. And the Sportsmen, and I use the word very loosely, are just putty and fill in the cracks. You’re not the little guy. The ones with the little budgets and the 250+ dragster and funny cars. Oh and let’s not forget the real little guys and gals that tow from Pomona to Gainesville, just to be there for a chance to fill a crack.
I remember years that Cal and Mary Ann Method towed. NO, I take that back, Mary Ann towed from Pomona, CA,. to Phoenix, to Gainseville, and back to the West Coast, with two cars. Cal flew home, and worked and then went to meet her, to race stockers. And many others, and they have a passion for the sport. Many of the workers, have that passion, and love for the sport. I can tell you it sure isn’t for the air ticket and the $5.60 an hour for god knows how many hours. The good old days were truly Good! And I think I'm done now. Oh well who really has that passion any more?
Hell, I can't even spell. Thanks.
Louie Murphy
College Place, Washington
BUT WHO PAYS THE BILLS?
Can a driver have two seconds to his or herself (way to go Ashley) after winning a race, or few seconds with the crew guys at the top end before being surrounded by the sponsors from Dick's Auto Supply and the guys from Stuffed Shirts gear? The top end at the Southern’s was a joke. Ashley's crew guys had to dose four sponsors with Powerade before reaching her. Pathetic.
Charlie Undershirts
Norwalk, Ohio