Lace up your hiking boots
Like I've been saying, the current regime cannot seem to handle this post-Wally era, whereas I feel Mr. Smith could. I believe the current folks just want to pad their retirements then cut and run. So sell it, lock, stock, and barrel to SMI and be done with it. After that you current fools in charge can go take a hike!
Jack W. Smith
Chesapeake, Virginia
Quarter mile lasts longer
I've always considered that going to 1/8 mile would be "OK", safer, etc. However, the "Chicago Wise Guys" just visited our local track and although they put on an excellent, competitive show, the 1/8 mile venue just seemed too short to me.
The race is far too quick. The only advantage as a spectator was sitting at the 1/8 mile mark watching the actual finish line.
Make mine 1/4 mile whenever possible.
Tom Ales
Larsen, Wisconsin
Another in a series
Re: Bruton Smith buys NHRA
Well done! Makes sense to me. Thanks for a great article (again!)
Bob Mencel
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada
Got Burk covered
If you need any help covering your offer for bets, I'd love to be on your side of the table when the cash starts rollin' in.
Once again you've hit the nail on the head.
When NHRA announced they were not going to change the ruling on the "Don" and the Nitro fairies, I sent an e-mail to Glendora letting them know that after nearly 50 years of being a racer, performance industry business owner, and advertiser, I was through with them... period. It will kill me to not attend anymore events, but if folks don't stand up for what's right, and pull their support from the playing field, nothing will change.
I just hope Smith does buy NHRA; it can't get any worse than these bozos have made it.
Richard Venza
Rod 'n Race Fiberglass
Suwanee, Georgia
Who owns NHRA?
I joined the NHRA 50 years ago and paid dues for many years, why am I not a part owner? How did Compton and his band of thieves become the owners? This deal stinks and you are the only one reporting it!
Marvin Carter
Memphis, Tennessee
No ‘I’ in drag race
Sorry to disagree with John E. Wilson but, after what I witnessed this past weekend, there is very little more to drag racing than NHRA. It would appear that IHRA is just about dead!
I attended the Nitro Jam at Martin, MI, only to witness oil-down after oil-down, with numerous hour-long cleanups, and fields of only eight fuel dragster and fuel funny cars. And in most qualifying rounds, half the drivers didn't even bother coming to the line to qualify because they were "in the show" just by showing up. Many times the on-track officials were standing, waiting for the next one or two cars to fire up and pull ahead to stage.
I don't think it would be a stretch to say there was as much down time on the track as there was racing. I was so disappointed that I didn't even go back for eliminations on Sunday. I paid $160 in advance for the best reserved seats. It only cost $140 in advance for the upcoming NHRA race in Brainerd. You can bet where I'll be spending my money in the future. At the rate they are going, the next time I want to attend a race, the IHRA won't be in business anymore.
Dave Smithers
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Keep the U.S. Nationals at Indy
My concern (purely personal) is that if Smith purchases NHRA and the tracks owned by them, the US Nationals could be run at a different track. As Indy is in need of many improvements, hopefully he would do that and keep the race where it belongs.
I have attended every Indy since 1963 and even though some of the original facilities still exist (talk about nostalgia), I still look forward to Labor Day weekend.
Greg Staley
Lafayette, Indiana