FEEDBACK ARTICLE: ENCORE SUNDAY - WORLD’S FASTEST GROUP

Thanks
for the great article.  I had the privledge to run with several of
these guys in the 80's and 90's at the Super Chevy series.  We did
about two thirds of the shows selling our Camaro and Chevelle parts and
got to know Robbie, Gordy,
and Charles.  It was a really fun and enjoyable time in my life.  These
guys were not only teriffic racers, but also terrific "characters" if
you know what I mean.  It was a fun time when we ran up and down the
highway together. 
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – THE ENERGY CRISIS OF THE MID-70S FORCED THE NHRA INTO ACTION

Earlier this week, NHRA President Tom Compton addressed the drag racing community through an Open Letter published on NHRA.com . The NHRA also announced a Fan Relief program on the same day. – Editor

Given the decisions made by the NHRA lately on all fronts not just the
economic side, please tell me how you are surprised by their
non-action. Everybody else has tightened their belts and doing whatever
they can both racers and fans alike and yet all NHRA can do publicly is
raise fees to protect their "profit". 

Notice I said "profit" not just operating costs.

If your are truly honest they have brought people in (Tom Compton) to
makes sure that they make a large profit every year to support the pay
and raises at the top while still letting go part of the lower level of
staff.  If that doesn't open your eyes as to why you have not heard
anything then you need shock therapy.

As an aside, there are many small circuits that have been formed that
have help the racer with costs and some have removed the cost of entry
to the racers and the fans.  Amazing that it works and they are growing
at a very rapid rate.  It is nice to see that "not invented here" is
alive and well in Glendora and that they are still making their
profits.  We can all sleep at night. - Jim Burke
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – WHIT BAZEMORE – WATCHING DRAG RACING FROM THE SIDELINES

As
much as I dislike Whit, he makes some extremely good points. My dad
mentioned to me that he had read this article and that I should, even
though I dislike him. I thought about it for several days then just did
it. Whit makes fantastic points about the sport basically shooting
itself in its own foot: why would you ever deny a sponsor in times like
these? This morning i counted 7 fuel guys and I think 9 Funny Car guys
that actually have a full time ride. Shouldn’t NHRA be seriously
thinking about this? You can’t even fill a field for an event? The
points he made about the Scott Kalitta tragedy was right on in my
opinion also.

PRO could actually be focused better also, that makes a bunch of sense
but they are choosing a different route. Whit actually makes sense this
time and I think this was a great article which needs to be consumed by
the higher ups at NHRA and PRO and really taken to heart. - Angie Crosby
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – RAHN TOBLER: A CROWING CHALLENGE

Rahn
has proven to be a super crew chief and to master both fuel classes is
an achievement. Nobody stays on top in Funny Car tuning consistently.
It is just too hard. What Rahn brings is steady consistency and tries
to keep the parts breakage to a minimum. I have followed Rahn thru his
years with Shirley and Doug.

I am a Kalitta fan to the fullest. Rahn has what it takes to be a premiere crew chief in the future. - Richard Ross

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – BOBBY BENNETT: PLEASE, SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING

At
the risk of sounding terribly negative, Mr. Bennett has a tremendous
amount of understanding when it comes to being familiar with NHRA's
mode of operation.  

So what's the beef?  You along with many of your constituents know full
well how the NHRA operates, and has operated over the past few years,
and it is only now that you are sending out an alarm that something
needs to be done? As a race team manager, and long time fan, I am
deeply troubled by the direction the sport is headed.  I along with
thousands of other fans are concerned, you are concerned, the sportsman
sponsors are concerned, the professional teams are concerned, the
drivers are concerned.  Guess what organization is whistling in the
graveyard?  

When Mr. Bennett and all of his fellow journalists who currently cover
the "NHRA beat" decide to conduct a concerted media investigation
regarding the foibles of the current NHRA Administration, and why Mr.
Bennett's sensible suggestions aren't being considered, only then will
things begin to change.  You will all be at the risk of losing your
media credentials when that happens, but if you are truly interested in
standing up for the sport and putting at risk your paycheck, only then
will things begin to change.  You have the power of the pen and
keyboard at your disposal and know who to direct our concerns at. So
what are you waiting for?

What's holding you back...fear? -- Dave Gutierrez-GBR Racing - Detroit, MI
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – THE WHITE WAGON: THE CAR THAT BUILT HISTORY

Thank You for the story about Gene Fulton's white wagon. That has to be
one of the best stories ever about a sportsman racer. You don't see
anything like that today. I love to see articles about hard working
people that accomplish so much from such a humble starting point. - Rob Turkal

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – RAHN TOBLER: A CROWING CHALLENGE

I
always felt this would be a great working relationship. Most people
don't know this, but Rahn started working on the Stevens & Venables
Dragster and Funny Car back in the late 1960's and early 1970's when he
was a kid. He had a long relationship with both Dick Sr., and Jr. I
knew this would pay off and turn into a great deal for the Cruzer and
Rahn. I worked with Steve Stevens at Southwestern Bell in those days
and have always considered Steve a great friend.

Steve and Dick Sr. basically taught Rahn the trade. - Earl Helm

FEEDBACK ARTICLE: REMEMBERING PRO COMP: AN ELIMINATOR FOR ANOTHER ERA

I was lucky enough to race during the early days of Pro Comp
Eliminator. There were 16-car fields of front and rear engine dragsters
running blown gas and alcohol motors, injected nitro dragsters and
funny cars, not to mention altereds of every conceivable configuration.
Bradenton (DeSoto Memorial back then) Dragway ran a 16 car show once a
month. Good racing with good racers. - Tim Hall

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – WHIT BAZEMORE – WATCHING DRAG RACING FROM THE SIDELINES

Either way I miss having you around ruffling people’s feathers. Hope you get a ride in 2009. - Bry Schmidt, Fresno CA