Horsepower Heaven Feedback Page

Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999
Subject: jr. drag results

If you want the results for Seattle here they are. Amy Drzayich won, she had a .580 light and went 9.49 on a 9.44. Sean Kennedy was runner up and had a .498 light and went 11.97 on 11.64 (ouch that hurts, my third final for one of those little pieces of bronze too).

If you didn't get the results for Woodburn the winner was Sean Kennedy (now I get my wally) and the runner up was Amanda Elliot. I had a .523 light and went 11.47 on a .45 and she went 8.90 on an 8.90, the margin of victory was a close .016

Thanks Sean. I'm glad somebody cares about the HH coverage of the Jr. cars. I have had very little feedback from anyone on these cars, so the more I get, the more I'll post. LP

Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999
From: Carol & Bill Evans

Subject: Person of the year

Larry, I know who I will be voting for if this Ashcroft thing is for real. No matter what anyone's opinion of Bill Kraus is, the work he is doing (if it pans out) is probably the most significant single contribution to drag racing by anyone in western Canada in a long time. As for the northwest....we have those Oregon voters to convince.

Thanks for the plugs, it's been hard to get pumped lately. Keep up the great work. Why don't you buy a race car and find out how much time you really have to spare.

Hurry up with that website will ya!

Billy - 1st round - Evans

After this past weekend I'm adding Mike Scott to that list too. Sponsor, racer, organizor...Bill is really doing a job up the canyon though. Regardless who wins this award, it's just nice to know people are thinking about how much work so many people do in Div. 6, and thanks to the Internet we can all express our appreciation to those many hard working, dedicated folk.

Me??? a race car??? I learned a loooong time ago I can break cars a lot better than I can fix them. LP

From: "George and Karen Adams"
Subject: Woodburn
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999

I see you made it home it hasn't gotten any cooler here. I posted a few shots from Woodburn, all that Sun really made it hard to get a good clear image. Oh well, it's not like I know what I'm doing anyway. I put your mug on the Woodburn page and will try to get one of Carlson too. Good to have seen you again and best of luck!

Later George

Ok George, I'll forgive you...a picture of me. Scary. The heat must have got to you. LP

Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999
From: "Brian Cour"

Subject: Thanks, Larry ...

.. for your very professional assistance in helping with the difficult logistics in getting engine build-up pictures on our Drag Racer Magazine Stock Eliminator Camaro project. I visited with Robin Whitcomb today and he seemed pleased with what came out of your visit to his Beaverton Auto Machine shop.

Also, I enjoyed talking with you at Woodburn and wish you well in your Web ventures. Your efforts display a vision rare at this level.

Hopefully, we'll see you at the Mission National Open; at the Seattle national event, for sure. Until then, thanks again for all of the help.

Brian Cour

My trip to the Beaverton Auto Machine this past Monday was a learning experience, as I picked up more Stock Elim. engine building info in one day than a previous lifetime. Thanks to Robin Whitcomb and his fine crew for a fun, informative day, and make sure you all pick up a copy of the Sept. ish of Drag Racer for a chassis feature on the wild Camaro, followed next time around with the engine coverage. And thank you Brian for the kind comments and I'll see you guys in Mission...LP

Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999
From: Grant Stovel

Larry,

...Yes, the Mustang will be present at the Mission Open to get a 'leg up' on the provincial three track event.

Grant speaks of his ultra quick 5.0 Litre that we have not seen down south here in a while. I have not kept up on the local 5oh scene, so it should be fun. The series he speaks of is the combo of the National Opens at Mission, Ashcroft and the Bracket Bash at Prince George Aug. 7/8. Oh ya, Grant's a pretty decent photog too as this set of images from the recent Oldies race at North Central shows.

Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999
From: Marty J Peterson

Subject: Woodburn Event a Great Success!

Larry:

Well I must say that Jim, Jay, and their staff put on an outstanding event. It was by far the best of the season! I was amazed at the number of activities that they accomplished, and with the record NHRA class cars entered they had no problem putting on an exceptional event.

Thursday's testing was great, a person could have made 8-10 runs if they were so inclined (and I needed some practice). Friday's BBQ sponsored by Impatient Racing and Jim Hughes was well attended. Jim's secret Chili was a big hit and I don't know how many hamburgers were cooked (a couple thousand easy)! Saturday night's Jr. Dragster picnic sponsored by Don Rhyne and his folks was a great example of a hometown BBQ, complete with old fashioned root beer. I was very pleased to hear Chris's speech supporting the Jr. program by NHRA. His message was to make sure that we communicate to the track operators and let them know we support the Jr. program, and want them to continue at our Division events. The kids are a big part of our sport, lets keep it family oriented!

The golf cart races Friday night were also a great way to relax and have a ton of laughs. Like I said, I don't think they could have crammed one more activity into this weekend. Racing was excellent, the track well prepared, and the staff operating the event very pleasant. My hats off the Jim, Jay, and all the wonderful folks who helped make this a very fun, event filled weekend! They have set the standard for others to follow in the future!

-- Speedy

I could not have said it better. Thanks Marty. LP

From: Darrell Brown
Monday, July 12, 1999

Subject: Woodburn times

Larry, Here are our times from the Oldies "But" Goodies Nostalgia Drags at Woodburn Oregon June 26 & 27.

Qualifying:
1.     Mike Padur                          7.51 / 199MPH
2.     Gary Corbett                        7.57 / 185MPH
3.     Don Gorans                         7.63 / 199MPH
4.     Phil Ruskowski                    7.68 / 195MPH
5.     Dan Gorans                         7.90 / 187MPH
6.     Al Downs                              8.36 / 180MPH
7.     Jim Dillinger                         10.00 / 86MPH
8.     Jason Howell                        7.45 / 202MPH

Elimination Ladder:
Sorry this info not avail.

Consolation Round: Jason Howell 7.48/ 202 Phil Ruskowski 7.59 / 196 Al Downs 7.93 / 194 Single Run

We had good weather, over-cast but "No Rain" mid 70's. Close racing, a very nice crowd. In the Finals, Gary Corbett's dragster broke the pinion in his rearend right off the starting line. Gary's dragster came to a "abrupt stop" about 10 feet off the starting line. Gary is "ok", just his pocket book is a little thinner. Mike Padur went on to run a 7.52 / 200MPH to take the win. Our next race date is at Mission Raceway, the Langley Loafers B.C. Oldtime Drags, August 7 & 8.

Talk at you later. Darrell Brown / NW Nostalgia Top Eliminator Association

Man, this probably looked great on Darrell's screen, but the formatting for the ladder obviously didn't survive the email process.Hopefully Darrell can resend it, in a different design. Thanks for sending this in and I greatly look forward to seeing you guys at Mission in August. LP

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999
From: Darren

Subject: Another Bob update for you...

Hi Larry, Just a quick message once again to let you know in the near future Bob Wilson will be gracing your side of the world again. He won't be as happy as he might of been but I'll leave the descriptions up to him. Love the site and keep up the good work, oh and by the way Bob has been told by yours truly about the A/fuel cars being reinstated next year, his only real comment was that he's racing down here not there.

All the best, Darren

Thanks again Darren. We will be looking forward to Bobby's next update. It's been a rough journey for our buddy, but knowing Bob he will surely find something to be positive about. LP

From: "Tom Naccarato"
Subject: Lions Drag Strip today

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999

Larry,

I'm a former drag racer that is now out of the sport. Randy Goodwin (My lifelong best friend) told me of your site and I have been checking into the site from time to time.

I thank you for posting the letter Randy sent you regarding both him and Pete. As Randy has told you, they have worked hard to get to the point where they are at now competitively. In all of the years that Randy and I raced, we never achieved victory and seeing it happen this year with a person of Pete Swayne's talent and character is a crowning moment for me now as a casual observer. (I have swore to many that I'm completely "over" drag drag racing.) I still love the great memories I have from the age of 11 to my late 30's from being involved someway in the sport witherther it be working on a car or cheering my friends on.

One of those memories is Lion's Drag Strip, as well as Irwindale Raceway, and even more, Orange County International Raceway. The 70's were an incredible time for the sport, but they were also some of the worst, more specifically when we lost Lions Drag Strip here in SoCal. Even today, the off ramp from the 405 freeway onto186th still has a mysticism that will always consume me.

I saw my first Funny Car there on a Wednesday night. I was sitting in the west stands when all of a sudden a candy apple red 1972 Chevy Vega Funny car with the name Pisano & Matsubara rolled off of the rollers and boiled the hydes. Little did I know then the Pisano family would become friends and to this day that remains my all time favorite FC. There were times I would morbidly think of anyone finding the remains of Don Garlits foot which had been blown off from one of the most violent clutch explosions ever, but this mishap would end up ushering in the dynasty known as the rear-engined Top Fuel dragster. The place didn't just contain histiry, it wreeks it!

I'm an Electrician by trade, and I'm currently working on a project at Arco Refinery-Carson which is situated almost next door to the piece of land that lives in the hearts and minds of many drag racing enthusiasts both famous and persona non grata. This project is a polypropylene plant that will be the only one of it's kind on the west coast of these United States. From the 330 foot top level of the "Finishing Structure" I think you will get the point.

Ironically the drag strip existed exactly in the same line as the trucking facility that is there today that is just almost below the horizon. These shots were taken with a very expensive high dollar digital, but the camera just can't catch the entire site. Don't be confused that the asphalt strip that is NOT the drag strip. It was razed a week after the drag strip closed after many street racers were caught busting the locks on the fence and trying to use the track-what was left of it the night after the last drag race between Jeb Allen and Carl Olson. The crowds tore the place up for momentos.

The drag strip was directly under the trailers parked almost it's entire length. The site set vacant for almost ten years. Of course the public was told the land was to be used immeditely for commercial purposes, and that it became "Too valuable."

I do ask one thing, I'm currently going to be writing a small piece and try to sell it to another magazine and will be using the pictures, or one's without the crane in view. I ask that no one use these for financial gain, but please feel free to pass them around. I realize they may not be of any interest to anyone, but I do value them personally.

Thanks for providing a great site,

Tom Naccarato

If this isn't one of the neatest emails this site has ever recieved, I don't know what is. Thank you Tom for putting into words the kind of feelings real drag racing enthusiasts often experience. I took the time to take the three photos you sent me, put them together and hopefully identify the correct area. I was finally able to meet up with Randy Goodwin this past weekend at Woodburn and he proved to be be a great guy. Thank you so much for sharing your fotos and your words. LP

Click here for the Lions today foto montage.

Date: Sat, 3 Jul 1999
From: Jim Grant

Subject: If a tree falls....

Larry, I was thrilled to read on your site that Mission (and a "private promoter?") are bringing Warren Johnson and some as yet unnamed nitro cars to demo at the Mopac Open in just over 3 weeks. I am personally looking forward to watching the "prfessor" at the best track maybe anywhere, but so far most people I talk to don't know about it. What is the deal here anyway? Does anyone have any promotional plans for the coolest event at Mission in recent memory, or will it be kept secret. I am no business graduate, but it seems to me that if you don't tell people about it (a lot) there will be no one in the stands.

FYI, another 9,700 hits last month with the usual 12% or so coming from your fantastic site. We fell off a little because of the lack of fresh material, so I will be posting a new "What's New" within hours. Thanks again and anyone who needs exposure in any drag racing related industry would benefit from advertising on your site. Keep it up and they will come.

Jim

www.1320racing.com

Thanks again Jim,
I am a little disappointed that nobody has expressed any interest in advertising around here, although a bunch of people and businesses have expressed interest in me doing their websites. While that's wonderful it takes my time away from this deal,.It would be nice for a company already with a site, and finding out that getting hits is not as easy as many say, to get on board with HH as a race event coverage sponsor.

The best site in the world is useless if nobody knows about it...search engines? That's a game that changes so often it's not worth the considerable effort it takes to register and constantly work at to keep your URL in the top few. For example, yesterday I met with a company president who wants a site. He went into Excite to bring up the URL for the competition who just last week was the first one that came up. After going through five pages he gave up as it just wasn't there any more. Such is the search engine game that at the best of times only covers 30% of the constantly expanding Internet...and that is every engine on Earth COMBINED!

This site gets mega hits for one simple reason, and I have NEVER registered with a search engine. It works because I have spent four years promoting it within the sport. There is no better way. The site is not so huge that you get lost as in some other sites, and you get personal attention around here like no other drag racing site period.

I don't know what else it will take, so hopefully some company is forward thinking enough to commit. The opportunities for the first few are awesome, but they must understand how this web game is played and put all those old ideas from other venues such as magazines, mailouts, etc. in the trash. I can almost guarantee the first few companies that get into this will quickly get a major advantage over their competition. It's a new century people and if you're still promoting like you were even just ten years ago, you are behind...way behind.

Join the Horsepower Heaven Team and see what the the Internet, promotional & event videos along with some forward thinking will get you! Your first step will cost you as little as $500.

Ok, now I'll shut up. LP

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