Thanksgiving Weekend NOVEMBER 21-25, 2007

LVMS 07 Bkt Nats Countdown Clock

Click here for last month's posting from this page

Nov. 12, 2007 update: WICKED STREET OF THE WEST will not be available for Xmas

Street cars..and trucks...and everything else
Just days away from what will now definitely be the biggest, baddest street car race in the world for 2007, and I'm sittin here on pins n needles wishing I could be there. Even went as far as checking air fares, which weren't bad, but because of SEMA, the hotel situation is downright criminal. So home I'll stay working on a bunch of projects, and hope to watch it online again...unless this rumor is true. Which it probably is after reading a number of Bigg's rants on the forum, many of which made the old Northern Thunder posts seem tame. Very tame. But hey, ya can't dispel what he's accomplished, and he does come from an automotive sales background, so I wish him the best and it'll be fun to see what happens with the site.

Yes the SCSN III should be awesome. Nearly 50 Pro Street entries, buncha ten fives, and all the rest. Good thing they have some bracket classes so one can sometimes take a pee break. Sorry Mark...About the only thing I would love to try at that race sometime is to have a street cruise down the 'other' Strip a night or two before the race starts. They've closed down parts of that street for ricer cars, so why not the real bad boiz?

As for last weekend I guess the Florida folks are not quite as experienced handling rain outs as us wet coasters. Judging from the comments on how it was handled, 2008 down there could be slim, but I've heard it all too many times before and bet half the guys whining now will be back in twelve months. Roth and Blair probably have big smiles on their faces right about now though.

One local team ready to haul down real soon are those fun fellas at Total Performance Racing. Check out the new paint on that big blown Silverado.

Speaking of new rides, we have some exclusive pics of the new McAmis Camaro of one Dave 'No Reaction' Jackson. Though he tried that 'wind-in-your-face' dragster thing, his heart remained behind doors. Look for the new piece to be out next year. Rumored reports of a six figure sponsor deal from AutoMaxUSA are just that...

As for the NHRA Pro Countdown. Ya sure the stands at Vegas were packed, but I feel it's more because of the locale than the event itself. Hold this race at a lesser strip almost any place else and I really doubt you'd get that many fans. Pomona? It's always full cause it's the last race of the year, nuff said.

I don't like the countdown, frankly I don't much like pro drag racing period, so I guess I'm biased. I looked at web sites from the Las Vegas Review Journal to USA Today, ESPN and the LA Times and I mostly could not find anything about the NHRA countdown, and on the few mainstream sites I could, I had to really dig for it. Even the NHRA site has the countdown headline a ways down the page, under scores of sponsor announcements. I went to DRO, and saw an IHRA headline. Only CompPlus had a stand out NHRA Countdown headline. Yes, I even checked the NASCAR homepage, and you guessed it - I had to look real hard to find anything about their countdown too. I'm so confused...

With the safety problems this sport has at the pro level, I really kinda like Jeff Burks thoughts about the sport going to multi length strips. 'Super Tracks' featuring 1/4 mile, 1000 ft mid range, and 1/8th mile small tracks. It works for NASCAR, I think this is one of the few roundy round ideas that could work in this new age of pro drag racing.

Speaking of the DRO honcho, should be interesting to read what he has to say about the Orlando rain out. I find his oft mentions about tipping a few in the stands could make this one a must read...

Wheelstand competition video

More proof that some of the best shooters are in the stands

One of the best CHRR photo features out there

Speaking of wheelstands, here are some Carlson pics from Boise. More on the track site.

What you can do with a core two duo, a pair of monitors, a good broadband connection, and way too much spare time:

Two screens, four windows, one live video feed, one live audio feed - all working at once. And ya, I've had more open at once. A lot more, just to see if it can do it. Oh ya, the little tv on the other side of my 'office' was tuned into the Cup race. My bum hurts.

I don't know what's worse, the rain in Orlando or the completely, totally, frikkin really overdun lame ass term 'Papa John'.

Wouldn't it be cool if:
After a pro drag racer wins a race, turns it around, comes back to the line, turns back down the track and does a quarter mile burnout waving to the fans. Then again, those crazies in Oz probably already do...

Real (long) World Street Nats
A long day, night & morning in O-Town. A lengthy rain delay saw just the second round of qualifying go until just past 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time - that's 2:00 a.m. Orlando time...and they still never got in a second hit for the huge Drag Radial class! So it'll be another long one today, as the Doorslammer world tries to keep the online signal from dropping. It worked great last night as I stayed up late watching the rather lame action as hardly any cars got down the rather 'damp' surface.

Fortunately the amount of video viewers made the feed much more stable. Some of the cool stuff I saw were Ed Thornton making about the best Pro Street run under super humid conditions then Tim Lynch coming out and running quicker that most of the PS rides..on ten fives! Somebody on YellowB said it best. "Maybe it's like snow tires, the narrow rubber works better in the dampness". Following that forum on one screen with the vid on the other was fun. But maybe the most fun was watching Tony Christian fail to make the program.

With the racing starting again about seven AM our time, you gotta feel not just for the racers, but the track staff.

Tune in here for the live video all day, and night if necessary.

D6 Goats in Vegas
Hard times for Todd Hoerner in Pro Stock and Bob Marshall in Comp as neither made today's show. One more time at Pomona next weekend.

Rainless in Seattle
And one more go in SeaTown today as the Halloween bracket bash goes down under what should be sunny skies. Pretty strange watching it rain in Orlando, but not here.

Buffering woes make my online video experience no fun...
I guess the web is still not quite television as I experience more problems than not trying to watch the RWSN online. I can deal with the occasional stoppage, but for whatever reason I can't hold a signal for very long, and after about the third 'on-the-bumper' pass I missed, turned it off in frustration and went back to work. Not sure if the problem is at my end or theirs, but I got stuff to do...

Lot's of 'regular' online coverage though including actual results at dragracingonline.com and lots of pics and info at comp+. And don't forget the always entertaining yellowbullet.com.

Oh ya, there's sumpthin goin on at Vegas this weekend, but I'm sorry, it don't hold a candle to what's happenin' in Florida. Next weekend is a different story however, as LVMS is the place to be in the southwest when the door wars come to THE STRIP. The question of Pomona or Sin City is an no brainer to this writer.

11:30 am update
Watch the Real World Street Nationals LIVE online today, tomorrow and Sunday courtesy Jimmy Biggs and the crew at Your Way Network! Live Link It's currently only a starting line cam, but it is tuned into the track announcers, and beats the heck outta waiting for text updates.

My web service was down for almost three days so just one quickie update:

Happy belated birthday to Dave Strell (Monday Oct. 22)...and he's gonna go crazy tryin to figure out how I know, but a happy 43rd birthday to the Dragun Dude Don Murray today!

2007 D6 Awards voting update
We've added a link on the right to a separate page you can use to send in your votes. Simply print it out and ad your choices then fax or cut and paste into the body of an e-mail. Just make sure you vote asap as it ends in just a few short weeks.

Don't forget the votes are open to not just racers, but fans, sponsors, track workers as well.

Congrats to the 2007 D6 National Open Champs
Top Comp - Dustin Hentges
Combo - Sean Kennedy
Super Comp - Mike Seekins
Super Gas & Super Pro - Mike Shannon
Super Street - Tony Hernandez
Pro - Curtis Munson
Sportsman - Brian Thompson
Snow Bike - Jim Sibley
Junior Lightening - Forrest Schiffman
Junior Thunder - Brooks Ellingson

Still racing in the northwest
They're still racing at Boise this day in the annual Halloween Classic. Rain plagued Thursday and Friday, but the weekend weather forecast was good, though it was kinda chilly with temps in the mid 30s Thursday morning. Hopefully they got the Air Firebird wheelstand contest in and we'll get some pics from Carlson...who is there with the repaired (finally) rig.

Next Sunday Oct. 28 at Pacific Raceways you'll get a chance to take in their Pumpkin Party and bracket race. The most recent forecast is great, so keep your fingers crossed.

LVMS and beyond
Plenty to take in down in the sunny southwest over the next month or so. Next weekend the pros come to town and I know a bunch of locals will be there both spectating and competing. Watch for the unofficial 'B/AA World Finals' that'll feature Bob Marshall of TCS in Langley taking on all the hitters in what should be a great Comp Eliminator race-within-a-race.

Then it's SEMA - the show that's all but impossible to see in five days or less, followed by the Street Car Supernationals at THE STRIP Nov. 1-4 that should feature 50 Pro Street rides of all shapes and sizes goin at it for west coast supremacy. Coming just one week after the Real World Street Nats in Orlando, it's a grand time for doorslammer fans. HH will not be at the race as we simply cannot ad to our already stupid-busy street car schedule. Besides, the race is already covered to death by video crews, most of whom have many more resources than this lil one-man-show.

Look for a number of Northwest racers to attend including Trevor Lowe, Dal Sangha, Brian Lane in a new '63 Corvette Pro Streeter, Trevor Wilms in the former 'bad Bob' El Camino (who will be out with major twin turbo EFI power in '08), The Mozniks Camino, and the TPR troops an dat bad azz pickup. Probably a bunch more, we'll update ya if we get more info.

Beyond that it's banquet time and the last race we know (or care about) being the big Thanksgiving Weekend Bracket Nationals, where else, but LVMS November 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.

Looking even beyond that we very much wanna be back in Vegas early in 2008 for either one of the nitro test session or maybe even the winter PSCA race.

In the meantime we have lots to do both here and the MRP site, so have fun if yur goin to Vegas, Seattle or whatever next week. We'll do our best to keep the updates comin here all winter long.

Attention HH production video customers
I am considering some possible changes in the packaging of the HH videos such as Hemi Heaven, the upcoming Wicked Street of the West, etc.

Because of ever increasing packaging and shipping costs along with the drastic devaluation of the US dollar compared to the Canadian dollar, I'm seeking my customer's thoughts on some possible future changes.

I'm thinking about doing away with the big plastic cases and fancy color case art. If I go to a simple cardboard CD/DVD mailer that holds just the disc that has minimal printing on it I can not only save a lot of money, but possibly get the discs to you quicker.

It's also been proven that a bare disc in a cardboard mailer is less susceptible to scratching and damage than one in a plastic case inside a padded envelope. Something that constantly causes me grief.

Going this route would not only stop any near-future price increases, but would save me a ton of work. The best win-win situation I can think of right now. Down the road I hope to someday have an online distribution system that would completely do away with me having to mail out the discs, but that won't happen for a while yet.

If I can't figure something out I will be forced to increase my prices by anywhere from $2-$5 per product.

So let em know what you think. A bare HH feature DVD or two in a plain brown wrapper or the fancy plastic case. Depending on the outcome I may even be able to put the prices down as packaging and mailing are my two biggest costs. I could also still sell the fancy packaged items at a slightly higher cost than the bare-bones product.

Thanks for the input. I would like to do this asap, so Eagerly await your e-mails.

LVMS D7 Finals frikin fabulous!
It's amazing what a week in the southwest sunshine can do for the soul after the wet, gray year we've experienced here in D6 for all of oh seven. Throw in some great bracket racing, and it's even better. And yes I said "bracket racing".

It was a race I really didn't think too much about going in. The 2007 NHRA Division Seven ET Finals at THE STRIP at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was gonna be much like the D6 version, but without knowing many, if any, of the cars and drivers.

Upon driving out to the track in perfect 80 degree mid-day sun last Friday I wasn't even thru the gates before I perked up bigtime. Motoring past those giant staging lanes my eyes feasted on tons of first class southwest hardware. MAN, there were some nice rides here!! Over 800 of 'em.

I was here to shoot some video for the D7 banquet. Fellow videographer Ryan Warter has been to a couple of Mike Rice's Lucas events for that part of the project, so here I was at the drag strip of drag strips to cover the ET racers. I would soon learn a lot that I didn't know previously.

They call the cars to the lanes here at 7:30 a.m., sometimes earlier, and cover the tree well into the night. That was cool for a couple of reasons. Knowing the kind of footage I needed, it would allow for the valuable Vegas 'sleep in'. Two, it would allow me to play with HD under the best lights in drag racing. And three, for the first time in this locale, have the time to meet and talk with the people who make the southwest drag scene happen. From drivers, to officials, track workers and crews, there is no better place to meet 'drag racers' than at an ET Final. And from the champions to some of the biggest names in the sport, I got to meet 'em all here.

I learned of the closing of LACR and how this would be their last team effort. Unfortunately I missed seeing Karen Stoufer run her VW bug, and many other recognized 'names' who came back for this one final fling for the strip up near the Lockheed Skunkworks in Palmdale.

I learned that the art of drag racing announcing was alive and very well indeed, as this was easily the best announced drag race I have heard in over 20 years. More on that later.

And I learned that my thoughts regarding track staff holds true no matter where you go. Bottom line being the folks who work the tower, the lanes, the top end, etc. are among the most important, hardest working, and under appreciated people in the sport.

Many thanks to Rice who made the trip possible. He's getting right into this banquet video deal, and it's awesome that he doesn't forget his old friends from the great Northwest. And of course Chris Blair, whose team took the title whereupon he hauled out the bubbly for his team to celebrate...which they did quite heartily may I say. Thankfully they included yours truly, despite causing a minor Monday morning headache...

It'll take me another day to backup all the video (I didn't shoot any stills) then get back on track with all the 'regular' work amid scheduling the next month worth of jobs. That includes a couple of small individual projects, and yet one more good hard look at 'Wicked.' I'll work on all that e-mail too, but don't be surprised if I don't answer some for a while.

Voting is now open for special awards to be presented at the NHRA Northwest Division Champions Banquet, set for Saturday, December 15 at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport.
To vote, send your selections via email to jadams@nhra.com, or fax your votes to the Northwest Division office at 253-826-4363. Voting ends November 7, 2007.

Tracks:
- LODRS Track of the Year
- Summit Racing Series Track of the Year
- Most Improved Track

Drivers:
- Top Alcohol Driver of the Year
- Sportsman Driver of the Year
- Mel Bresaw Memorial ET Driver of the Year
- Don Rhyne Memorial Jr. Driver of the Year
- Rod Hoerner Memorial Rookie of the Year

Crew Chief:
- Jerry Verheul Memorial Top Alcohol Crew Chief
- Sportsman Crew Chief of the Year

Special Awards:
- Sponsor of the Year
- Gracious Lady Award
- Ernie Hall Memorial Person of the Year

Great CHRR photo coverage at www.nwdragracing.com

HH will be 'out' for the next two weeks
We're outta here from tomorrow on for a couple of weeks for the annual HH trip to Vegas. We'll be at the D7 Bracket Finals and will leave our computer and phone at home, so don't bother trying to contact me for anything for the next two weeks. Don't worry about Garlits, as we have a full time house sitter...sorry 'cat sitter' coming in to keep the little fart company.

As for 'your' video or photo project, we're full right up to the time we leave so if you haven't asked by now, wait'll November. As for 'Wicked'...it's been a month since I've touched it, but have a 'plan' to release soon after I get back. Stay tuned.

Eagle Motorplex photos are in the mail
Thanks again to all those who got in on our photo gig from the race a couple of weeks ago. Half are in the mail while the rest will be delivered to the track/banquet this weekend. If you are not there they will be mailed out next week.

Mission final drag race of 2007 tomorrow
Though it's obvious we're in full 'winter mode' the past few days, the MRP forecast is for a race day...or should I say evening. It's the 22nd MOPAC Friday Night street legal attempt of the year and if last Friday was any indication the regulars will all be out along with a few bracket bashers who somehow get plates.

Should be a fun deal that will go until the dew sets in. Remember it's not summer, the track will be a little cool once the sun goes down, but hey, it's the last drag race of oh seven so you can be assured a few will lay it down, run under what they are legal to, do big burnouts, scream, yell, and have their final foot-to-the-floor fun for about six months.

You are all invited to the 2007 Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers induction ceremony
Among those being honored at this prestigious event will be Terry McHardy, a deserving guy if there ever was one. Unfortunately we'll be away on Sunday October 14, but check out the pdf file here for all the info. Believe me, it's a really, really, fun time, but it fills up very quickly so get there early.

I'm sure I've forgotten something so I may get one more posting in before I go. Some Mission Friday pics fer sure.

See ya soon.