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Monday
June 30, 2008
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NOTE: Once again I'm over the top in web & video work which has resulted in me missing replying to a few e-mails which have also been coming in at a frantic pace. If you needed a response and have not yet got one, please feel free to try again. -LP
Congratulations to the Johnson families
Kelly and Randy Johnson (Johnson Boys 2007 D6 Top Sportsman champions)
on the birth this morning of Wyatt!
Pat Stewart sent this cool news into HH today: "As far as we
can confirm on Sunday in Hot Rod car 5150 driven by Darren Dilley tuned
by Pat Stewart became the quickest VW powered beetle in Canada. We ran
a 9.74 @139.04. The car has a turbo 2275cc VW engine. It is a 1956 steel
body on a tube chassis. Still lots more in the car, just need to get
it dialed in.
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Top Fuel Pro Fuel Pro Dragster Pro Mod Modified Destroyer Super Gas |
Stock 883 XL- Runner Up- Christine Sweaden Pro Street Super Bike Street Hot Harley King of the Hil - Bruce Romak Gas Shootout - Dave Wiebe Fuel Shootout - Gord Smith |
Mission
Pro Mod race ends in confusion
Speedzone
Magazine works to sort it all out along with full results
Another gem for your Ford Freaks...exclusive HH images of Jim Van
Cleve's new Hadman car. Yes, that Hadman. All we'll tease ya
with for now is a quote from Jim himself. "I don't want this up-and-down
thing like the old cars. Just you know...about 18 inches or so
off the ground. Thru third gear."
Also here's an update on the Mission Mega Ford Weekend in September.
--
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Sunday
June 29, 2008
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After three days n nights of heat and skeeters at MRP, we along with everybody else are totally toast...literally. But that won't stop us from posting the MRP results on the track page here and unofficial Bremerton NHRA National Open results courtesy of Rich Carlson. Please fell free to excuse (and inform me of) any incorrect spelling.
Winners at Bremerton include
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Saturday Top Comp - Dave 'No Reaction' Jackson Stock/Super Stock Combo - Ryan Warter Super Comp - Thomas Gresham Super Gas - Jerry Earp Super Street - Tony Hernandez Bike - Milo Bennett Super Pro - Joe Mura Pro - Sean Kennedy Sportsman - Pete Oliviero Junior Thunder - Ashley Lindsey Junior Lightning - Makayla Quan |
Sunday Top Comp - Joe Mura Stock/Super Stock Combo - Mark Faul Super Comp - Thomas Gresham Super Gas - Jerry Earp Super Street - Larry Minor Bike - Jim Funderburg Super Pro - Dennis Kooker Pro - #J600 Sportsman - Brian Thompson
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On a personal note, congratulations to a bunch of great HH supporters, Don Murray (Pro Street) and Jim Shellenberg (Top Fuel Harley) who both laid down their first six second, 200 mph passes today in heat at Mission. And at 15 lbs under official weight, Brian Lane's 6.49 is on track to a new Pro Street NW record. He says he'll be back at MRP for the Open and wants the official mark. Can't wait! Kinda think Big Jay may have sumpthing to say about that too...And how about that 6.05 from Mark & Jake Sanders Mr Explosive nitro nostalgo flopper...and a bunch more neat stuff, but man I am DUN for tonight.
We've got some awesome stuff coming at ya the next few days including some amazing in-car footage from three...count 'em THREE six second 200 mph rides!
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Friday
June 27, 2008
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Don not draggin and Lane to try Pro Mod
The local Pro Street scene has long been an 'on again, off again' class
with this weekend's first Canadian Pro Street Association race of 2008
no exception. They are all 'little guy' racers in every sense of the
word with limited budgets and high expectations, so patience is definitely
a virtue in these ranks.
Even though it's almost July, all are not yet ready. No
word on Dal Sangha, but he is not expected to race, then yesterday we
learned that Brian Lane will be here in his new ex-Ricki Smith Corvette,
but will be competing in Pro Mod, not Pro Street. Now late last night
we get this bad news from Don Murray:
"Fired car up tonight, runs awesome but encountered a battery
problem so we will not be racing this weekend".
Even so it should be a great door car weekend with the CPSA contingent,
the Canada West Doorslammers and the West Coast Pro Mods all on hand.
A cool rumor on the NPSA (Northwest Pro Street Association) forum is that big, bad Comp T-bird of Mark Wolfe is hoping to be able to run 6.30s with his new turbos...and get this, is possibly hinting he may attend a northwest street car race sometime! Here's hoping he will be able to make the Mega Ford weekend at MRP September 13/14 with the new hairdryers in place.
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Thursday
June 26, 2008
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Well, I'm up against the gun agin, workin on customer vids as I move into the next big three days of racing, so not sure if I'll get any time to post more Seattle stuff. You'll just maybe hafta show up at the year-end banquet for all the bitchin bike, Comp, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster and more video.
The Handlers' Racing Association, Inc., dba Bremerton
Raceway invites you to a fun and action packed weekend
It all starts when the gates open Friday, June 27th at 8 am. We will
have a full day of racing with a Test & Tune beginning at 11 am.
Tech cards are $35.00 for car and driver. Adding to the excitement we
will have a Non-Electronics Shootout and NW Fast Bracket Association
Shootout that begins about 2 pm. Entry fee for the Non-Electronic Shootout
will be $50.00 cash. The NW Fast Bracket Shootout entry fee is $100.00.
Both fees include a Mulligan which can be used if you lose the 1st or
2nd round. Registration will be in the Pro Shop at the base of the tower.
Saturday, June 28th, will be a battle for the "Wally" on the 1st of 2 Bremerton Raceway National Opens. The gates open at 8 am, qualifying starts at 9 am for Sportsman, Pro, Super Pro, Bike/Sled, Junior Dragsters, Stock/Super Stock, Super Street, Super Gas, Super Comp, and Top Comp. NHRA Class Entry fee is $200 for the weekend or $125 per day. Bracket racing is $35 per day for Sportsman, Pro, and Junior Dragsters, $40 per day for Super Pro and Motorcycle.
Sunday the gates open at 7 am for Bremerton Raceway's 2nd National Open, which is also a Team Bremerton point's race. Qualifying starts at 9 am for Sportsman, High School, Pro, Super Pro, Bike/Sled, Junior Dragsters, Stock/Super Stock, Super Street, Super Gas, Super Comp, and Top Comp. Bracket racing is $35 per day for Sportsman, Pro, High School and Junior Dragsters, $40 per day for Super Pro and Bike/Sled. Who will claim a coveted "Wally"?
Gate admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for Active Duty Military and children under 12 are admitted free if they are accompanied by an adult.
We want to remind you if you bring a pet it must stay
in an enclosed container, in your pit during racing. We appreciate all
owners being responsible by cleaning up after their animals. Also, anyone
operating anything on wheels MUST have a valid driver's license; this
includes golf carts, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.
The CPSA entry list is now posted on the MRP site.
Slow motion Stocker and Super Stock wheelstands from Seattle
Am running out of time, but here's the first of a 'few' videos from Seattle. You'll see the awesome, awesome Turbo T-Bird of Marysville's Mark Wolfe take the AA/AT records from John Mihovetz. You can bet the 'other' west coast Ford won't take this lightly and will try to get it back. Should be a fun deal to keep track of.
Mark sent this info into HH: "The record we set was 6.513 on the third qualifying run and then on my 'runner up' run in round one where it shook so hard it still went 218.69 mph and reset the mph record again after we had already set it at 217.97 on our first qualifier."
Wolfe and the crew from George Scott's Turbo
Technology Inc. in Tacoma won't be sitting back however as he added
"we just picked up Turbonetics
as a sponsor, they are going to get us some new turbos next week!!"
Few clips of the alky/nitro cars at Seattle last weekend includes the final Friday night session when Randy Eakins laid down an awesome 5.262 under the lights to claim the top spot. It's followed by a few top end shots of the second alky qualifying session. Of note is that we captured a couple of rather wild flopper runs during this period, but with what happened across the country didn't feel too much like posting them.
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Wednesday
June 25, 2008
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Seattle Funny Car Final and Top Alcohol Dragster Final and winner interviews now posted on 1320tv.com. More video coming soon.
Lotsa buzz this past weekend around the upcoming Pacific Sportsman Nationals August 15/16/17 at Pacific Raceways. It's probably the biggest bracket race ever in the northwest with a $50,000 guaranteed purse. For complete details go here.
Another giant August event is the $75,000 37th Annual Nightfire Nationals at Boise Idaho. Sadly yet again HH will be unable to attend due to commitments at MRP which runs the CMDRA race the same weekend, but if you are anywhere near Boise that weekend make sure you attend one of the greatest events in the drag racing world. See the three page flyer here.
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Tuesday
June 24, 2008
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Safety fallout strikes too close to home for this guy
As I work on an update for later today, I urge all of you with video
and still cameras who use them on the starting line at Mission to please
read the new crew photo/video rules HERE.
The words of Don Prudhomme regarding the Kalitta tragedy have recoiled through my brain all day. It was something like "I never thought something like that could happen." I don't want to ever hear some photographer's or crew member's next-of-kin say that to me.
What I'm talking about are the crew, friends, family who shoot (mainly video) and stills of their racer often squatting down inside the guardrail their backs to vehicles in the burnout box. Makes me wonder why the hell that wall is even there. And you'd get NO PROBLEM from me if access to that area was ever taken away for EVERYONE, me included.
There has recently been a lot of problems with such people feeling they can go anywhere they want on the line to shoot their stuff. Well as long as I'm in charge of such things at MRP this will no longer be allowed. If I get too much flack I'll walk cause I don't want to be one of those sued when somebody gets hurt or worse when either a bike or a car goes squirrly on the burnout and runs them over. Those of us who have done this for a long time know it happens. Not often, but it happens. We have all had our own close calls. I take special care when I do this, unfortunately amateurs with video cameras do not.
And if you can't get the shot you want from behind the wall a mere few inches further back, then give the camcorder to somebody who can, cause your photo skills not only suck but YOU are a danger to others. Imagine the feeling of the driver who runs you over, not to mention the sight of it in front of dozens if not hundreds of others.
I have actually had lengthy conversations with other photographers, emergency workers and even tech guys about "what do ya think would be the best thing to do if this happens". And yes, I've been given shit to by all kinds of officials over the years for doing dumb stuff. None of them ever went in one ear and out the other, believe me. And truth be told, most of them were right to 'advise' me.
I hate to sound like an asshole about this, but I'm gonna get shitty about it and if push comes to shove you won't have LP to yell at any more - as many have lately when I remove them from shooting spots "they always used to go, or can at other tracks".
And even that wall gives a false sense of security to most. I constantly have two videos in mind when shooting on the wall. One was when the late John Heida's bracket car cleared it barely 60 feet out, the second Phil Guild's blown roadster at Woodburn that did the same thing on the burnout-barely three seconds after it began 100ft behind the line. Fortunately there was nobody standing where those cars went over, but the visions of those are always with me, sadly most others standing out there don't have a clue this is even a possibility. Not to mention tires coming off on burnouts, nitrous explosions, drive shafts coming apart, tools left under hoods - all kinds of shrapnel that can fly around at any given time. I think of this kind of thing CONSTANTLY when I work, those who come out there to assist the driver should too.
I'm not saying I'm bulletproof, but when one takes standing or kneeling down out there for granted, and don't give it a passing thought, you leave yourself more open to a bad scene.
Like I posted on the MRP site, it's all about safety and frankly a lot of you do some insanely stupid unsafe shit on the starting line with cameras. PS: This goes for the media people too.
Mission CPSA news from Roy Moznik
I should know the car count for CPSA fairly soon as many of our Pro
Street racers are almost complete but don't know if they are able to
make the race.
Here are some pictures of my Pro Street El Camino I'm building, 762
four stage Fulton, hope to be out next month. Also Steve's 10.5 Chevy
II that I've upgraded to a 706 fulton. It will be there for this weekend.
-Roy Moznik
Promoter Derek Snelson sends info on Yakima Night Nights
July 4/5 at Renegade Raceway
My race is really coming along, I have over 16 Pro Comp cars, Blown
Funny Cars, Dragsters, Altereds, booked for a Chicago style match race.
In
Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car there's Mark Sanders in his MR Explosive,
Chris Davis' Nitro Pimp, and our new Shawn Nault driven, Gary Ritter
tuned Blood, Sweat & Nitro 1970 Cuda (photo) sponsored by Mike Olson
Dodge, who is helping me market the show with radio, newspaper, and
mailers.
Many thanks to Garret Richards and the TPR team. I could
not do it without them as we base the car out of their Tacoma shop since
we are from Anchorage.
In Pro Mod, Mike Prockish from Anchorage, Alaska has a 1963 Vette that has ran with the ADRL circuit, Garret Richards TPR truck, the Mustang of Frank Tamez, Kerry Jorgens '63 Vette from Tri Cities in another Chicago match race as well.
Then in the Top Alcohol Funny Car Shane Harter will be going up against Royce Taylors in best-of-three match up. Frank Tamez will also have his Outlaw Top Sportsman there too. I am expecting over 30 feature cars, from Alaska , BC, Montana, and Idaho, Oregon, California, Washington, plus over 170 Bracket racers going for big bucks in Super PRO, and PRO, - $1000 to the winner each class per day.
I also will have Sportsman and Junior Dragsters and have special awards sponsored by Delta Cams, including Best Engineered, Best Appearing, Longest Burnout & Wheelstand.
Jerry 'The King' Ruth will be there as the Grand Marshall
signing photos, and may bring Bucky's T/F car, I will know by Friday.
Hope Horsepower Heaven can make it down for the biggest race this area
has seen in years!
-we're workin' on it -LP
Jay Mageau to debut new Vette body at MRP Open
We recently tested fitted our new second body. Its a '78 Corvette built
for us from a mold similar to the one that Tom McEwen ran when he won
the 1978 NHRA US Nats. This car will be run at various NFCA events to
make us legal because our beloved '57 is " too old for nostalgia"
The
body, built for us by Army Armstrong in Pennsylvania, fits very well,
but we will have to modify our fuel tank to allow for the really swoopy
nose. We would like the rear to sit lower, but will have to wait to
see if NHRA makes us put the new nitro f/c cage on the car this winter.
The crew will begin treeing and tinning the car asap, and then its off
to our old Pals at Joeys Place
for a beautiful paint job that will compliment the amazing one he applied
to our '57.
Watch for the body to debut at Mission Raceway for the Nitro Nostalgia
races at the NHRA
National Open July 26- 27
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Monday
June 23, 2008
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My last minute decision to go to the Seattle Lucas proved to be a very positive one. Wonderful weather, lots of cool cars we rarely, if ever, get to see on this side of the border, and just so many great people with fun, interesting stories. Sadly there was some 'other' news as well.
I entered the control center atop the Pacific Raceways tower Saturday afternoon minutes after the Scott Kalitta incident. It's amazing how quickly word spreads when something of this magnitude occurs. "Scott Kalitta just went off the end of the track at Englishtown" I was told. "And the police are on site". That second sentence alone was more than any of us wanted to hear. Officials here knew the outcome shortly after but it was a couple of hours before the sadness was made public by announcer Steve Wong. I was standing in the water box when his familiar voice came over the speakers and the collective moan that came out of the stands sent shivers up my back. I knew what Stevie was about to say so I did record it on video, but it's one of those clips that will probably get filed away for another time.
It was ironic that already this day we had three alky floppers in or nearly into the net here. This on one of the longest strips lead me to think that if this is the case with alky cars, then it is definitely time to do something drastic. I fear this may well be 'the one' that forces major change on a sport that prides itself on safety. It's more than obvious the fuel cars are a safety issue, but it's easy for me to say in my position. Something good must come of this. If ever this sport needed true leadership it is now. The suits have to come out of the ivory tower, damn the consequences, and show that leadership. Either slow them down, make the tracks shorter...whatever it takes. The time to talk is over, the time to act is now...
...now onto the Seattle 'incident'. Let me start by saying I did not see it happen, I did not talk to the driver involved Ken Mostowich, but there are simply too many talking about what may have been the cause.
Before this goes any further, I understand second hand that Ken was back at the track later that day and has some back problems. That's all I know. There were also a couple of other issues related to this crash that I heard about but was unable to follow up on, so I leave them out. If I cannot get two sides to a story I fell it highly irresponsible to post something no matter how relevant it may be.
Without question Calgary's Ken Mostowich is a very experienced, very successful driver of Super Comp and Super Gas cars, so his finish line roll over came as a shock to many. At this point there has been concern expressed that a seal on his oil filter failed causing fluid to leak out. One racer mentioned a common model that some had used and had failure with. In fact there is said to be an official recall on this particular filter, a recall that some apparently did not know about. A racer aware of the issue inspected the filter on Mostowich's car and said this was one of them.
The question now is, if this actually did cause a wreck, and that is still a big IF right now, beyond posting a recall on a website, issuing something to distributors, and simple word-of-mouth, how does a racer find out about something that can have very, very serious consequences?
Perhaps this is not even an issue. With all due respect to the racers who inspected the piece and the car, they are not professional crash investigators, but because of the strong words some expressed to me I felt it warranted a post here. I'm sure many of the message boards will soon be taking this on, so check you regular haunts for more. If we get any official info, we will pass it along.
Before I get into what will be a major post from this race, along with a ton of other items, I want to thank Rich and Elaine Carlson for providing me sleeping quarters...their puppy Spencer in particular whose couch I borrowed for a couple of nights. The staff and management of Pacific Raceways along with the always great NHRA Division Six Certification crew lead by Jonathan Adams, for the continued support of this website. As well, I received a number of very nice comments from some racers I had not met before and even a couple of readers who expressed some very positive views on both HH videos and the site. Thank you all again.
It'll take most of today to catch up on stuff around the house and load up over six hours of video, but rest assured it'll be a huge week of daily updates here on HH including Seattle coverage, the big MRP Pro Mod/Pro Street race this coming weekend, Yakima Nitro Night July 4/5, the return of Division Six Hall-of-Famer Jim Van Cleve, some simply awesome wheelstand videos, amazing turbo door car clips, a Comp Elim burndown you've got to see to believe, and an interview with Funny Car winner Dennis Taylor that will help sooth your hearts. All this and a whole lot more on HH all week long.
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Monday
June 16, 2008
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So you think you can wheelstand...
Mission Pro Mod entry list as of June 16, 2008 IF ANYBODY has a possible list of CPSA Pro Street entries please pass it along to HH.
OK, so I missed the 'same-day' part by three minutes...a video treat for those who stayed up late.
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Sunday
June 15, 2008
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Four Lane Blacktop
Not sure if many caught a lil diddy on this day for dads, but during
tonight's Wind Tunnel program on Speed TV, Bruton Smith officially announced
(he may have earlier, but it was made very clear here tonight) that
the new strip at Lowe's Motor Speedway would be FOUR LANES! When pushed
for more, Smith said "ya, run four at once, not two separate strips
where you run two, then two more." He went on to mention that "NHRA
was probably not ready for this just yet" leaving even more questions.
Bottom line however was for the slower classes "Stockers"
was the term Smith used, "not the pro nitro classes", it would
be "more entertaining"....No Shit Sherlock! Go Bruton...Ten
Five Outlaws...Double A Hemi cars...four at once...woo frickin HOO!
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Thursday
June 12, 2008
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Seattle Lucas alcohol pre-entries & schedule
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Top Alcohol Dragster
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Top Alcohol Funny Car
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Thursday, June 19
Parking and tech - 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Please note that no engines can be fired after 5:30 p.m. NHRA tech officials
will tech at your trailer on Thursday.
Friday, June 20
Gates open - 8 a.m.
Tech - 9 a.m.
Time Trials and Qualifying - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Comp Eliminator - 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car Qualifying - 3, 6 and 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 21
Gates open - 8 a.m.
Tech - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Time Trials and Qualifying - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Comp Eliminator - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Top Alcohol Eliminations - 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 22
Gates open - 8 a.m.
Eliminations - 9:30 a.m.
*No engine noise before 9 a.m. any day of the event.
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Tuesday
June 10, 2008
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Have received a couple of e-mails that former Vancouver, Wash. racer
Ron Henderson was operated on for a brain tumor Sunday. Phill Elliot
tells us Ron is a many time divisional winner who ran Super Stock, Modified,
Pro Stock and Pro Gas. May your thoughts and prayers be with him.
Work, work, work...
Must be mid season as web and wideo work has caught up to me. I've had
a huge response to the call for MRP Lucas videos which will take at
least this week to complete. Together with a bunch of MRP coverage for
their site I'll be a busy boy for few days, so if I don't reply to your
recent e-mail or phone request right away, please bear with me, as I'm
doing all I can as fast as I can.
Freeway
goes above and beyond
Those guys over at Freeway Trailer in beautiful downtown Milton WA continue
to move the HH video promo bar higher and higher - in this case literally
as can be seen in the photo they sent us today.
Just a reminder that 'Russell will Return' to Pacific Raceways the weekend of the Lucas June 20-22 as part of the Freeway display and will have a bunch of HH vids in hand for sale. Please take a moment and stop by to either say hi or just thank Freeway for the company support for HH.
HUGE Mission Junior photo essay here
2008 Las Vegas Bracket Nationals Nov. 27-30 at The Strip info
Eagle Oldtime drag pics now up at zone.
Wa did I tell ya...thanks to Chuck B for the link
Pro Street news
It's taking a while to happen, but once all these northwest Pro Streeters
make it to the track together it's gonna be pretty darn cool. Dragin
Don Murray says he will be at the Pro Mod Pro Street Doorslammer show
at Mission June 28/29.
And we can now tell you that the 'secret' ride we posted
last month out of the RedLine shop belongs to Yvonne Lucas.
"I'm setting it up to run Pro Street and Doorslammers mainly. Plans are to run NPSA and PSCA (Vegas). Double Frame chassis, all carbon interior, Carbon Fiber McAmis body, sheet metal rearend, full floater, Dual chutes, Racepak equipped, 632 w/nitrous, powerglide. (Sidenote: the 632 is from Jeremy Devier's Firebird). Should weigh in around 2200-2300lbs. Of course the car will be painted red too! Can't wait!"
Neither can we as the northwest PS scene has the potential
to be bigger and badder than anything we've ever see round here!
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Sunday
June 8, 2008
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Due to popular demand the ORANGE IS BAAAAACK!
It's a struggle eh
Been over a year now that I continue to struggle with high definition
video. Still working to get it right. Kinda fun, but a pain too. Am
so close to being able to distribute in HD...Very frustrating.
Friday night at MRP saw a scary car count. Then there were were barely 30 cars in the pits Saturday for the Import Invasion that mercifully got rained out. Sunday saw just over a dozen Juniors for the O'Reilly race on the river.
How 'bout that snap decision to run open lanes Friday night. First time we've seen domestics and imports head-to-head. All I can say is MORE!
Kinda rained on the highway just south of Cache Creek, but they got some racin in at the now two decade plus old Loafers race.
Talk deep amid strip towers from Vancouver to Vegas, and many places in between, is more and more about staffing than anything else. From the people who bring in the big bucks to the dudes hackin it out in the water box, it's all about staffing west coast drag strips. Everybody is so thankful for the people they do have, as the human supply seems to dwindle every year, yet some have a funny way of showing it. To this writer staffing is at the very top of a long list of concerns in this sport.
Speaking of staff...
HH just learned that Beth Rice now manages Fontana. WOW! Guess that ends those 'Mike Rice comin back to the Northwest' rumors eh? How about that, the Ricers takin conTROL in So Cal! Good on em, the family from 'here' now among the high end power couples in all of drag racing. An how about the obvious comparison between the Rices...and the Bergstroms...and dare I say...the Wallys...er Parks...Wo.
Which leads me to the younger generation. The kids. Those drivers of Juniors.
I got to spend an afternoon with a few of em yesterday, and what a fabulous afternoon it was at MRP.
A dozen zany, cool kids jus goin at it on the drag strip. In the pits, in the lanes, on the starting line, it was a hoot! Grandmas were here, brothers, sisters, dads n dogs...the whole fam damily in many cases. Girlz racin guyz, fast cars chasin down slower cars. MAN...did you see how close he came to the centerline in round one of Thunder??? Yikes! And all of 'em in dragsters.
HH will never admit to leaning on doors...
The Juniors had it all here at MRP. From a much-questioned officials qualifying call to a pair of double winners who cover it all. The kid that is Tyson Lowe, and the driver with HUGE potential in this sport - Holly Clarke.
Two Junior racers to watch, and what a supporting cast.
Bad azz raze carz running well over 80 mph in the 1/8th mile. DRY HOPS!!! It's damn near the coolest thing I've seen in years. You don't notice it nearly as much at a noisy bracket race. Hammering the throttle, two, three times, heatin it up for the launch. And WRINKLE WALLS!...as some of these cars verge on actual wheelstands.
...as we still await the first true MRP Junior two wheel leave...well second actually, maybe third, but really... it's gotta look like this.
Fearless HH prediction
With fuel doing what it's doing. Look for major moves in Junior. Could
be time for these things to go mainstream. Imagine 100+ mph 660 foot
blitzes, front wheels three feet in the air...it could happen.
Adult 1/8th mile versions of super wild, wheelstanding, junior monsters...be
cool eh?
So just as long as staffers continue come out to sit alone at the top end for hours, sweep in the smoke, sit in that little building, scream at that damn computer, and wonder "did I really just see that" then have a "what the heck do I do now" kinda moment, we'll be ok. Would be nice if more racers thanked 'em on occasion and didn't just take most of them for granted.
Now would somebody please put a practice tree in Cowies dragster. Strap Shawn in and leave him there for the tow back to Richmond. Man those guys have come SO close, and become SO competitive. What a great team this is turning into. Shawn'll get it, and when he does look out world. Dad's still smilin. Life is pretty darn good for the Lulu Islanders.
But it'll be a struggle.
I'll keep working on those DVDs along with a ton of MRP pics n stuff to post. Check Murdoch in the Morning for all the news from Eagle and the All Stars at ChiTown.
So after one of my more silly posts, ya gotta end it with sumpthin neat. How bout a ride?
You do like to go for rides eh?
Then check out the great MRP Lucas report and photos that Paul Grant sent to dragraceusa.com
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Friday
June 6, 2008
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DVD problems
It appears some of the dvds that have gone out from the Lucas race have
some issues that I'm not sure the cause of. Please
e-mail me if you are having any problems playing or viewing the
videos. -LP
Well, the little 'experiment' on this page has results in very few comments. Basically two for keeping the white and one for going back to the orange.
Work on racer videos has taken up all of my time this week and will continue into next.
Both Mission and Ashcroft go this weekend with the 21st Annual Loafers Old-time Drags at Eagle, yet another event sponsored by the good folks at Lucas Oil. Rumor is Moe Davidson may drive his own fueler there while those cool blown alky nostalgia floppers out of Alberta will be among the features...along with the Canada West Doorslammers, who have been racin like mad the past few weeks. Should be a great weekend at the Plex.
At Mission they'll try to get a street legal in tonight if the weather comes around then tomorrow you can all sleep in and head out about noon for the second Import Invasion. News on this is slim as the track tried to work with some outside groups to promo the event mainly online. Not sure how it worked out, but the excuse in 2007 of "not knowing about it" from a number of local import people simply won't work this time around. Let's hope they come out to support this as if they don't chances of a third are nill...imo.
Then Sunday the 'kids' take over for the annual Junior Dragster race. It'll be regular hours on this one. Lets hope it's dry and a bunch come out.
Last weekend at Seattle the door cars came out in force. The Northwest Pro Street association has a bunch of pics and videos here.
Rather interesting checking out the number of views each class got from our MRP Lucas video coverage.
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Tuesday
June 3, 2008
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Monday
June 2, 2008
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Mission Lucas videos
I am editing individual videos from that race all this week. I will
not be in Seattle, maybe Medford, hopefully Vegas. If you want video
of your runs at MRP, I have lots...ask me now if I have any of you!
-Larry
Ashcroft Outlaw Doorslammer video here!
New Edmonton Pro Mod
Gary Racich & Brian Krishka sent these pics of a cool new ride out
of Edmonton. It's the first Jeffers Pro Cars Cuda Pro Mod in the country.
They are now working on getting everything into the roller, hope to
be running this summer, and will probably be running in Top Sportsman
to start.
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Sunday
June 1, 2008
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Eagle re-schedules Open classes to July 12
From the track Forum:
"Just as on the May 11th race, mother nature didn't cooperate with us today, if you missed the announcement at the track this afternoon, we are rescheduling today's race to July 12th. This only applies to super pro, pro, sports compact, juniors,sportsman and snow bike. All payouts [up to $8000.00 depending on car count] and Walleys will apply for this race. This race is still open to anyone wanting to enter as we didn't get the first round of eliminations started. The buy in for anyone that is not already entered will $150.00.
We will be starting the race at noon, with 2 hits and go. The scheduled race for July 12th will start at the conclusion of this race after a dinner break.
Don't forget it's the Christmas in July Saturday, so don't forget your decorations."
Ashcroft Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest National Open Saturday results (unofficial taken from video)
Top Comp
W - John Evans 7.33dial/7.78/151.95
RU - Joe Mura 7.66 dial/7.65/
Stock Super Stock Combo
W - Joe Graves SS/DM 9.90 dial/9.92/133.74
RU - David Rastad M/SA 12.36 dial/12.35/107.42
Super Comp (9.00 index)
W - Francesca Plazier 9.04/162.25
RU - #6655 8.98/162.77
Super Gas (10.00 index)
W - Mike Shannon 9.99/154.47
RU - Todd Sims 9.96/151.38
Super Street (11.00 index)
W - Gerry Epp 10.96/146.60
RU - Casey Plazier - 10.94/139.64
Bike/Sled
W - Tyler Tingle (sled) 10.66/10.67/121.31
RU - Chris McKnight 10.32/10.63/140.07
Jr Lightening
W - Holly Clark 7.96 dial/7.97/82.04
RU - #6041 7.92 dial/7.94/82.91
Jr Thunder
W - Justin Gibson 8.90 dial/9.02/74.24
RU - Chris Cannon 8.91 dial/8.94/75.92
Super Pro
W- Jason Gibson 9.89 dial/9.90/127.73
RU - Al Quigley 10.80 dial/10.83/123.83
Pro
W - Glenn Parkinson 11.30 dial/11.34/116.39
RU - Chris Stone 10.51 dial/10.50/117.15
Sportsman
W - Don Elgin 13.05 dial/13.09/97.03
RU - Brian Thompson 1325 dial/13.21/94.90
Sport Compact
W - Gerald Patzer 16.06 dial/16.14/74.68
RU - Jeff 'Hi Volt' Buechler 16.74 dial/16.80/81.88
Good news, bad news weekend so far
Good news was a great day of racing at the Eagle Motorplex for the NHRA
Lucas Oil National Open, bad news was a rain out in Seattle for the
Canada West Doorslammers. HH was in Ashcroft yesterday, but a 'bad'
motel room, and a sold out town due to the biker run along with a 90%
wet forecast for today forced us home packing with no results, but some
great video.
After much thought on the way home late last night I must comment on the room situation in Cache Creek. As fantastic a job as the ERA is doing at the Plex, I now know why so many people prefer to sleep in their open trucks or pup tents on gravel. In addition to my own experience, I got multiple reports of very, very sad service at two different Cache Creek motels. Bad enough that this reporter is reconsidering ever staying in a motel in that town again. While this site strives to be positive at all times, HH must recommend that if you are going to Cache Creek, check your room before you pay. Check it closely. And that's all I'll say about that.
As for the race, it was very good with a decent number of entries from all over. New amenities at the facility included more good stuff than we can list here, but rest assured the Plex is looking great and hosting some pretty cool events.
We'll be posting pics and vids from MRP Friday night and Eagle later today...and after checking the Merritt web cams this morning and seeing lots of rain, feel slightly vindicated that the choice to come home early was a 'good' one.
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Thursday
May 21, 2008
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Test n Tune notes from Mission Lucas
It's been hectic around here the past week with a lot of personal stuff that took a ton of time. So much so that we flat forgot to post a release that 1320tv.com will be hosting all our video from this Lucas weekend at Mission. That being said, and our schedule each day for the next three roughly 5am - midnight, the videos will be delayed until Tuesday or so.
It'll be worth the wait however as just today we got some great video.
Worst regret of the day was going to the lil boyz room as Tom Gaynor...not Tommy...put the ex-POS racing Firebird Stocker on the back bumper for about 200 ft. in the right lane. "I had never been this high in my life" he said later. "And it wasn't coming down." Carlson has stills, so we'll have those for ya asap.
The Double A 69 Camaro of those Sorensen Bros. had traction
problems most of the day...which started after 12 noon due to wet stuff
last nite....then put it all together with a 9.88/132.56 that was simply
beauty in motion. 
Unique
single wheelie bar on the Method's B/SA Nova took time to sort out as
they made a bunch of runs, one seeing Mary Ann (photo) put the front
end up as high as this writer has ever seen it.
Division Champ Hough made four attempts ending with a major oildown 5.78/254.02. The only full alky pass from about a half dozen ana few who ran mostly 60 footers here...often because of tire shake.
Gary Ormsby Jr. in the Jeff Johnson prepared, Hugh Ridley owned, ex-Brandon Johnson car, hit the wall past the finish line after an early shutoff pass that saw him start in the left lane and finish flat against the right wall. Second hand word is he's ok and the car can be fixed.
Casey Plazier looking awesome in the Ken Reich Comp ride running a gorgeous 8.35/161.60 in the CSMA Cavalier.
Talk is of as many as 20 Comp cars here. First surprise entrant Phil Cocuzza had problems getting down the track today. Bruce Perkin went 8.78/153.53 in E/SM trim.
George Evans going a hand-slapping 7.42/183.71 in the new Evan Bros Lucas Oil mouse motored blown Chevy 'Super Comp' dragster.
Track was just ok as it took a hit last weekend with the massive heat and bracket and street car turnout then torrential rains right up until early morning today. It should be fine tomorrow, as the weather will be much warmer and less humid. Maybe not perfect, but by Sat and Sun this place is gonna be sticky and quick. The weather report is like none this race has seen in nearly a decade. Near perfect conditions right thru the weekend.
Lots more neat stuff as NHRA brings some kinda show here this weekend, but two things easily stood above all else this day. The sight of Rod Stults back at the digs, smiling, wheelstanding and the Godfather of Northwest drag racing, Bill Kost hangin out with Pete, Dino and all his friends. Damn but I didn't see Stan Hawes here today too.
Gonna be a great three days of drag racing my friends. We'll update nightly as we can.
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racer HH/MRP NOW the exclusive WA state
"It is not the critic who counts: not the
man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer
of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and
sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up
short again and again, because there is no effort without error
or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great
devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the
best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and
who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring
greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and
timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Life
is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -
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