'MA' CONDIT PASSES AWAY
Bea "Ma" Condit, mother of Dave and Steve Condit of the Condit Bros. and "L.A. Hooker" fame and John Force's aunt, passed away on June 20th. She was 83 years old. For a look at Drag Racing Online's archived story on the Condit family, CLICK HERE. [6-21-2006]
COUGHLIN IS 'TOP GUN'
Three-time NHRA champion Jeg Coughlin pocketed the top prize of the $20,000 Top Eliminator Top Gun Classic June 17th at Piedmont Dragway in Julian, NC.
One of the most successful racers in NHRA Pro Stock history, Coughlin traded in his Pro Stocker for his Jeg's Mail Order dragster over the weekend and survived nine grueling rounds of competition against the best bracket racers in the country to claim the $20,000
paycheck during the second day of racing.
"Considering the other competitors on the property, I'd rank this win right up there with anything I've accomplished in drag racing," Coughlin said. "All of the East Coast heavyweights were there and every round was like a final. There was a lot of pressure but it was also a lot of fun and obviously very gratifying to win."
The Top Gun Classic featured three consecutive days of top-level bracket racing with $20,000 up for grabs each day. Aside from his dragster, Coughlin was breaking in his newly-restored Chevy II wagon. But it was the dragster that carried him to the winner's circle.
"Between the two cars I made more than 40 passes this weekend," Coughlin said. "It was drag racing heaven. The dragster was set up perfectly, even though the track was very tricky due to the heat. We were on a 4.73-second dial and my reaction times averaged .008 so I was very pleased with our results." [6-21-2006]
BALTZELLS GET NATIONAL OPEN WIN
On June 17 at The Strip in Las Vegas, NHRA held a Pacific Division National Open featuring Top Comp and PSCA Pro Street plus all the NHRA Super classes. Lee and Mary Baltzell from Rancho Mirage, CA, won the Pro Street division, defeating Californian Ed Thornton in the Fast Motorsports Turbo '57 Chevy. The Baltzells (powered by a Mike's Transmission) qualified No. 1 with a 6.91 at 202 mph and ran 6.89 to Thornton's 6.90 in the final. [6-21-2006]
TRIAL DATE SET IN MICKEY THOMPSON MURDER CASE
Over 18 years after the murders of Mickey Thompson and his wife, the man accused of hiring two hit men may finally go to trial. Michael Goodwin, Thompson's former partner, was charged with the murders in December of 2001 and has been held ever since, as his lawyer tried a series of motions, all of which have been denied by the California Superior Court judge. The judge has now set Sept. 21, 2006, as a "firm" date for the trial to start.
Thompson, a legendary racer, tire manufacturer and promoter, and his wife, Trudy, were shot in the driveway of their home in the gated community of Bradbury, CA, on March 16, 1988. Witnesses said they saw two men ride off on bicycles. The alleged hit men have never been identified. [6-21-2006]
