He’s wondering again

Just Wondering … Even though NHRA Prez Tom Compton took the pre-emptive step of an across the board 10 percent pay cut for salaried employees earlier this year, will that action be enough to stave off even more draconian cutbacks for the company? Through the seventh race of the 2009 schedule five of the races have had the kind of bad weather that prohibits big profits or any profits at all.

Just Wondering … Is there a benefactor for the NHRA museum among the hard-core fans to bailout Wally Parks’s dream? Make no mistake, had it not been for Wally Parks the museum would never have been born and if not for the respect for his memory that those on the NHRA board have  it would probably have been shuttered long ago.

Just Wondering … If Wally's museum becomes just a basement tenet at the Petersen Museum instead of having its own building, how does it retain its identity and status?

Just Wondering … Have those who trash Sheikh Al-Thani and his Al-Anabi race teams paused to think how much his involvement in, interest in and investment in U.S. drag racing has meant to U.S. drag racers, sanctioning bodies and race teams? I promise you it has made the difference for a lot of those associated with the sport in keeping their jobs, careers, or race teams. Plus, he has never been anything but a class act. Beat him if you want but spare me the U.S.A. first crud. All of his teams are staffed by U.S. racers, U.S.-made race cars, and are powered by engines built with Anerican-made parts. Most of all, he loves drag racing. 

Just Wondering … After the last race of the Persian Gulf league this weekend could we see the Shiekh Al-Thani send some of his Al-Anabi teams to Europe or Australia to compete? He says he wants to promote drag racing as a worldwide sport; what better way to do it?

Just Wondering … Am I the only one who would really like to see a real serious A/FX movement at nostalgia races? The few of these Altered wheelbase fuel injected, alky or nitro burning cars have really whetted my appetite for watching those cars race.

Just Wondering … When are all other nostalgia promoters finally understand that the number of great cars that attend the March Meet at Bakersfield each year has absolutely nothing to do with the purse and is unique? You can't use the March Meet as a template for other nostalgia events.

Just Wondering … If Tom Compton can find time to give the full-time employees at the NHRA a "state of the company" briefing each year, why not do the same for the some 60,000 of us who pay our $60+ a year dues?