11/8/06
ADJUST OR LOSE
I agree with most of the letters on track prep. It is nice not to go up in smoke all the time, but it is much more important for both lanes to be equal. The crew chiefs should be able to adjust for track conditions, but both lanes need to be of equal quality so there can be some competition. Then it is a fair playing field for both parties; the ones that adjust are the ones that win!
Richard Burbick
THAT’S RACING
A drag strip is much like a motocross track - it's the same for everyone. Granted, in drag racing you may get the "less preferred" lane - but in motocross you don't always get the starting spot on the line you wanted. Unless a track is flat-out DANGEROUS (which Richmond was not), racers need to quityerbitchin' and race!
Hal Sanguinetti
Arizona
THE BEST DRIVER & TUNEUP SHOULD WIN
Burkster, you are 100 percent correct (or is it 85% only?) How about no VHT until oil downs, then just the amount needed to keep the lanes equal. As you know, we used tobeat all the high buck teams at places like Tulsa and Kansas City. Money didn't matter on slippery tracks, only the tune-up and drivers that could use the pedal and brake to get the win. As match racers we ran on tracks that looked like country roads! My saying was: "Where there's asphalt pits they might be fast, but in the gravel and grass we'll kick their ass." (Newman original, you can use it.)
Also, NO electronic controls, air only with locked mags!
Jerry Newman
ANOTHER 1/8TH MILE FAN (ALMOST)
David Anderson says he loves 1/8 mile racing. So do I...most of my racing was on the short track (Piedmont Dragway, Greensboro, NC). He says he wants all racing to take place on the 660 and there, I have to disagree.
He mentions the TFD and FC ET’s being in the 4-second range. That's for a 1,320ft run. How quick would an 1/8 mile run be? So quick that if you blink, you could almost literally miss it. This would also apply to the Alcohol Dragsters/Funnies...they're nearly in the 4-second range. I've watched and don't particularly like Pro Mod on 1/8 mile tracks since their passes are over too soon. David also talks about slowing the cars down. Blasphemy! Drag racing is all about going from the starting line to the finish line the "firstest".
He says it's for safety reasons, but I don't see any real safety issues in any drag racing class at present. There have been some horrific crashes in the past year, yet few real injuries. Are there dangers? Certainly, and all the drivers are well aware of them. Racers have been killed racing a 12-second bracket car. But the fans come to see acceleration and speed. An 1/8-mile drag race of the faster cars would simply be over too quickly. Pro Stock and quicker should stick to 1/4 mile racing. 1/8 mile is OK for the ET classes, Stock, Super Stock, Super Gas, etc.
Steve Graham
Raleigh, NC
GOING SCHU-LESS?
What the hell is going on at Schumacher racing? Rumors of Alan Johnson leaving, Melanie going to Lucas, Mike Ashley going who the hell knows where, Stevens to AJ Racing, Erica doing her own thing. Who's left? Tony with who to crew. Seems like DSR is imploding. Just goes to show you that MONEY doesn't buy everything.
Mike Musgrove
Foley, MO
