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Drop us a line at Comppluseditor@aol.com. |
Sometimes I'm EmbarrassedCool editorial...right on target...- Kenneth Sklute
Well done Bobby - Wally Bell
Your editorial was dead on. Drag racing got where it is because of the people involved, not because of the big corporations that are involved in NASCAR. What fans, drivers, owners, and everyone involved in Drag Racing need to do is become an ambassador for the sport. How many of you have friends that never went to a drag race? Find a good event near home and take them. Make a night of it. The more people involved the more it will continue to grow. Word of mouth is the best advertising. - Rob Kozak
Pro Gas and Memory LaneI was told recently about an article that was on the Internet in regards to the old Pro Gassers. I had to click on to the web site and check it out. Wow it was a blast from the past to see my father in one of the very first Pro Gas Cars on your front page. To see the original 3000 lb. 55 Chevy Temptation brought back so much emotion of a childhood that was spent at the race track. So many weekends and years at California Drag Strips that no longer exist other than in the memories of ones who were able to experience the earlier California days. Baylands, Vacaville, Oroville, Redding(which was even brought up in your article) are now just faint memories. Though I was a very little girl when going to some of these tracks there are small parts of each that are forever in my memory. My father was truly a pioneer. He survived with very little money in a sport that was already starting to require financial backing. I remember him having to be creative and use his incredible intelligence to create rather than to buy. He was truly amazing because he would go out there and drill everyone on the tree and at the finish line beat the guys shifting his 4 speed transmission. I remember when he was able to final buy the Lenco transmission and how cool he thought that was. My father, David Riolo was the first shoe box in the 7's and it hapened at Baylands Drag Strip. He loved that 55 that he had grown up with since the age of 17. He truly hated to part with it, but knew that he had to in order to afford his new 7/8 scale dark blue Temptation 11 55 Chevy. He ran in the 6'.70's with that car when he finally decided that he could no longer keep up with the demands of his business and the incredible money that had taken over a sport that he had loved since a young boy. It's been 10 years since my father went down a race track, however, seeing him suit up and climb in a car is in my mind like it was yesterday. I still look at the old magazines that he graced the cover of and read the articles. There were quite a few! However, to see this article so many years after he ever raced our baby blue 55 Chevy has brought back to me a swell of emotions, tears and smiles. Thank you for the article and the memory. - TRACYSCUTOPIA@aol.com
Beadlock BedlamThere are a couple of big issues that were not covered in your
article. (Here are some things that I have been able to find) Besides
the fact that almost all the competitors are convinced that I have been told by another Pro Stock driver that Warren has made runs with no helmet, no seat belts, and no screws in the tires. (not all at once) 1) Why not a 15" beadlock rim and the old tires? Answer given; the brakes won't fit. Have you ever seen a racer that couldn't make a change to make something fit? 2) The gearing is a huge issue, it's not as simple as looking at the gear calculator Mr Simmonds. Between 4.80:1 and 4.91:1 there are at least 6 ratio choices, possibly eight. Between 5.00:1 and 5.11:1 there are only those two. It looks like you can have a 5.09:1 made but, it would have 56 teeth on the ring gear and the strength is a serious question. Besides the cost of having a "one off" gearset tooled. Could be as much as $8K for 5 sets. 3) I think you may see "underdrive" fifth gears, but there may be a performance penalty associated with that plan. Just a few thoughts and not intended to be even remotely critical
to your article. - Kyle Carrothers I read the article about the new beadlock rule.
Hey Slim, when you remember the track
and the year, let us know. In the meantime, don't forget the fact
he ran a Camaro with beadlock wheels. - Editor Drag Racing's version of OPEC?It seems to me that the NHRA is determined to allow only a few,select, well financed teams to run in the nitro classes. What are they trying to do? Cut the fields down to eight cars? For an organization that does such an excellent job on safety issues they sure do a poor job of keeping the racers happy. The muckety-mucks in the hierarchy of NHRA need to wake up. They are not the only game in town for the racers and the competition for the fans is comming on hot & heavy from several outlaw organizations. One last thing,you asked if anyone knew how to help the guy with the barrel valve problem? Yes I do,sell the car. - dashadow@hiwaay.net
Bring on A/FDA/FD in IHRA is a great idea. Now if we could get them to replace
the F/C
1966 CometI recently purchased a 1966 comet, 202 sedan white with the shock towers cut to fit a 427 overhead cam engine. It has many signs that at one time in its life been something. I've been researching to find out if anyone could tell me more information on these drag cars. It is set up as a drag car and in very good condition. I came across your web site about Jack Chrisman and how he raced a 1964 comet. I bought it because its condition and have had people point out different things to me that got me wondering. Any information would be appreciated - Kelley Blevins
If anyone can help Kelley, send him an email at hotford3@wmconnect.com. |