Randy Cannon, media manager for Don Garlits' Quest for 200 MPH on Batteries (QF200 LLC), has a special vintage treat for Competition Plus viewers this Christmas season.

While browsing through some 1974 periodical images and “trying to figure out some sort of Christmas message,” the Las Vegas media maestro rediscovered a poem he had penned 40 years ago.

Mike Gerry, perfecting the steering system of a dragster here, rarely lifts his head from his work. But he took time to join Randy Cannon in wishing the Competition Plus readers a Merry Christmas. (Photo courtesy of Randy Cannon)Randy Cannon, media manager for Don Garlits' Quest for 200 MPH on Batteries (QF200 LLC), has a special vintage treat for Competition Plus viewers this Christmas season.

While browsing through some 1974 periodical images and “trying to figure out some sort of Christmas message,” the Las Vegas media maestro rediscovered a poem he had penned 40 years ago.

He gave us permission to share it as a fun greeting to all drag-racing fans from himself and Mike Gerry, his partner in grime with both the Garlits project and with the EV car that Darrell Gwynn drove at the 2001 U.S. Nationals.  (Dennis Sarmiento and Brad Hadman constructed that car in 48 days and presented it to Gwynn as a surprise 40th birthday gift.)

Happy reading!
 

T'was the week before Christmas and all down the strip,
Not a dragster was rumbling, no asphalt to rip.
The season was over, the Nationals done,
I’d trade all my presents for just one more run.
The roar has been stilled and the nitro is burned,
What does a fan do ‘til the calendar’s turned?
Just something to get me through winter’s long chill,
To fuel my race fix, I've much time to kill.
I check through the window and see the truck yonder,
Will today be the one, my mind starts to ponder.
I hear the box slam, the truck drives away,
I race to the curb and indeed it’s the day!
The mailman delivered the cure for my ills,
Along with sale flyers and too many bills.
My mailbox now stuffed with car mags galore,
I think I will make it through 12/74!!!

"What were you reading 40 years ago?" Cannon asked with a wink.

And we heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all and all enjoy this website!"