FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JUST ABOUT DUNN 

Fantastic article, Held my intrest to the end. - Tom Mathews, Niles, MI.
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - THE LEGEND OF LEE SHEPHERD 

Your story on Lee Shepherd was excellent.  All that you said about Shepherd's
intensity as a competitor and his introversey as an off-track figure were
right-on.

I had frequent personal contact with the R-M-S team during
their brief heyday. 

David Reher was always thoughtful if not somewhat
aloof.  Buddy Morrison was the team's most approachable member, and knew no
strangers.  Shepherd was, as you said, usually alone with his thoughts, a quiet,
shy, genuinely humble presence that served as a welcome change from the brash
self-promotion exhibited by many pro drivers.  Together the R-M-S team created a
curious chemistry that took them from weekend hobby racers to the pinnacle of
professional drag racing success.  And they got there with selfless hard work
and sheer determination.

Sadly, Buddy Morrison and Lee Shepherd are no
longer with us. David Reher has taken his leave of Pro Stock after the
devastating crash that nearly claimed driver Bruce Allen's life.

Drag
racing may never again see a team with the personality diversity and
intellectual intelligence as that of the R-M-S trio.  It will also never forget
those storming red, white and blue Chevys from Arlington, Texas. - Jim Hill, Port Orange, FL.
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - THE LEGEND OF LEE SHEPHERD 

As a rabid Reher-Morrison and Shepherd fan, I was at a loss when Lee was killed.
I was living in Texas, at the time, and all the local news carried the accident.
The whole Reher-Morrison and Shepherd team was talented, but it seemed that Lee
made the big horsepower with his head work. Pro Stock is still exciting, but I
will never have the thrills that I had when R-M-S cars came to the line. I miss
seeing the Shepherd Heads decals on the fenders of cars. Racing misses Lee
Shepherd, and now Buddy Morrison. - Charles Doan, Plymouth, Ohio 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - THE LEGEND OF LEE SHEPHERD 

This is a very well written story. It is true that most of us never really knew
that much about Lee as a person, only as a fierce racer. I got to meet him at
Rockingham, NC in 82' or 83' because I wanted to see firsthand who my favorite
driver of all-time ( Bob Glidden ) was up against. David, Buddy and Lee were
very good people and I gained a ton of respect for them. After Lee's death in
March 85', we attended the Southern Natl's in Commerce in April and I remember
it like it was yesterday, the Pro Stocks on Sunday morning came from the top end
down the Strip toward the Starting Line in formation except there was a "Missing
Man" ( the spot beside Bob Glidden ) and it was extremely touching. I even
remember Buster Couch wiping tears from his eyes. - Bruce Young  Gastonia, NC  

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - THE LEGEND OF LEE SHEPHERD 

Excellent article I followed Lee from his days in Modified to his domination of Pro Stock you covered all very well from the suprise of everyone at his
domination to the shock of the news at the end. - Kevin Nickoson, Lawrenceburg

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - THE LEGEND OF LEE SHEPHERD 

A great story of a true champion.

This guy was a insparation to many and
helped start me on the way to 4 Pro Stock championships! -Peter Ridgeway, Victoria, Australia

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - TROXEL TO DRIVE VIETNAM VETERANS/POW-MIA DRAGSTER

Good day to all you good people. I just read that Evan Knoll is using a TF
dragster to welcome home our Vietnam vets. I was in tears to be honest. I
personally missed 'Nam by a year, but two brothers and friends were there and it
does my heart good to see Mr. Knoll doing this. Finally something good coming
out of Drag Racing. Our Vets have been through hell. Dealing with the VA really
sucks. They are so behind the times and so non caring. You file a claim and they
call you a liar. They, like the IRS, is so poorly ran and so incompetent that it
truly reflects on the rest of this poorly ran government. I am so happy to see
this dragster that Troxel will be driving. "Hey, Evan, I'll drive a Funny Car
with the same paint." I would be so honored. I hope that Melanie does tons and
tons of research so that she can truly appreciate what it is she is getting to
do. Gosh, what an honor.  God Bless Evan Knoll. - Mark Elms, Kingsburg, CA.
 

I enjoyed the article on Mike Dunn. The only area of disagreement I have is his
accessment of Paul Page. As far as I am concerned, Page has no place in the
NHRA. His performance was just short of pathetic and he really didn't improve.
What amazes me is that Marty did such a great job and was helping NHRA in the
audience ratings, and ESPN decided to take him to a venue that has a small
audience and waste his talents. I have contacted NHRA and voiced my disapproval
along with many others, and I appreciate the NHRA responding to me, but they say
it is up to ESPN and basically ESPN ignores all my emails.

I met Mike at
Bristol back in 2001 and I told him that I was brand new to the sport, and loved
his commentary, which really educated me in the sport. Along with Marty, they
both complemented the sport and made it enjoyable. Since then I have become a
big fan, but if Page is back this year, I won't be watching the telecast...thank
goodness for the internet. I have also made some friends in racing community,
drivers and crew members, and they think Page is worthless also and feel that it
will hurt the sport. But I guess ESPN has a hold over what happens and
apparently Page is related to someone there in order to keep his job. It is
amazing how a "seasoned professional, as NHRA put it" can go from voice of the
500, to broadcasting CART races, to IRL coverage and basically do a poor job at
all of this, but then be put in a position to destroy a TV audience that is
growing as in the NHRA. It will be a sorry day if Page returns. - Dave Hunsinger, Avon, Indiana

FEEBACK ARTICLE - MERCHANT OF MEMORIES

Way way back in the early 70's I would go to the March Meet. My Dad would allow
this 15/16 year old to take the family car or pickup/camper to Famoso and see
the March Meet. I believe that the most beautiful car that Tom Hoover EVER
campaigned was his Satellite "Showtime". That car was gorgeous. I have always
wanted to field a nostalgia Satellite or Challenger. And for those morons that
clearly have a Mopar E-Body and paint Camaro fascia on them, you are
fools.

As for Mr. Aiello, after reading what all you have written about this
young man, it makes me cherish a time in my past. I could never hold a candle to
"Big Mike", but I used to be a people person. I would go around every morning
and say "hi" to everyone and give the gals a hug. Then the military got ahold of
me and soured me to people.

I just hope that now that I have my 20 years
complete that I can once again be a true people person and that even one tenth
of me could be like "Big Mike".  As for the Satellite bodied Funny Car, I still
have my dreams.  God Bless you All and God Bless "Big Mike" and all who loved
him. - Mark Elm, Kingsburg, CA.
 

FEEBACK ARTICLE - MERCHANT OF MEMORIES

I personally think the the Funnies of the 70's were simply the best funny cars
ever. I remember it very well. HotWheels had just come out with thier versions
of the Snake and the Mongoose. I built a Revel model kit of the Snake and
learned for the first time what a funny car really was. I was 11 at the time. It
was love.

Since those days, I've watched as the funny car class has
developed. In recent years they've gone from funny looking to goofy looking.
Hummmmmm.

I truly believe that the NHRA would be best served if they were
to go back to the old demensions for the funny car class, while running new
models. Run all their races in 8th mile distances. Run a 32 car funny car field,
a 16 car pro-stock field and a 16 car pro-mod field for the t.v. viewers to see.
Points? They wouldn't need no stinkin' points! (Haha.) My point being, they'd
have the whole show right there. The points chase would be icing on the
cake. - Tom Bennett, Gaston, SC