Wednesday, August 31, 2005


70s Funny Cars Round 38: Division Five
Round 38 features funny cars from Divison Five. These funny cars raced both in the high altitudes and at sea level, a tough proposition for any racer.

ANRA Cool August Nights
Photos of the ten class winners and 11 more photos of outstanding cars in action at the ANRA Cool August Nights event on August 20, 2005.
Toyo Tires Signs as Primary Sponsor of Frank Pedregon
Frankie Pedregon picks up support from Toyo Tires for Indy and Maple Grove, and hopefully, beyond that.
CHRR News Releases
The latest news from the California Hot Rod Reunion.
Drag racing's big player spreads its work wings
The public has a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing aspect of the drag racing business -- and possibly meet some of the sport's leading personalities at the same time.
U.S. Nationals are the Indy 500 of drag racing
More than one-thousand cars are entered in this week's U.S. Nationals drag racing event at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
IHRA Announces 2006 Hooters Drag Racing Series National Event Schedule
IHRA has announced the national event schedule for the 2006 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. 2006 will feature 11 national events.
2006 Mitsubishi Evo IX: After a steady diet of V-8s, a screaming turbo four sorbet
Two years of gorging on rear-drive V-8 muscle and the Evo and I meet again. I'm nervous. Will the chemistry still be there? Has my delicate European palette been sullied by the smoky taste of slow-cooked tires roasted over a V-8 spit coated in tail-happy sauce?

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Ultimate Pro Modifieds
If Pro Modified had been around for the last three decades and had grown to the level of popularity that the Funny Cars and Pro Stocks, have you ever wondered who might have given this class a try.
Draft driver wins $2,000 drag prize
Billy Brewster and his crew mate, Ryan Southern, won Sunday's $2,000 Super Pro show at Eastside Dragway.
Danica who? Butler proves to be talented young drag racer
North Huntingdon's Lisa Butler took home first place and a $1,000 savings bond in winning Pittsburgh Raceway Park's Junior Dragster Division Blowout for 8-9-year-olds.
IGN: NHRA Championship Drag Racing Review
Casually disregarding NHRA Championship Drag Racing as just another straight-line racer with few redeeming qualities simply because it focuses on a rather narrowly appealing sport does no good or justice.
Nitro Madness Does the World Series of Drag Racing
Rapid Baker and the Nitro Madness AA/Fuel Altered team raced the big boys at the 52nd annual World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova. Here's his report.
Pacific Raceways Plays Host to Inaugural Goodguys Event Labor Day Weekend
The nation’s premier vintage drag racers are preparing to spend a memorable Labor Day weekend in the Pacific Northwest as the Goodguys 1st Northwest Nostalgia Nationals gets set to blast off in Seattle.
2005 World Series of Drag Racing
Chris Martin was on hand from DRO to fill us in on the event highlights from the 52nd World Series...
NHRA Funny Car Drivers Discuss Skoal Showdown, 51st Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, and Tight Points Race
Several funny car competitors who are qualified for the Skoal Showdown describe what it is like to tackle the bonus event and the biggest race of the year in the same week.

Monday, August 29, 2005


Danny's Top 10 AA/Funny Cars of the 80s
This top ten has little scientific calibration to it. It just the wild leanings of a fuel coupe freak that grew up in the 1980s. Put away that Rubik's cube and your Atari and enjoy!
Cordova has come a long way in past 52 years
Drag-racing veterans Bob Bartel and Ron Colson reflect on the changes that have taken place at Cordova since Bob opened it so many years ago.
SS Greats Win, Lose, Or Drag
The SS Returns... not every Super Sport was a winner, but these were close to unbeatable.
Canada Fire wipes out hopes of Calgary drag team
Dreams of setting a track record at Saskatchewan International Raceway went up in smoke for a Calgary-based team this weekend.
Third time feels better for Anderson
The biggest test of a champion is not winning that first title, but proving it was no fluke by winning a second time. Two-time National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson understands that, and it's probably why if he is able to hold on for his third consecutive Powerade Series title he will most definitely appreciate it that much more.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

DRiVA Inc. - Drag Racing in Victoria Association
Keep tabs on DRiVA's quest to return ANDRA Drag Racing to its home and its rightful place as Australia's Number 1 Motorsport.
Tracks legally catering to street racing culture
As legislators and law enforcement officials nationwide try to crack down on what they consider a burgeoning culture of street racing, some thrill-seekers have turned to sanctioned tracks, where gunning your engine and challenging your friends is not only allowed, it's encouraged.
Montague family loves drag racing
The McHenry family of Montague knows a thing or two about drag racing in Northern California and Oregon.
Drag racers blast Cruisin' Grand
Fire-breathing dragons of yesteryear came to downtown Escondido on Friday evening, in the form of vintage drag-racing cars. Occupying center stage at Cruisin' Grand, Escondido's weekly mobile classic car show, were nine 'slingshot' front-engine drag racers from the 1960s, powerful and dangerous.
Wildomar drag racing siblings speeding to success
The trophy collection at the home of the junior drag racing champion Thompson siblings in Wildomar could fill an entire room.
Drivers gun it to Firebird for legal, supervised drag racing
It is 9 p.m. on a hot and humid Friday night. Sports cars, pickup trucks and family sedans await their turn, lined up two by two as if boarding an ark stamped 'Made in Detroit.' They are here for a quarter-mile thrill ride, 16 seconds of flat-out speed where if pedal's not touching metal, something is wrong.
Gimli back on track
After being closed all summer for extensive renovations, the drag strip at the Gimli Motorsports Park is set to reopen next weekend.
2005 IHRA Norwalk Final Results
Final pro qualifying results and first round pairings from the 2005 Skull Gear World Nationals presented by PPG Automotive Refinish.
Racer undeterred by 5th 'flatline'
Drag racer Ron Fassl of Scottsdale has set more records and won more races than he can count. He also has clinically died five times. Hang in there, Ron. We're pulling for you.

Saturday, August 27, 2005

2005 IHRA Norwalk Final Qualifying Results
Final pro qualifying results and first round pairings from the 2005 Skull Gear World Nationals presented by PPG Automotive Refinish.

Fuel Altereds at Bandimere
Back in May, a new breed of AA/Fuel Altereds stopped at Bandimere Speedway in Colorado, a state that used to be a hotbed of AA/FA racing in the seventies.
2005 IHRA Norwalk Friday Qualifying Results
Day one qualifying results from the 2005 Skull Gear World Nationals presented by PPG.

Friday, August 26, 2005

2005 Funny Car Reunion
On July 31, 2005, the hands of the clock were turned back! Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. hosted the 4th annual Funny Car Reunion and the Old Days Drags event. As you walked through the packed pit area you could find cars from many different era's of drag racing history.
51st Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Fact Sheet
All you need to know to enjoy the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, whether you go there or stay home and catch it on TV, Satellte, or the Internet.
2005 NHRA Brainerd, Memphis, and IHRA Martin Performances
New drivers, and personal best ETs and speeds from 2005 NHRA Brainerd and Memphis and IHRA Michigan.
Classic Detroit Dragway 70s Drag Racing Photos
We've featured this site before, but it's absolutely fantastic, so here's another link. John Gacioch has been photographing race cars since the days when the drag strips in and around Michigan were ruled by drivers like Kalitta and Garlits. The quality and historical value of these pictures are second to none.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Bradenton Motorsports Park Bradenton, Florida
A super drag strip that offers a great slate of events year 'round. Don't forget the big Nostalgia show featuring nostalgia floppers, dragsters, and gassers on November 5 and 6.
Pro Modified Racing Association 2005 Photo Gallery
Canadian Pro Mod photos by the always excellent Rob Potter.
2005 NHRA Indy Wednesday Test Results
Greg Anderson and Andrew Hines raced to performances better than the current track records in their respective categories Wednesday to close open testing for the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the world�s most prestigious drag race.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Funny Car Stars Prepare for Skoal Showdown at Indy
Perennial NHRA world champion John Force will start from the No. 1 position in the Skoal Showdown on Sept. 4 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, as he goes for his sixth victory in the special bonus event for qualified Funny Car drivers.
Pro Stock Bike Racers to Battle at Indy for Ringers Gloves Crown
Andrew Hines will headline a special eight-motorcycle field from the No. 1 qualifying position as he seeks his third consecutive victory in three starts in the 15th annual Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Sept. 3.
Post Race Notes: 18th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals
Facts and figures from the amazingly hot and humid 2005 NHRA Memphis event.

'No Time Nationals' Wild Wheelstand Action
A new concept is taking the Northeast by storm, The No Time Nationals. No times on the scoreboards, only a green light and a win light at the end to prove the fastest street car and still keep it secret.

Nitro Madness Reigns at Great Bend
The Nitro Madness AA/Fuel Altered team went to the big nostalgia event in Great Bend, Kansas, and had about the best possible weekend.
2005 NHRA Indy Tuesday Test Results
Early pro test results from the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

Draglist.com House Band Shakes up GarageBand.com
GarageBand.com is a site where over 130,000 original songs from artists all across the world have been uploaded. The artists review each others song and based on those reviews, awards are handed out. Shakedown's single release "Crime" was uploaded to the site 5 weeks ago and for five consecutive weeks Brandi has been voted BEST FEMALE VOCALIST in BLUES ROCK. For the week of July 25 she got BEST FEMALE VOCALS OVERALL (meaning all categories). Great job, Brandi!

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

2006 Dodge Charger: Hoping to Become a Familiar Face
The new Charger is a worthy car in its own right, and in R/T trim with the Hemi engine, one worth considering for families whose needs include zero-to-60 times of less than six seconds.

60s Funny Cars - Drag Racing Photos and History
Kicking Things Off: Our Totally Unscientific, Purely Personal Choice (of a Select Few Funny Car Fans), Certain to be Disputed, Top Ten Funny Cars of the 1960s. Or... We had to start somewhere!

Monday, August 22, 2005

Back Yard Guys - Racing
We are the 'Back Yard Guys'... and we are fixing to re-create a front engined dragster that we ran back in the days of zoom headers and direct drive fixed clutch tire smokers from the mid 1960's.

Wally Bell - Chevy Pro Mod Superstar!
Wally Bell's new website features his racing history and lots of photos and handouts.
2005 NHRA Memphis Final Results
Final results and up to date POWERAde NHRA championship points standings after the 18th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals.

Sunday, August 21, 2005


Sinke captures Skyview Drags PMRA event
Larry Sinke was the dominant driver in the fourth scheduled PMRA event held at Skyview Drags Saturday night.
Photo highlights from the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals held at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, by Dawn Mazi-Hovsepian and Mark Hovsepian.
NHRA competing to find its place in motorsports arena
In a motorsports world where NASCAR is king and open-wheel racing is experiencing a renaissance thanks to Danica Patrick, the NHRA is trying to carve out its place in the racing pantheon.
The Edge of Appalachia: Drag strip satisfies need for speed
The first thing you must know about Sunday races at Magnolia Dragstrip is the fastest cars don't always win. The daylong series of races, which begin at noon, are as much about skill as speed; they're about knowing yourself and your car.

60s Funny Cars: The Top Ten of the Decade
In an informal poll, I asked who were the top ten funny car racers of the sixties. A total of 45 drivers received votes. Russell "Jungle Jim" Liberman and his '68 Nova came out on top by two votes. Five and half votes separated number one and number ten.
Schuh fits into drag racing scene at IMSP
The construction of Intermountain Motor Sports Park has introduced the sport of drag racing to thousands of Billings-area folks, whether they be drivers, crewmen or fans.

70s Funny Cars: Round 37 -- The East Coast
Round 37 of 70s Funny Cars brings us to the East Coast. Featured are ten cars from Jersey to Georgia, five from the North and five from the South.

Astro Pilots
More ruminations from Badco, describing why nitro powered race cars are their own form of addiction.

Pro Mod: 20 Questions with Gaylen Smith
We recently interviewed Gaylen Smith, the leader of the Texas Outlaw Pro Mod Association and a veteran Pro Mod racer.
2005 NHRA Memphis Final Qualifying Results
Final qualifying numbers and first round pairings from the 18th annual O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.
K&N Super Nationals Pics
More SUPER HUGE photos from OneBadMk8, these from his excursion to NHRA E-town this year.
Maple Grove Divisional Pics
These were from qualifying at Maple Grove for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. These are BIG photos, aka Dial Up DEATH, so be forewarned.
Classic Car Weekend
Jay Leno's life is comedy, but to this acclaimed autophile, cars are no laughing matter. Leno is a fixture at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where for two decades he's been bringing cars to display and serving as an informal emcee.
Sneva, Parsons, Ivo Joining the Elite
Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva, NASCAR champion Benny Parsons, and Drag Racing star "TV" Tommy Ivo will be among a group of nine racing personalities inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on Thursday in Detroit.
UNC linebacker tackles drag racing
Jeff Longhany has football dreams beyond those of his coming season at North Carolina. Yet no matter how long he puts on a helmet and shoulder pads, Longhany eventually will shift gears to the sport he expects to be around for life.

Saturday, August 20, 2005


2005 8th Annual Goodguys Pomona Nitro Nationals
Dawn Mazi-Hovsepian and Mark Hovsepian present photo highlight from the recently completed Goodguys Pomona Nitro Nationals at the Combustion Chamber.
2005 NHRA Memphis Friday Qualifying Results
Day one pro qualifying numbers from the 18th annual O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals Friday at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Friday, August 19, 2005


Remembering Ron Colson
Ron Colson still has a twinkle in his eye when asked if he still has the desire to drive a competitive drag car. His reply was a quick 'Yes, if it was the right deal.'

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Trip Back in Time
For the first time in 30-odd years, the unmistakable thunder of nitro-fueled horsepower reverberated across the lush Georgia countryside Aug. 6, when Southeastern Dragway (SED) hosted its rain-delayed 50th anniversary celebration.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005


Goyda Signed to Sell Drag Cartoons Original Artwork
MIke Goyda is privileged to announce that he has been commissioned to act as agent for Mrs. Pete Millar and will be offering the original artwork from the pages of Drag Cartoons.

WILL NAMED DRIVER OF BLACK / KALITTA TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Hillary Will has been chosen to drive the new Ken Black-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster that will compete on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Community takes in sights at art festival, car show
Scores of people plugged their ears in unison Sunday as Pinckney's Ed Golden revved his 1967 Probe Dragster during the Brighton Kiwanis Club's 20th annual Car Show, part of the 22nd annual Brighton Art Festival.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Funny Car Shootout at SIR
Check out the TV commercial for this weekend's Cactus Clash in Arizona.
Hough Recovers after Firebird AA/FA Crash
Rick Hough continues to show steady improvement at St. Alphonsus hospital after crashing the famed Nanook at the Nightfire event.
Drag-racing legend Garlits coming to Kil-Kare
It's only right that the biggest racing action at Kil-Kare Dragway also feature the biggest name in the sport. The Greene County strip hosts the 30th annual Buckeye Nationals on Saturday, highlighted by the appearance of Don Garlits. Crowned the 'King of Dragsters,' Garlits will be in attendance with his Swamp Rat No. 12.
Slot Car World revs up interest in hobby
It's drag race night on Tennessee Street and the mood of the crowd is ... electric. At least it is inside Slot Car World, where high-powered, electric motors drive 8-inch-long dragsters down the track on a Wednesday night.
Popular Jeg's Allstars race will remain at Route 66 raceway
The popular JEG�S Allstars Race, a lucrative bonus event for the best NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors, will continue to be contested at state-of-the-art Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, however the date for the 2006 event will move from fall to early summer.
Friendly offer puts Bareman behind wheel of dragster
When Steve Bareman heard Jim Oddy had suffered a string of bad luck this summer, he called and offered over his Pro Modified to his long-time engine builder.
Drag-racing family takes to the fast lane
Jim Dadas averages about 127 miles per hour. His children, Matt, 10, and Lauren, 13, clock in at 70 mph. Their mother, Lisa, watches from the sidelines. This means of acceleration is drag racing, something Dadas, 44, has been doing for 25 years.
Southern California Timing Association & Bonneville Nationals Inc.
Sponsors of the World's Fastest Automotive Speed Trials. Here's where you can find coverage of Bonneville Speed Week.
Thunder roars in the Valley
It seems like everyone left Drayton Valley's first drag race with smiles on their faces. Organizers, drivers and spectators alike all appear to be quite pleased with this past weekend's Thunder in the Valley drag racing event and Show and Shine in Alberta.
2005 NHRA Brainerd Final Results
Final results and up to date POWERAde NHRA points standings after the 2005 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.
2005 IHRA Martin Final Results
Final results and up to date 2005 IHRA Hooters points standings after the 2005 Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park.

Sunday, August 14, 2005


70s Funny Cars Previous Qualifers: Australia
We return to the Land Down Under for another round of Previous Qualifiers. This unusual round of 13 "lucky" cars goes from A (Atholwood) to Z (Zygadlo) with the great help of David Cook.
The ‘voice’ of a sport: NHRA’s Force builds reputation with success, personality
John Force entered this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals with a list of accomplishment both substantial and unrivaled in drag racing.
Smith Wins, Scott DNQs in Kennedale Pro Mod Action
Gaylen Smith won first of the year over Matt Jones, while five time 2005 winner Clyde Scott DNQs.
2005 IHRA Martin Final Qualifying Results
Final qualifying results and first round pairings from the 2005 Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

2005 NHRA Brainerd Final Qualifying Results
Final qualifying results and first round pairings from the 24th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Racing and airplanes - an Alberta tradition!
They won't have to worry about any 747s landing while the races are going on. Little jet cars, maybe, but not 747s.
Drag racer ponders last trip down the strip
Iron Range native Warren Johnson returns to his drag strip roots, re-thinks retirement from racing.

2005 Funny Car Reunion by Art Cimilluca
Artie hit the 2005 FCR for us while we were stuck at home with family stuff. He got these awesome shots that really capture the feeling of the event.
Memories of Fremont
Steve Gibbs managed Fremont Dragway for a short three months, but his experiences there made a ton of memories.
Guy Boucher's TV Tommy Ivo Resto is on Track
Lots of new photos... from a Northeast Top Fuel veteran recreating one of the SoCal Top Fuel veteran's great rides.
2005 IHRA Martin Friday Qualifying Results
Day one qualifying results from the 2005 Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 in Martin, Mich.
2005 NHRA Brainerd Friday Qualifying Results
Day one qualifying numbers from the 24th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

They Call Them 'Vintage' Funny Cars
...and Georgian Donnie Reeves builds the bodies...

Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals: Gassers and Hot Rod Eliminator
Gary Brown serves up starting line action of the Gassers and Hot Rod class cars at the Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals.

Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals: Top Fuelers and Wheelstanding Dragsters
Gary Brown sent in 11 photos of Top Fuelers and 11 photos of wheelstanding dragsters in action at the 2005 Nitro Nationals.
McMillen becomes a drag racing animal
Terry McMillen usually finds himself the center of attention on race weekend, regardless of how well his InstiGator Funny Car performs on the dragstrip.
Veidec Festival photographs
The recent Veidec Festival at Sweden's Mantorp Park had the biggest-ever entry at a European Championship drag race with more than 340 cars and bikes entered in Pro and Sportsman classes. Eurodragster.com's Photo Editor Sharkman took several hundred photographs at the race in Sweden and has just updated his personal web site with the complete catalogue, giving a good insight into the sheer variety of race vehicles in Europe. No Cookie Cutters here!
The Nevada Rattler AA/Fuel Altered
Ricky and Cheryl Ruiz and their hard running AA/FA, plus stuff for kids to do...
Stock Appearing Drags: Muscle Cars
Photos of a good contingent of F.A.S.T cars & Factory Stockers & Car show entries.
Dreams Come True -- My Story: Wally Bell
The life and times of Pro Mod Chevy star Wally Bell.

Goodguys Nitro Nationals at Pomona: Part 2
Part two of Robert Briggs' photo coverage of the 2005 Goodguys Nitro Nationals.

Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals: Funny Car Photos
Gary Brown presents photos of Funny Cars in competition and qualifying at the 8th Annual Goodguys Nitro Nationals.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005


Cecil County Street Car Shootout and Pro Mods 8/03
Cecil County Dragway heads deep into the northeast heat weekends with the combined Saturday events including the popular Pro Mods we know so well from there and the Finish Line Performance Outlaw Quick 8's, and the Big Tire Quick 8's of Marino's 1/4 mile Performance / Fifth Street Motors.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

The Track Prep Nationals: Pedalfest in Spokane
The 43rd running of the AHRA World Finals at Spokane Raceway Park turned out to be a lot less than expected by a lot of people in the greater Spokane area.

Drag Racing List - Goodguys Nitro Nationals at Pomona: Part 1
Robert Briggs sent in his usual awesome photo coverage from the 2005 edition of the Goodguys Nitro Nats.

Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals Winner Photos
Gary Brown sent in photos of the 14 class winners recieving their awards at the 2005 Goodguys Pomona NItro Nationals.

Smogtown NItro Nat's
Goodguys Pomona Nitro Nationals photo coverage by Cole Coonce

Monday, August 08, 2005

Drag Racing Game
Here's a fun way to waste an hour or two...
2005 Goodguys Pomona Nitro Nationals by Les Welch
Lots of tasty kolor photos here by ace drag photog Les Welch.
Top fuel dragsters a popular draw at Hot August Nights
If putting the pedal to the metal is your thing, drag racing is the sport for you. They're loud, they're fast and Hot August Nights enthusiasts just can't get enough of them.
2005 Goodguys Pomona Nitro Nationals Final Results
Top Fuel veteran Howard Haight of Upland, California caught every break he could during final eliminations to take the Top Fuel Eliminator crown at the Goodguys 8th Pomona Nitro Nationals.
Quick Times
Quick Times is a monthly Performance magazine that has Canada-wide distribution, and is geared towards 'The Canadian Gearhead' for performance, restoration, rods or muscle.
East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame
Cool new site for the annual gig in Henderson, NC. Turn off your speakers if you're at work, though.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

A Family Together: Hot Rods and Cool Cars
This Denver-area Scouting family has the inside track on a fast-paced way to have fun together.
Pro Stock in Trouble
Part 2: Jon Asher describes how to spice up Pro Stock Racing for the fans and supporting sponsors.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Back together again
Drag racing fans in the Tri-Cities have spoken, and their biggest wish has come true thanks to the National Hot Rod Association, Virginia Motorsports Park and Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D).
A dream weekend for Ontario drag racers
The IHRA made its last Canadian stop of the season and it turned out to be a like-a-movie-script weekend for a couple of homeboys.
HeadsUpRacerPhotos.com
Photos of mountain motor pro stocks, pro modifieds, and more.
Local couple hits racing scene
Back in the 1980s, Cathy Hopkins showed horses with her son, Jason. They traveled everywhere. They enjoyed competing in show rings and their Appaloosa horses did quite well. But one day after having their best show season ever, she decided it was time for a change in horsepower.
Old School With a New Twist
Nostalgia drag races, sponsored by the Goodguys Vintage Racing Assn. for pre-1980 equipment, conjures visions of old geezers in top-fuel dragsters and funny cars restored and refurbished from backyard cobwebs. Such is far from the case.

Friday, August 05, 2005

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Thursday from Mission Raceway Park
Nearly three months after its start, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Lordco B.C. Nationals crowed its champions at Mission Raceway Park.
2005 NHRA Western Swing and IHRA Milan/Toronto
New entries and personal best elapsed times and speeds from 2005 NHRA Bandimere, Seattle, Sonoma and IHRA Milan and Cayuga.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

8th Annual Pomona Nitro Nationals Photos
Some early Thursday setup shots here. More to come this weekend.
Capps fulfills a dream
What does a Funny Car driver do on an off week from the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series? For Ron Capps, it's fullfilling a lifelong dream to compete in a nostalgic Funny Car race down the famed quartermile at Pomona Raceway.
Norwalk Underground
A blog centered around Norwalk Raceway Park in Ohio.

E-Towns Funny Car Reunion, Gassers, and Classics
Englishtown's Raceway Park has been well known for many years as the one place for the largest gathering of Nostalgia Drag Racing on the east coast with their highly touted Annual Funny Car Reunion.
NHRA returns to Virginia
Virginia Motorsports Park is upgrading the acronym stamped on its annual drag racing showcase. After a five-season stint with the International Hot Rod Association, VMP will switch next year to the National Hot Rod Association.

Clyde Scott: Texas' Most Wanted
For most Pro Mod teams it takes years of experience to develop a successful and winning combination. However, this was not the case for Clyde Scott and the Texas Most Wanted team (TMW) of Kemp, Texas.
Put Smogtown in your rear-view mirror: The best escape paths out of L.A.
Like most amusement parks, Los Angeles is a lie. If you accept the lie -- and understand the lie, then you can survive and maybe even flourish here. Los Angeles is a great place to live. It is also a great place to leave.
Drag Princess: Mendy Fry, the nitro-burning CPA
With all the hoopla surrounding 23-year-old Indy Car phenom Danica Patrick and her fourth-place finish at this year's Indy 500 and Sports Illustrated cover (d'oh!), you'd think a girl had never put on a fire suit before. Meet Mendy Fry, a fresh young face from San Diego who says she is "29-ish" and acknowledges that she has been driving at speeds over 200 mph since she was a teenager.

The Plunkett & Meinel Story: Part 1, The Dragster Years
Tim Plunkett knew his dad raced dragsters and funny cars, but he didn't know the entire history until he sat down and interviewed him and his former teammate. This is the first of a two part story on the Plunkett & Meinel racing team that raced into the mid-seventies.

The Plunkett & Meinel Story: Part 2, The Funny Car Years
Part 2 of the Plunkett & Meinel story brings on the funny cars. The team raced the ex-Lou Azar Gremlin from 73-76, then moved on to the Hartsoe Bros.' Monza.

2005 NHRA Sonoma Photos - Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike, and Top Alcohol
Photos of Top Alcohol Funny Car and Dragster, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike from the 2005 FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California.

2005 NHRA Sonoma Photos - Funny Car
Funny Car photo highlights from the 2005 FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California.

2005 NHRA Sonoma Photos - Top Fuel
Jason Ellis photo review of Top Fuel from the 2005 FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Michigan Dragstrip Memories
John Gacioch has been photographing race cars since the days when the drag strips in and around Michigan were ruled by drivers like Kalitta and Garlits. I think you will find the quality and historical value of these pictures to be second to none.
Racer gives owner reason to smile
Mike Borr had never been on a roll quite like the one enjoyed this past Saturday night. He got through the first two rounds in Martin's Modified division, and then the night really got interesting.

Monday, August 01, 2005

G-forces on drag racers
Drag racing legend 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits says he occasionally grew woozy at extreme speeds, and he believes high G-forces have left other drivers similarly disoriented, causing some to crash.
Pro '60 Chevy: Putting The Big Guy On The Ground
In this chapter, Mike Casella is in the final stages of bringing the big Bel Air home.
Schneider Cams On-Line Photos
Lots of great photos of racers who've used Schneider cams over the years. Thanks to Byron Stack for the tip.
Texas Outlaw Pro Mods: Mid Season Update
Clyde Scott is the 2005 TOPMA points leader as of August 1, 2005. The "Texas Most Wanted" gang leads with 477 points.

Drag Racing Message Board Members Purchase R3 Safety Device for Racer
Members of the Computer Magic/Draglist.com message board again show their generosity by stepping up to purchase a state of the art safety harness for AA/Fuel Altered racer Randy Baker.