What's New at The Drag Racing List
December 31, 2000 -- Season's
Greetings and
Happy New Year to all our friends at The Drag
Racing List! We have had a fantastic year of sharing drag
racing memories with you. I hope everyone has a relaxing holiday season,
surrounded by friends, family, health, and happiness. Thanks for making us
a part of your life. The Pratt Family -- Bill, Denise, Jason, and Emily
NEWS FLASH from horsepowerheaven.com! Click
HERE to read
about the exciting addition to the annual FotoVideoSpectacular scheduled
for TONIGHT!
Drag Racing Story
of the Day: The
College of Drag Racing. Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Bill
Naves shares a piece of advice he received when he started racing in
Pro Comp years ago.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Farewell
to the 2000 Racing Season. Here's a neat shot by drag
racing's own "Ansel Adams" -- Pete Garramone. While not
its original intent, I'm using the photo to signify that the 2000 racing
season has made tracks and is outta here! Farewell to another season of
racing. Thanks to all our friends and supporters for a wonderful year of
capturing drag racing history. Take it easy tonight -- we want to see you
next year!
Drag Racing Movie of the Week: Top
Fuel Burnouts at Norwalk. This
one is from yours truly. I captured Jim Head and another Top Fuel car
pounding the track at Norwalk's IHRA World Nationals. Can you name the
other car? bp
NITRO CHAT at www.dragster.cc!
Paul Fink has put together a great Nitro Chat week at his site.
David Grubnic starred on 12/29. Here's next week's lineup:
Jan. 4th 9:00-10:00pm Paul Romine
Jan. 5th 9:00-10:00pm "Jungle" Pam Hardy
Paul reports that Tony Schumacher and Dean Skuza will also probably be
scheduled soon.
FINALLY! The FREE
Match Race Madness PC game has been updated with new racers and times
for the complete 2000 season!
Click HERE to download it!
Exclusive
bonus photos: 2000 Flashback! NHRA Pros at Phoenix
and Seattle!
Les Welch has provided us with cool photos from
NHRA events since about halfway through the season, but he took shots at
all the early events, too! If you want to see photos from a particular
NHRA event that occurred in 2001, drop us a line at bilden@draglist.com,
and we will get the word to Les. In the meantime, check out his photo
archives.
Updated Draglist
Links.
Don
Montgomery's Hot Rod Books! We are extremely proud to offer you
Don Montgomery's outstanding hot rod books. Don's books set the standard
for high quality automotive books. These beautiful hard cover books make
the perfect gift for the hot rod or dragster fan in your life! Well
written and packed with hard to find information and hundreds of photos,
Don's books "take you back" to the heyday of American
Performance cars. A racer himself, Don captures the "inside
scoop" on the history of the men and women who drove these
fascinating machines. Click HERE
for more information or to order Don's books.
The Drag
Racing List Souvenir Store is open! That's right! We have
plastered The Drag Racing List logo (seen in the upper left hand corner of
each page at draglist.com) on a variety of products! Show your friends
that you KNOW what you are talking about in drag racing -- 'cause you
frequent the site that has all the info!
There are shop aprons, caps, clocks, golf
shirts, Tee Shirts for kids and adults, magnets, buttons, mouse pads, mugs,
picture key rings, sweatshirts, tank tops, tote bags, and visors!
Basically, we waved at things. If they didn't wave back, we slapped a
draglist.com logo on 'em! Check out our Draglist
Souvenir Store for a neat collection of affordable gifts.
December 30, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: John
Force -- Still Doin' What it Takes. Tom West offers an
alternative view of the ten time champ that many now say "wins too
much."
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Jungle
Jim and Jungle Pam -- Casual Spectators. Norman Blake caught
Jungle and Ms. Hardy checking out the action at E-town one day.
December 29, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: The
First Israeli Rocket. Jim Hill fills us in on one of
history's first successful rear-engined dragsters.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Steel
Warrior '88. Ron Dilley
with some nice photo/art of IHRA Top Dragster/Altered machine of Billy
DeWitt.
December 28, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Push
Truck Racing at OCIR. Bob Van Luven proves that if you dare
someone to beat you to the starting line, you'd better have the juice to
back it up...
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Jody
Austin -- Top Alcohol Corvette. Rob Potter
with a shot of the "other" Austin in Top Alcohol racing -- one
who took on the AA/FC cars at one race.
December 27, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: American
Graffiti Tidbits. Robb Lowe shares some little known trivia
about the hot rods in George Lucas' venerable coming of age flick.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: USSC
Madness -- Manny DeJesus vs. Charles Carpenter. Art Cimilluca
with a great side-by-side burnout shot of two of the cars that helped give
birth to Pro Mod.
December 26, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Swiss
Funny Car Racer Takes Drag Racing to Italy. Dezsoe Krivan wowed
the crowd at MotorSport 2000 in Bologna, Italy.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Junior
Kaiser -- Strapped in and Ready. Pete Garramone with a shot
of the Colorado digger shoe, suited up and ready for battle.
December 25, 2000 -- Season's
Greetings to all our friends at The Drag
Racing List! We have had a fantastic year of sharing drag
racing memories with you. I hope everyone has a relaxing holiday season,
surrounded by friends, family, health, and happiness. Thanks for making us
a part of your life. The Pratt Family -- Bill, Denise, Jason, and Emily
Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Purple
Girl's Christmas Present. Laurie Watts tells us about her
Christmas present -- a first ride in her newly-injected dragster,
and a surprise visit from cross-country traveler Flyin' Phil Elliott.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: John
Force Stars as The Grinch. Robert Briggs captured the
ten-time world champion sporting Christmas colors at Pomona.
December 24, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Let's
Race! Free Match Race Madness PC Game Updated for 2000. Yeah!
It's been a long time comin', but the MRM game has been completely updated
with all the racers and times for the 2000 season! Here's what it's all
about...
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Dickie
Harrell at Bakersfield '66. Paul Hutchins captured Dick
Harrell's "Nickey Chevrolet" Chevy II at the 1966 March Meet.
Drag Racing Movie of the Week: Bailey
Bros. Fuel Funny Car. Carl Witt captures the Bailey Bros.
Aussie Ford Probe AA/FC at speed.
December 23, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Norma
Gets an Autograph (A John Force Story). Dave Libby with
another example of why John Force is possibly the most popular drag racer
in history.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Al
Hofmann/Jim Dunn Mooneyes Avenger.visited
the states from Australia in November and got some great shots at the NHRA
World Finals. Here's the first.
December 22, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Memories
of Dover Drag Strip. New contributor Tom DeLello talks
about the cars at the Wingdale, NY, strip, including his brother's fueler
and the early Lagana Bros. machines.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Piranha
on Fuel! Walt Stevens provides a shot of the ORIGINAL nitro
fish -- the AMT Piranha. You could by an AMT model of this car for about
two bucks back then...
December 21, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Drag
Racing's Musical Memories. Robb Lowe finds that a few
songs bring back memories of the people, places, and events in drag
racing.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Before
90 Percent: Doug Herbert's' Massive 1999 Explosion. New contributor
Keith Percival shows off his great shot of Doug Herbert's
sport-changing fireball at the '99 World Finals.
December 20, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Another
Fine Mess the Snake Got Me Into. TV Tommy Ivo shares a
funny tale of the first and only time he joined his fellow fuel drivers on
a desert motorcycle jaunt.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: The
Fugitive Aims for the Sky! New contributor Ted Pappacena
with two great shots of Tommy McNeely's outrageous Fugitive Corvette
wheelstander in 1972.
December 19, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: The
Police and the River Road. Dave Williams provides an ample
demonstration of the dangers of early street racing.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: New
Generation! Rick Stambaugh's Charger AA/FC. Old friend Norman
Blake has sent along some of his fantastic photos for us to use in Draglist.com. I've known Norman for nearly 15 years. I miss seeing him since the
NHRA Division 1 traveling road show doesn't do MIR anymore. We used to
have some great times -- him, Henry Timmerman, Matt Polito, and all the
other NY/NJ guys. I miss 'em all, but this is a nice treat. Thanks, Norm!
New Desperately
Seeking entry. Where is the Foster's King Cobra Funny Car?
December 18, 2000 -- Another friend
passes. The drag racing world lost yet another member of its family
this past week. Marie Lagana, the wife and mother of the father and son
"Twilight Zone" Top Fuel team of Bob and Bobby Lagana passed
away Friday after a yearlong illness. This hurts. Marie was another racer
whom I have known since the mid '80s. She and Bobby always made room in
their pit space for me.
The life of an independent fuel racer is
anything but easy, but Marie Lagana worked right beside Bobby on his
series of funny cars and then fuelers, sacrificing some of life's
comforts to feed the nitro monster. Eventually, Bobby, Jr., hit the track,
too, and Marie was there to support both her husband and her son in their
uphill battle for Top Fuel glory. I can't imagine a more supportive wife
or mother. Marie's passing leaves a large void in the collective soul of racers
and fans everywhere. RIP, Marie. Bill Pratt
Updated
Drag Lists.
Danny White, Steve Klemetti, and hundreds of our readers have
contributed new stats and info to our lists. Here is the latest stuff,
with another update due in early January.
Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Match
Race Q&A with Tommy McNeely. Flyin' Phil Elliott caught
up with funny car and wheelstander legend Tommy McNeely to find out just
how it was on the match race trail in the '60s and '70s.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Farewell
to Marie Lagana. Art Cimilluca says goodbye to a great gal.
December 17, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day:
The
Foster Bros. & the Down Track Wheelies. Flyin' Phil Elliott
tells how the Foster Bros.' small block Chevy fueler beat all the
Hemis to the NW speed record at SIR...
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: The
Udder Nonsense of Nitro Trucks. James Morgan captures Brent
Fanning's Dodge Dakota Funny Truck at speed.
Drag Racing Movie of the Week: Blown
Altered Chain Reaction! New contributor Aidan Smith checks
in with neat footage of a blown altered getting WAY out of shape off the
starting line.
December 16, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day:
What
To Do on New Year's Eve. Larry Pfister recommends visiting
horsepowerheaven.com, where he will host a drag racing multimedia bash.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Durart
Sartin, Racing Rancher. Travis Perrenot provides a great shot of a
Texas fuel flathead racer.
December 15, 2000 -- Our friend
Steve Collison passed away yesterday, December 14, of an apparent heart
attack. Steve was a generous and personable man who made some of the
sport's most important journalistic contributions. He was currently the
editor of Drag Racing USA magazine. Before that, he edited Super Stock
& Drag Illustrated. Steve also did a stint at National Dragster in the
1970s. Steve Collison was one of our earliest supporters, placing ample
free ads for the fledgling Drag Racing List booklet in Super Stock
magazine. I will definitely miss him. Bill Pratt
Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Tribute
to Steve Collison. Joel Naprstek with fond memories of
Steve Collison, a drag racing fan who stayed true to his Super Stock
roots.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: A
Fire Burnout for Steve. Pete Orres shot Brian Kohlmann's Factory
Experimental Dodge laying down a blaze -- the perfect tribute to the
ultimate doorslammer fan, Steve Collison.
December 14, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Drivin'
for The Greek. Pat Foster continues to tell us how it was
to drive 'em in the good old days. This time, Pat's going on tour with
Chris Karamesines' funny car.
Update! Making
Drag Racing More Exciting. Brian Spink
has added lots more to his story of the day for 12/13. Check it out!
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Altereds
at San Gabe. Steve Gibbs checks in with more lost treasures from
San Gabriel -- Altereds!
December 13, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Making
Drag Racing More Exciting. New contributor Brian Spink
has one of the best ideas I've heard all year. I think it would DEFINITELY
make drag racing more exciting!
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Teacher's
Pet. Art Cimilluca makes the grade with a nice shot of Jerry
Stein's Mopar Super Stocker.
December 12, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Your
Top Speed or Average Speed? Doug Dornbos with a funny tale
of a too-quick ride around the block on a motorcycle.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Fish
Fry II - David Ray vs. the Nitro Fish. James Morgan with a photo
of two IHRA Funny Cars doing battle.
December 11, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Payin'
the Bills at San Fernando. Walt Stevens tells how he set
top time at The Pond and offers more memories.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Return
of the Gremlin. New contributor Bill Peters captured Rich
LaMont's great looking AMC Gremlin Pro Stock car at Atco's November
nostalgia race.
Updated Heads Up
Event Calendar: You had go to Hawaii to see it, but we had
six-second, 200 mph action this weekend! Florida had action, too, and
Australia had TOP FUEL! Any
other December events out there? If so, get 'em in to bilden@draglist.com.
I will be posting the 2001 heads up events soon.
Exclusive
bonus photos: Flashback! NHRA
Pros at Atlanta! Les Welch has provided us with cool photos from
NHRA events since about halfway through the season. But he took shots at
all the early events, too! If you want to see photos from a particular
NHRA event that occurred in 2001, drop us a line at bilden@draglist.com,
and we will get the word to Les. In the meantime, check out his photo
archives HERE.
December 10, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story
of the Day: Steve
Read Takes First Top Fuel Points of the Season At Calder Park.
Paul Marinelli provides full coverage of the weekend's action in
Australia.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: The
Bean Bandits Hit the Flatlands. Pete Garramone with a great shot
of the legendary San Diego team at Great Bend, Kansas, in 1955.
Drag Racing Movie of the Week: Top
Doorslammer on its Roof! Rob Oberg's Drag
Racing TV program from Willowbank captures some of the best drag racing
action anywhere. Grant Stephens of the Cackling Pipes website has
pulled some of the best clips together and has offered them to Draglist.com.
Thanks, guys!
December 09, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day:
A
Day at the Races with Dick Harrell's Car. New contributor Dave
Libby provides a glimpse into the drive-all-night world of
professional funny car match racing, '60s style.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Swedish
Pro Street Action! Hans Karlsson provides some great shots of
mid-six-second European Doorslammers.
December 08, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day:
Grumpy
Debuts his Famous Vega. Phil Elliott remembers how they
laughed and bounced Bill Jenkins from tech when he brought out his
legendary '72 Vega. But the Gnome of Malvern had the last laugh...
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Austin
vs. Anglia in Neon. Gonzo whips up some tasty photo art.
December 07, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day: Harry
Hibler in the Lights. Pat Foster with a tale of a close
encounter with two '60s era top fuel cars at speed.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Racing's
Over for Another Year. Anni Valder provides a nice photo of the
sun going down on Santa Pod Raceway -- another season's in the books.
December 06, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day: Keith
Black and the Kid. Frank Oglesby tells a funny tale about a
kid who showed four fuel tuners a thing or two.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Swiss
Trouble -- Switzerland's Fastest Pro Mod.
Edi provides a nice burnout shot of Marcus Hilt's Swiss Pro Mod '55
Chevy.
December 05, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day:
My Best Time at
the Drags. Digger racer Laurie "Purple Girl"
Watts tells of her favorite day at the drags.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Gene
Mooneyham's 554 and Kenny Ellis' 3-Wheeler.
Steve Gibbs came upon buried treasure recently -- a few rolls of
undeveloped drag racing shots from 1962. Here's the first pair. Wow!
December 04, 2000 -- Link problems are on they way out! You
probably have noticed that our drag racing links have been down for hours
or even days at a time recently. It was simply a matter of server power
under the load of millions of hits (wish they were all mine!). I got this
note from the LinkBank folks today to let us know the status of a planned
server upgrade:
"The current LinkBank system is not up
to the task of serving the current traffic. (This has been a problem for a
long time.) The new LinkBank system will be ready for current customers to
test by the end of the week. If the test goes well, we'll replace the
slow, old system right away. The problems with LinkBank are the result of
the high amount of traffic it is getting. With over 4.5 million page views
per month our system from a year ago is not able to function properly
under peak loads. The new version of LinkBank operates on a different
system and will be much, much faster."
There you have it! I will make sure to grab
the new version ASAP to ensure our links are available all day, every day!
[NOTE: LinkBank ceased operations in January 2002. We have moved Draglist
Links to the LinksManager system. bp]
Drag Racing Story of the Day:
Fire in the
Headers (Sing Along)! Ron Dilley offers up his own drag
racing song, sung to the tune of Marshall Tucker's "Fire on the
Mountain."
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Sunburn
in the Sensitive Spots.
James Morgan examines why drag racing fans always seem to sunburn the
bottoms of their forearms...
December 03, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day:
2000 NHRA Oildown
Final Report. motorsport.com provides the final tally of
dollars and points racers were penalized in 2000. Now we want to know your
opinion of this rule.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Jeggie
Takes the Crown.
Robert Briggs caught the new NHRA World Champion at the World Finals.
Drag Racing Movie of the Week: John
Ellis' Outrageous Burnout! Brian Fawcus catches European Pro
Mod Racer John Ellis as he aims for the starter during the burnout!
December 02, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day:
Tommy Joe Invents
the Drag Chute. Gonzo's back with another hilarious Tommy
Joe Cauldwell story. Enjoy!
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Junior
Bikers? Gonzo provides the picture today, too! Where do the
bike guys get their next generation of pilots?
December 01, 2000 -- Drag Racing Story of the Day:
Dragster Front
End Specs Q&A. Jim Hill and Pat Foster combine
to discuss the unique challenges involved in getting front engine
dragsters to go straight.
Drag Racing Picture of the Day: Photographer
Hunt! Digger Comin' Right at Ya! Wherein, Pete Garramone
asks, just why DID we stand in front of those ill-handling fuelers?
