The Track Prep Nationals: Pedalfest in Spokane

By Herman Marchetti

This last weekend Dana Winters and I had a chance to attend the second longest running drag race, second only to the NHRA US Nationals. 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 here in the greater Spokane area. The top names on hand this year were Chris "The Greek" Karamesines, Craig Smith, Ron Smith in Top Fuel and Terry Haddock, Vinnie Arcadi, and David Benjamin in Funny Cars. Temperatures were in the mid 90 degree range both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's afternoon qualifying session had only two TF and one FC make passes, if you could call them that. From our seats just short of the 1/8th mile, we watched as all the cars went up in smoke before the rear tires crossed the starting line. At the hit, the tires just spun. The track was so slippery that the next group up, Pro Mods, mostly did 45-degree starts. At the hit they took left turns and had to back out of it. On Sunday, I watched the track crew spray VHT on the track once down the groove before the first round and you could not even tell they were spraying. There was never any of the telltale gleam on the racing surface of a good load of VHT.

In the first round of nitro, alcohol, and pro mod cars -- 32 expensive racing machines -- only one car made it down the track without smoking the tires. It never really got any better than that. A pedalfest. All the hot drivers said they had to take ALL the clutch out of the car and still could not hook up. On top of all this, Sunday's paid attendance was minimal at best. This was my first race this year, I got a chance to shoot some pictures to get ready for the Nightfire Nationals in Boise, Idaho next week, but the racing was a real disappointment. Talked to the Greek a few times over the two days and he was still the gentleman although he was having the hook up problems as well.

We left before the final rounds on Sunday expecting to at least get to see who won in the newspaper today. The total space given to the race this weekend was absolutely zero. No winners list, no article. It is truly a sad day today as I reminisce about all the big shows and the big guns I've seen and met over the last 6 years here in Spokane. This is a racing town and the town and the racers deserve better. I only hope that better comes sooner, rather than later. My 2 cents worth. I'll get off the soapbox now and return you to your regularly scheduled program....

Herman Marchetti