Chris Martin

[draglist]

One of the best writers in the history of drag racing photojournalism has passed on. As the dean of drag racing "numbers freaks," Chris Martin was one of the guys who really supported The Drag Racing List when we came out. I was so proud to meet him and to talk with him over the years, including when Bret interviewed us both on the starting line at the 50th Anniversary Race at Cordova. He rolled right up to the mike and nailed it with a highly entertaining delivery. Chris's Top Fuel Handbook is an indispensable guide and will live on in drag racing history. Bret Kepner delivered a remembrance as only Bret could. Farewell, Chris... bp

http://dragracingonline.com/finishline/ ... tin-1.html

[Diana The Doc]

Chris Martin was everything Bill said and more... As many of you are aware, Chris Martin had a lengthy run as a journalist for NATIONAL DRAGSTER... Chris Martin was a treasured and faithful ally of Drag Racing Underground-- Chris wrote reviews in the pages of ND of all our videos-- Chris was instrumental in exposing ND readers to our "product" (I give credit to Chris Martin for helping the DRU video business attain a substantial customer base and become profitable-- Chris always made time to write about DRU in NATIONAL DRAGSTER)... Chris also wrote about BIG STICK in ND, especially when we did the CHROME SMOKE & FIRE record with hot rod artist Robert Williams... Chris was heavily into music, Chris liked lots of different bands and types of music-- He liked BIG STICK and he absolutely loved discussing the music scene (especially the California "Punk Rock" scene)... I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Chris when he came to town to cover the big E'Town national events for ND-- Chris was a great feller to hang out with-- That was back in time, when the late Bill Crites (ND photographer) was also still alive-- Getting to hang out with Chris Martin and Bill Crites together at Raceway Park was a whole lot of fun-- Great memories for this gal... I remember how much Chris Martin liked talkin' 'bout his favorite drag racer of all time, Chris "The Greek" Karamesines... Over the last several years Chris was writing for the popular DRAG RACING ONLINE cyber-zine... Much like another journalist who is now gone, the late Steve Collison, Chris Martin had no problem accepting a woman like myself doing what some bigots refer to as a "Man's Job" (reporting drag racing)... Chris was definitely a "free thinker" who wanted no part of the popular "He Man Woman Haters Club" mentality that's unfortunately somewhat prevalent among some of the men in this sport who are of his generation-- Chris embraced me and I'll always be extremely thankful for that... Hopefully the phony and hypocritical men of this sport who are now on the internet saying what a great guy they think Chris Martin was, will now make a conscientious effort to erase their prehistoric bigotry and be more like him-- THAT would be the BEST and MOST APPROPRIATE way to HONOR my FRIEND Chris Martin's memory-- THAT'S what Chris would want... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Epilogue:

A couple of weeks ago, I made a personal card and sent it to Chris... I printed a photo on the card, it was a photo that I snapped of Jerry "Smoker" Smith's "FIRST LOVE" '69 Nova Funny Car from E'Town's FUNNY CAR REUNION... Below is what I wrote inside the card...


Dear Chris,


I wanted to say hello to you. The time we hung out at E'Town was lots of fun. Want to thank you for all the ink you got for us in National Dragster, both for Drag Racing Underground and Big Stick.

You are truly one of a kind. You showed me what a good heart you have. Don't think for one minute that I'll ever forget you. You are with me in my thoughts.

Much Love,

Yanna "Doc"
BIG STICK
DRAG RACING UNDERGROUND
--------------------

[WCB]

Farewell Chris....

Beautiful words Doc, Bret, Bill....