 I love this photo. I'd just
exchanged greetings during an oildown with Darrell Gwynn about all
that had gone on. He told me that new driver Andrew Cowin was
going to be good, that crew chief Todd Smith was going to work out
super, and that testing had been mediocre due to a marginal track.
So, the Yankee team went out and hit a 4.490/324 to prove it and
this scene happened on the return road. Cowin later smiled big at
the ropes. Flyin' Phil Photos |
 |
 Flamed Chevy shoeboxes with wheels
in the air - '55 is P.J. Giacalone, '57 is Kevin Kleineweber. Must
be Super Gas! Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Carl Spear's Charger with the 1973
funny car paint job wowed me. It looked like a big, heavy bracket
car until he pounded the pedal. It wheelstood (higher than this) and
ran the number with ease! Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Here's the latest "Cruzer."
A few bugs hopped out of the AAP Firebird during its public debut,
but Pedregon is certain to get this act together very soon. Flyin'
Phil Photo |
 There were several tributes to
Buster Couch, including this one on Jay Payne's Camaro TAFC.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Scott Geoffrion showed up and was seen
on the starting line several times. Here, he banters with Jim
Yates while the Pro Stock ace seeks tune up tips on his cell
phone. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 I was happy to see several of the
crew chiefs at the ropes, signing autographs and sharing stories
with fans. Here, Dick LaHaie spends a few minutes with a Sharpie.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Lee Smith's new AA/PM entry from
Salem, Oregon, is said to be making the full tour. The Allen
Johnson-powered '58 Corvette hit stout 6.30s and will improve.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Here's an odd SS/FA combo. In a sea
of Camaros and Firebirds, Brian Broaddus' 454 '71 Monte Carlo is a
welcome sight. Numbers? Just .96 under at 9.792! Flyin' Phil Photo |
 This comparison of camps is
hard to take in without an aerial photo, but trust me, checking
out the rolling stock between John Force and Don Prudhomme not
only is impressive but also takes quite awhile. Flyin' Phil Photos |
 |
 Engine builder Sonny Leonard, who
made his name in IHRA PS, checked out the Pomona Pro Stock action.
Several of his customers did well. Sonny also builds big inch
engines for offshore boat racing. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 V. Gaines' truck is a trip in
itself! Scenes blend together and attract attention wherever it
rolls or parks. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Here's a new west coast PM that
appears ready for the big time. Though rumors have a Mopar under
the Oregon Viper's plastic nose soon, Dennis Radford started 2002
with a 706 ci Chevy for his low 6.40 numbers. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Rickie Smith is now working for
Mopar and appears to have a handle on the multi-car PS team.
Besides being excellent with engine and clutch combos, Smith is
certainly capable of stepping into any errant car and making it
fly. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 This photo doesn't show the new
Stratus FC body too well. It is said to be a huge gain over the
previous shell Dean Skuza sat under. Pomona seemed to give the
Mopar team fits, but Lance Larsen and the guys will get the animal
tamed. Look for this one to be a performance standout before long.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Here's yours truly... The new look
for 2002. I grew a new attitude, chopped off my mustache, bleached
my hair, and bought a few Hawaiian shirts; fun so far. Before you
ask, the vest is NHRA's idea, not my first step into an alternate
lifestyle. |
 The Toyota...
Gary Scelzi seems to have taken to the new Toyota far better
than the rules-makers have. The car looks very similar to the
design done for the Toyota IMSA GTO program back in the Dan Gurney
era - maybe 1985 or so - and why not? That one worked well.
Please note that really scooped chin spoiler. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 On the steeply angled quarter panels
are these little "running boards," assuredly air
diverters that keep the natural vortex action to a minimum. Watch
for these to show up on every other car. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 These little diverters around the
headers seem pretty superfluous to me. Obviously, the car was
wind-tunnel-tested with the engine quiet. The headers create such
a tremendous standoff when operational that this little piece
wouldn't perform much. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 The tailfeathers are huge. I didn't
put a tape measure on the car myself but I was told by officials
that it was on the high side of tolerance. That's a nicer, more
subtle way of putting what I was told. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 The Army team is
first class, with
Humvee tow vehicle and ranking stripes for the crew. Before you
think they are anything but serious, Sergeant Tony Schumacher will
be in the TF hunt for the full season. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Chuck Worsham (seen at left) dove
right in to fiberglass work Saturday morning, redoing the mounting
tree on the C-S-K firebird his son, Del, drives. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Best Designed displays were these
units in the Chevrolet booth. They even steer. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Bob Gilbertson sported some extra
backing from Fram. Unfortunately for the Charlotte driver, all his
runs looked similar to his burnouts and he failed to make the cut.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Some of the greatest things can be
seen on the starting line during cleanups... In this scene, WJ
(left) is talking to someone I can't make out. On the right, Jerry
Haas is dwarfed by Larry Nance. In the center, "TV
Tommy" Ivo discusses drag racing basics with Mark Pawuk.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 This is the LAST pair of Pro Stocks
in qualifying, Ron Krisher vs. Bruce Allen. The outcome matters
not, but look closely at the Reher & Morrison Grand Am. I
could not believe it was shaking so hard, and I actually clicked the
shutter as a jerk reaction. Bruce shut off at almost the same
instant and when I looked up, he ran over something. Look again.
You'll see the left headlight under the car just in front of the
left front tire. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 A name from the past and one of my
PS favorites is the Dave Butner-wrenched, John Geyer-driven Motown
Missile Neon. Flyin' Phil Photo |
 This is not the final but it sure
looks like a prediction. Larry Dixon and Kenny Bernstein both have
their 2002 acts together.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 TAFC winner Pat Austin had handling
problems during qualifying and in the race. Please note that this
Firebird has no rear spoiler of any kind and only the most
minuscule spill plates. It was fast but in NASCAR parlance, very
loose.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 One of my favorites from the oldaze,
Don "Shoe" Schumacher, checked out the TF competition
during qualifying.
Flyin' Phil Photo |
 Not much of a tip, but watch for
this pairing a lot again in 2002 -- John Force (near) and Whit
Bazemore. Any bets on which will be the first in the 4.6 bracket? |
|
Phil Elliott
flyinphil32@earthlink.net
www.flyinphil.com
|
