Lagana on the Road
Life in the Land of No Budget, Blind Faith Nitro Racing
By Norman Hechtkoff
In a world of ultra modern rigs and corporate displays, the Lagana fuel team does it
even older than the old way! Photographer unknown (please tell us if
you know)
Saturday 9/23/2000, a day like any other day. Lagana Family Racing is making their merry way to ESTA Safety Park Dragway, a venerable upstate NY drag strip. They are booked in for two solo runs. Bobby senior is piloting the ANCIENT MARINER, the ramp truck with the 300-inch Top Fueler arranged on top like a cruise missile. Following close behind is Alfie and his VW bus.
Suddenly a deer, A VERY BIG deer, decides he has to put a quarter in the parking meter. Mr. Bambi scoots across the road, meets the front of the ramp truck, and scores:
One very dead deer.
One very crippled truck.
Now the road, this is not an interstate or a parkway. NOOOOOO, this is the OLD Route 17. This is a rural route, lightly traveled since the opening of the new 17.
BUT, who happens by? Of course, it is a Super Comp racer.
This guy has a few ideas, including the junkyard 10 miles away that has EVERYTHING. When phone contact with Senor Junk is made, he wants to tow them here and there and then install a radiator. NEIN NEIN say the Laganas, bring us a radiator.
Eventually, a meeting is arranged. The junkyard and a HUGE money machine are visited and a radiator is secured.
Radiator installed by side-o-road-Bobby. Our troops move out for Cicero.
Sunday finds our stalwart group at the ESTA strip. A totally empty strip. No racers. No owner. No spectators. No MONEY.
Water is coming up through the pavement -- no can race.
The modern day bonus Army heads south, lead by a truck radiator held in by ties and good thoughts, and goes home.
The track owner calls Monday; the guys go back next month. So goes it in the land of no budget, blind faith NITRO RACING.
By Norman Hechtkoff
hechto@mindspring.com