Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Dave,,, I remember seeing coverage of the event in a magazine also,,but I can't remember what title. SS&DI ceased existance in May of '99,, so, it was obviously another publication, since the race was held in July of '01. Still,, it was a fun weekend.
Danny Durham

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Just goes to show you how much I miss that magazine!!!! The article was in DragRacing USA...Jan 2002.

Sorry Danny.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

I was hoping your trip to Cordova just deleted me from your memory!

(Anticipated response: "WHAT trip to Cordova"? LOL!)

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Sorry Bret, even a trip to Cordova couldn't erase you from my memory. Can't forget good times and good people!! Besides I was a gimp guy that weekend ,too. Remember I was working the lanes from the back of a 4 wheeler. Couldn't walk real good...That was the first time I got out of the house after being patched up from the Cordova "experience" :~)
I did enjoy the USCN. I would like to do it again.
How many of you guys would show up again if I rented the track @ Gilliam La. and had a USCN Reunion race?

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

I would, if I could. I wasn't racing when the last one took place. That was during my first retirement.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Sorry about that Bret, couldn't tell the difference. :D

It was a great race. I was there.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

people always talk about the good old days... memory makes it seem better i think. i do not see alex posting on here and im not an authority on what all took place but i was there crew chiefing for MJ Quinn...

yeah it was GREAT most cars ever, superb idea and lots of work on alex and a few others part cannot say enough about what they accomplished > it paved the way for the sportsnationals (of course NHRA greedily took them over to thier tracks except pats who also stuck his ***** out)

yeah it was HOT, real hot, even 10 years ago i was younger HOT...

i do remember the issues...
after the no breakout race grumbling about BEAR running IHRA class not nhra better index...
grumbling about teardown, all passed but terry bell made statement about "worst heads he's ever seen etc"... but did not toss anyone due to fear of legal repercussions and without an association behind him could be personally liable.
grumbling about failure to pay posted contingency money and no recourse (see above)...
i cant think of anything else right now
BUT
i do remember people ripping ALEX's ***** on this forum, and the other one, and everywhere we went for 1/2 year like HE did something wrong instead of all this warm and fuzzy **** i am reading now !

i would go again in a minute, i go to pats every year 1700 miles round trip
i would support alex any time again

anyway, if i offended anyone im sorry... if i am wrong someone with facts set me straight... not trying to ruin this nostalgic thread but i remember ALEX's screwing.

captain

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Captain, you are right as usual. There was some bitching on the forums about the ususal nothing, sorta like now. As far as the pay, I think I won the most, and I got every dollar & part that was promised that was anyway possible to deliver. There were several postings from very reputable machine and speed shops that because I live so far south were just impossible to do, but they were offered and it was my problem not getting the services. But then if God appreared and offered a new Mustang CJ or Mopar DP that would run far under the index for free, these same people would bitch cause it ain't a 69 Camaro. The great memories of that race far outnumber the nitwits that had negative comments. I think Alex should do it again. One good story is I met the Mayor of Byron, IL. Interesting how she annexed the track into the city limits to get the tax revenue, and stop the greenies, yuppies that came with the atomic reactor that were not there before, and wanted to close the track. You gotta like that person. Great race, and a great time. I got a picture of my class plaque and my big trophy. I will try to send it to someone to post on this thread.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

It was the late Don Holmes (not the porn star....John Holmes) with an engine built by Parsons and Meyers in his white Firebird. The heads and intake WERE ported and acid etched and they looked like s##t. I had done enough Pontiac heads over the years to know what I was looking at. The short block checked out OK but a piston and rod were not pulled. I was not afraid of a law suit.personally as if someone wanted to go to court I had the same STOCK UNTOUCHED heads and intake back home in my shop that I could have brought to court. I talked it over with Alex and because the almighty NHRA had just approved the heads were legal for an NHRA record just 2 weeks prior we felt it was best to follow suit as plenty more bogus heads and intakes were out there. Yes they were the same heads and intake as the colored sealing material was still on the parts that NHRA put there when I gave the OK to start taking it apart. Just ONE of the reasons that fast cars of today do NOT impress me and I gave up and quit doing tech. Other than the new bogus HP combos most fast older cars ARE doctored up. Believe it or not. If you believe other wise than I have some water front property for sale in Arizona for you. THATS one reason the old days were better. Racers took pride in going fast legally....not just what they could get away with. Its all bracket racing today with un chopped up cars.
As an after thought of this post I also tore down Michael Manns Super Stocker with a dish piston Olds engine and found EVERTHING to be on the money including the dish C.C.s in the piston. I think I surprised them when this lowly IHRA tech guy could certify them as legal with all that I checked.They showed professionalism and allowed me to look at everything I wanted to see and I thank them if they read this post.....and yes it was friggin' HOT when I was doing this in their pit area and not in some shaded cool tear down barn.
Would I do it again???? Maybe but I doubt it !

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Terry ,the old saying you ain't cheating til you get caught.
Hard to get caught anymore with the rule bending and the head-turning (no pun intended)
If you do see something most of the time it's same ole story = well it passed all year like this and so and so has the same thing and on and on......
It's hard to police today as no help and knowledge as the older days . there are just a hand full of good tech guys left..And i respect everyone of them cause they have their hands full .As we say "now" things have changed and i could not agree more......I'm retired now so go ahead and wear me out.......I probably already heard it at some point and time....Love y'all...........

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

We still talk about doing a USCN2 frequently around the house.......and we have lots and lots of pictures from the event. I will put it as a top priority to work on scanning some of the pics and posting them on our website as I have time.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

I would love to see and buy the picture of Jerry Newsome and myself leaving the line together with wheels in the air.

Thanks again to Jeff and Carolyn Teuton for buying supper for all the racers at the country club. Jeff had to win the race to break even for the weekend.

My Class Winner plaque is mounted highest on the wall.

Thanks to everyone who made it the race to remember. The competion was hotter than the weater, and man was it HOT.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Larry,,,like I told you last year, on the swing,,I got a great shot of you two launching wheels up high in the air on that pass. Bob Rice has my USCN photos right now, so maybe if he can go through them, dig it out and post it on here we can all enjoy it.
What do you think Bob,,can you find it??
Take care Larry,,too bad you couldn't come out this year.
Danny Durham

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Thanks Danny, lets hope Bob can find the picture. It would be fun to see all the pictures taken at the Class Nationals by everyone.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Here is a picture of Jeff's trophy

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

My goodness Joe, that thing must be 6 foot tall!

Jim, looks like Willie had to use a crane to get that up there.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Here is a picture of the SS winner, Willie Devore and his Killer Stick shift Camaro. That car lurks in his garage. It doesn't come out very often, but they make a great team when they do.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/28230_02.jpg

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

here is a link to our photos from 2000-03.
The class nationals pictures are mixed in , I didn't make a different album for that race on line.

http://public.fotki.com/tk3300/2000_super_stock_/

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

By the way bob Rice is bed ridden now for 3 months. Will retire.

Coming along ,but say a prayer for him,too.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Wow! Too bad. Bob is one of my favorite on-line friends for sure.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Cause I know my dad would never say this on here I will, he said that was one of the most fun times he had in almost 30 of class racing and the people he met are still his friends today.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Done.....Hope he makes a great comeback.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Prayers sent to Bob from the Waters family

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

You're right,,Bob Rice is one of the great contributors on here from time to time. I didn't know he was having problems as he never mentions anything is his e-mails.
Prayers to you Bob,,get well and take care. Danny Durham