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...........