Seen in the Pomona pits

Chuck Norton · 02-03-2009, 07:33 PM

The Brent Hajek Motorsports Express arrived at the track today. Four new Mustangs are in evidence at Pomona this afternoon. One car is designated as SS/EA but an informal chat with one of the team drivers suggested that all four cars would be entered in Stock Eliminator.

Jack Matyas · 02-03-2009, 07:41 PM

Chuck -- OK you're elected our "unofficial" eyes and ears as to what goes on at Pomona with these cars -- great pictures by the way -- keep it up .The entire Stocker world is watching and depending on your reports--thanks in advance...........

4284spd · 02-03-2009, 08:16 PM

Did Calvert have his 68 there for display. He said he might have it there.

vic guilmino · 02-03-2009, 08:47 PM

jack
why are you not there

Chuck Norton · 02-03-2009, 09:12 PM

I believe that I did see the '68 entering the pits on an open trailer now that you mention it. In retrospect, it seems to me that John could have entered that car as well the Hajek ride since he's entitled to a guaranteed entry as a former World Champion in addition to an entry earned on the basis of 2008 grade points. I know that a good bit of his time has been devoted to the new cars over the past weeks but 20+ years of experience in the original Cobra Jet should have been enough to make driving the two cars a piece of cake.

A few other observations included:
1. A waiting line in the stacking area this morning at 9 AM that might have been 1/3 that of previous years. When I left the track at 2:30 the pits were probably no more than 1/5 full.
2. Top Fuel cars were arriving in Chapparal trailers pulled by dualies and without rolling hospitality suites. (How long will it be before we see a T/F car entering the pits on an open trailer?)
3. An overheard conversation drawing attention to a report filed on January 23, , by National Dragster editor, Phil Burgess, commenting on the effects of an absence of Sportsman cars on traction problems at Phoenix Pro testing. It makes one wonder if anyone besides Phil Burgess noted this phenomenon.
4. A racer marveling at the appearance of a Super Stock car (Jack Bystrom's recently re-done '68 Camaro) on the main page of NHRA.com.
5. Quite a few changes have been made in the ticketing procedure. You will now be required to print your own ticket at home and you will not receive a traditional ticket at all. Also, gone the way of the dodo bird and the passenger pigeon is the traditional windshield parking pass. The paper one that has replaced the old style is guaranteed NOT to become a collector's item.

Who can say what marvels tomorrow will bring?

c

Philip Saran · 02-03-2009, 09:20 PM

Chuck,

If you find time, will you try getting and posting a picture of Shawn Langdon's new
Nova Stocker that is being driven by his dad Chad Langdon.

Chad is doing double duty also driving the Clay Smith Cams Henry J in SuperGas.

Urraco · 02-03-2009, 09:21 PM

hope they brought their pontoons with them. They are gonna need em.

Chuck Norton · 02-03-2009, 09:37 PM

Phil, I saw Chad but didn't recognize him in the new ride. I did note the "Bud Rowe" sticker, however. Great looking car!

Kip, pontoons may not be enough. You know how miserable Pomona can be in the rain! It's amazing how much water flows off a 100 acre asphalt parking lot when in only rains a fraction of an inch! Of course, we've had such a great weather up to this point that it only makes sense that this race will be impacted by rain.

c

Larry Hill · 02-03-2009, 09:52 PM

Thanks Chuck, Please keep us posted.

Thanks Larry

Bernie Cunningham · 02-04-2009, 12:37 AM

Chuck, ya forgot to mention the lack of pitting personnel !!!! I rolled around the corner with both my cars, (that's twice) and didn't get stopped. Nobody to take my card (#9) and when I looked forward for a long way there was only 2 people parking. We used to have somebody take your position card outside and then you'd roll around to be meet by the tech card handler, get crossed off on the entry list and then be escorted by one of a number of scooter pit guys.

What we got was a young fellow standing off to the right about 50' away as you made the turn and he made no motion towards the drivers side of ya rig to offer anything !! Anyway, I went back down to his 'stealth locale' and got me stuff. What a surprise, got handed some strange looking, pre-printed forms, well ya got to see the window sticker, it's huge!!! It measures 8.5" x 5.5" and it's PINK, has your name on it and has 2 strips of sticky on each side!! Here's a pic

In California, it's illegal to have anything on your windsheild, the old sticker was small enough to not be a problem (had to remove mine before instructor would take me for class A test though) but this thing is big !!! Oh BOY, can't wait to hear about somebody having an accident because there sticker caused a blind spot, gotch-ya ears on NHRA !!!
Also, the new pit vehicle sticker is blue and about 3.5" square.

Not sure how we go about getting more crew passes with the new system but I'll find out tomorrow. I had already printed mine along with a single crew pass on the web, at 85 f%#king dollars, remember when it was $70 for so long ????? Don't get fooled by the offer that says ya get one free as that's for you as your driver's pass.

02-03-2009, 07:33 PM	#1
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 108 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	Seen in the Pomona pits The Brent Hajek Motorsports Express arrived at the track today. Four new Mustangs are in evidence at Pomona this afternoon. One car is designated as SS/EA but an informal chat with one of the team drivers suggested that all four cars would be entered in Stock Eliminator. Attached Thumbnails

02-03-2009, 07:41 PM	#2
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,930 Likes: 406 Liked 2,051 Times in 399 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Chuck -- OK you're elected our "unofficial" eyes and ears as to what goes on at Pomona with these cars -- great pictures by the way -- keep it up .The entire Stocker world is watching and depending on your reports--thanks in advance........... __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO

02-03-2009, 08:16 PM	#3
4284spd VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Longmont Colorado Posts: 1,709 Likes: 848 Liked 4,139 Times in 950 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Did Calvert have his 68 there for display. He said he might have it there. __________________ Bob Smith

02-03-2009, 08:47 PM	#4
vic guilmino Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: wv Posts: 884 Likes: 42 Liked 56 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits jack why are you not there __________________ Vic Guilmino 1129 STK

02-03-2009, 09:12 PM	#5
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 108 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits I believe that I did see the '68 entering the pits on an open trailer now that you mention it. In retrospect, it seems to me that John could have entered that car as well the Hajek ride since he's entitled to a guaranteed entry as a former World Champion in addition to an entry earned on the basis of 2008 grade points. I know that a good bit of his time has been devoted to the new cars over the past weeks but 20+ years of experience in the original Cobra Jet should have been enough to make driving the two cars a piece of cake. A few other observations included: 1. A waiting line in the stacking area this morning at 9 AM that might have been 1/3 that of previous years. When I left the track at 2:30 the pits were probably no more than 1/5 full. 2. Top Fuel cars were arriving in Chapparal trailers pulled by dualies and without rolling hospitality suites. (How long will it be before we see a T/F car entering the pits on an open trailer?) 3. An overheard conversation drawing attention to a report filed on January 23, , by National Dragster editor, Phil Burgess, commenting on the effects of an absence of Sportsman cars on traction problems at Phoenix Pro testing. It makes one wonder if anyone besides Phil Burgess noted this phenomenon. 4. A racer marveling at the appearance of a Super Stock car (Jack Bystrom's recently re-done '68 Camaro) on the main page of NHRA.com. 5. Quite a few changes have been made in the ticketing procedure. You will now be required to print your own ticket at home and you will not receive a traditional ticket at all. Also, gone the way of the dodo bird and the passenger pigeon is the traditional windshield parking pass. The paper one that has replaced the old style is guaranteed NOT to become a collector's item. Who can say what marvels tomorrow will bring? c

02-03-2009, 09:20 PM	#6
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 165 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Chuck, If you find time, will you try getting and posting a picture of Shawn Langdon's new Nova Stocker that is being driven by his dad Chad Langdon. Chad is doing double duty also driving the Clay Smith Cams Henry J in SuperGas. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

02-03-2009, 09:21 PM	#7
Urraco Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 66 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits hope they brought their pontoons with them. They are gonna need em.

02-03-2009, 09:37 PM	#8
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 108 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Phil, I saw Chad but didn't recognize him in the new ride. I did note the "Bud Rowe" sticker, however. Great looking car! Kip, pontoons may not be enough. You know how miserable Pomona can be in the rain! It's amazing how much water flows off a 100 acre asphalt parking lot when in only rains a fraction of an inch! Of course, we've had such a great weather up to this point that it only makes sense that this race will be impacted by rain. c

02-03-2009, 09:52 PM	#9
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Thanks Chuck, Please keep us posted. Thanks Larry __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

02-04-2009, 12:37 AM	#10
Bernie Cunningham Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 560 Likes: 45 Liked 52 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Chuck, ya forgot to mention the lack of pitting personnel !!!! I rolled around the corner with both my cars, (that's twice) and didn't get stopped. Nobody to take my card (#9) and when I looked forward for a long way there was only 2 people parking. We used to have somebody take your position card outside and then you'd roll around to be meet by the tech card handler, get crossed off on the entry list and then be escorted by one of a number of scooter pit guys. What we got was a young fellow standing off to the right about 50' away as you made the turn and he made no motion towards the drivers side of ya rig to offer anything !! Anyway, I went back down to his 'stealth locale' and got me stuff. What a surprise, got handed some strange looking, pre-printed forms, well ya got to see the window sticker, it's huge!!! It measures 8.5" x 5.5" and it's PINK, has your name on it and has 2 strips of sticky on each side!! Here's a pic In California, it's illegal to have anything on your windsheild, the old sticker was small enough to not be a problem (had to remove mine before instructor would take me for class A test though) but this thing is big !!! Oh BOY, can't wait to hear about somebody having an accident because there sticker caused a blind spot, gotch-ya ears on NHRA !!! Also, the new pit vehicle sticker is blue and about 3.5" square. Not sure how we go about getting more crew passes with the new system but I'll find out tomorrow. I had already printed mine along with a single crew pass on the web, at 85 f%#king dollars, remember when it was $70 for so long ????? Don't get fooled by the offer that says ya get one free as that's for you as your driver's pass. __________________ Bernie Cunningham 7053 STK Last edited by Bernie Cunningham; 02-04-2009 at 12:50 AM.