Anybody see the Pro Stock final?

[bigshow2966]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

I think he got caught fudging about twenty years ago with a stocker.

Yep. 1 year suspension was what he got for a piston violation.

Lifetime ban would be Darrell Alderman, (lifted after 2 years) Jerry Eckman, (Could be re-instaed if fines paid), Dave Connolly (Lifted after 2 years) and Roy Hill.

I think Roy is finally back since he has raced SS this year.

[John Mason]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

I think he got caught fudging about twenty years ago with a stocker.

Correct. Piston dish violation in his Buick stocker. Only World Champ ever forced to sit out his #1 year.
According to a former division tech director, one other was ordered by NHRA not to defend his title.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Bobby DiDomenico

They really need a Top End camera during sportsman eliminations for the jumbo screen so the fans can see the close racing. In hindsight it doesn't seem our decision to not record Bruno's round one race was one of our best moves either.

Bobby, I don't think a camera would help. Most fans don't get, or care about people getting on he brakes at the finish line. That's why nobody watches et brackets, and even fewer will watch the throttle stop cars. Nobody is ever going to watch us since the soft indexes has made everybody "fast".

Just my opinion....

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Bobby, I don't think a camera would help. Most fans don't get, or care about people getting on he brakes at the finish line. That's why nobody watches et brackets, and even fewer will watch the throttle stop cars. Nobody is ever going to watch us since the soft indexes has made everybody "fast".

Just my opinion....

Ed,

Guess so, but we could still try right? Since they relocated the near finish line stands to 1000' (?) at Joliet and disconnected the speaker there, we don't go down to watch from those stands anymore. Drag races are visually won or lost at the start and finish lines (unless something breaks in between) and you can't see the finish line from the starting line, nor now, even the finish line from the finish line! The .90 cars with the throttle stops coming off staggered have all the drama at the finish line and only two people can see it. Very sad.

Joliet also needed (and still needs) an underground passageway from the north side to the south side about mid way down track. If we think a near 2 mile pit drive was hard, just think about a two mile walk to the pits from your car. A lot of friends don't come because of it, they just cannot walk those 4 miles plus any other walking. One guest remarked they should have moved the track over and had everything on one side.

It was amazing to watch the way fans left the stands in droves when the Fuel car sessions ended and the Pro Stocks or Alcohol cars came out of the tunnel. They didn't leave the stands that fast when it rained!

[Ed Wright]

I had been away for about thirty years, when I started going back to watch a few. Couldn't believe how the stand emptied after the fuel cars. That is about all most spectators watch anymore. Maybe a third stay to watch Pro Stock, if that. Most of them leave when the sportsman cars come out.

Back in the '60s and '70s the stands used to be packed at divisional races.

No more. And people complain we get treated like filler. Guess NHRA sees the people in the stands too. I'm glad we still have a place to play.

[cad]

During the Sunday driver intros, Mike Edwards was asked who he would vote for the extra spot in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. He said Warren Johnson...why not vote for someone that cant catch you??? Hmmm.

In regards to walking...I was at Joliet and Topeka spectating, and raced the ET Finals in Topeka last September. For spectating, Joliet is, BY FAR, heads above Topeka. Do a Google satellite and compare both facilities. I may not go back to Topeka to spectate again. Walking is ridiculous there. Every seat at Joliet has a back rest....EVERY one of the them. And they dont charge extra to sit in "Blaine Johnson" seats.

Joliet was a great experience...except for the tornados that were 5 miles south of our hotel.

Clark Doukas
Omaha