My dad and I looked at Vinny's car with great interest at Indy a couple years ago. As I probably posted a few times, my dad held the A/A NHRA speed record back in 1970, so we are both certified altered nuts. Regarding how times and costs have changed, here's a funny story. Back in that same year, I remember my dad said the owner of a company that he bought parts from was in town, and wanted to come and meet him and see "the race shop". Well, my dad was in a panic. This was 1970, we liived in a little 2-family my parents owned, and the "shop" was a little, 2 car garage out behind the house. I mean little. For my dad to show him the race car, he had to lift up the overhead door, move the bicycles, hand mower, and whatever else was there so that he could show off "the shop". It did have a heater, because he & the boys would rebuild the car each winter. The open trailer was parked on the grass, next to the garage. I'm sure a lot of Maters who have been around the sport since the 70s or so could relate to this picture.

Thanks-that's a tough field-we'll have to step it up to stay in. I think you are right about David's car, because he's not entered at Pomona either and he wouldn't miss that race. And you are right about the Vinnie's team-i hate the fact that I'm not going to be at Pomona next week for a couple of reason, but not getting to see those guys is right at the top of the list. Stop by our trailer and Vinnie's trailer and tell them I said hi. And watch out for that little four cylinder dragster too-Al's been driving like a man possessed lately.

I love the oddball comp cars, going all the way back to Jewell-T, Ralph Hope, Jack Ditmars and others. When I started hearing that guys were cutting up and rewelding V8 head to make a straight six head, well that sealed the deal for me. Mad scientists rule!

Mark

How about Frank Aragona.. running a Subaru engine in his Altered and qualifying in the Top 3 or 4 most races...

__________________
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather, who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in panic like the passengers in his car."

Aragona doesn't use a subaru anymore, switched a couple of years ago

Yes I "think" he said something about it was getting too hard to get parts for it.. ?? Or do you know of another reason... I ask because he was running so good with that motor.

__________________
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather, who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in panic like the passengers in his car."

Welcome to the 2007, Gas is $ 3.00 A gallon, junior dragsters are 6K, all this didn't happen over night.
Glad to see you came out of a 35 year coma.

There was no problem with the smaller Subaru motor in the dragster, but the bigger motor in the altered kept breaking parts-I think it was a problem with piston weight and the opposed cylinders. I expect they'll be back with a 4 valve motor next year-don't know what brand though.

Congrats to you, Lee, and Al on getting into that who's who field this weekend professor! It took 53 under to get in!! Hard luck for Al in 1st round, but looks like Ficco found some index in planetary. At least Lee got the other side of the red to stay clean into rd 2. Take no prisoners!

Also congrats to mater Jacklyn Gebhardt staying clean into rd 2 as well!

Big props to Steve Holloway! That was a drag race 1st round against Vinnie! Would have been worth the price of admission right there.

I wish I was there. Looks like everybody whose anybody came with guns loaded. Would have also liked to see Grant Lewis make it.

Jeez the 1st round winners reads like quite a list and Rampy, Taylor, Ficco, Biondo, Gebhardt, Carter, and Zane are all clean or close. But can't count out Lambeck, and Butner. Especially Bo who looks like he's got more in the bank.

Good luck to all the maters duking it out in Comp this weekend!

Al worked his magic and made some changes before the last qualifying pass to get Lee into the field. Al had a mechanical problem in the bellhousing which caused the red light. And thanks for your good wishes.



Bo is clean-if both Rampy and Bo are green that ought to be a good race.

My bad on that one professor. Saw 0.578 and read it as -0.578 . Do you guys have Bowdish tomorrow morning? Looks like he might be thin on index. Best of luck!

Comp round two is scheduled to be run after the conclusion of Pro qualifying and Pro Mod round one eliminations today.