The past few months have been a blur in many ways from getting to go see and take a few shots of Lindsey Stirling on a Wednesday night, then heading out to cover the Division 4 NHRA races that same weekend, to a change in my “real” job status just prior to the 26th Annual NHRA Spring Nationals!
I made my way out east I-10 to the home of Royal Purple Raceway for the NHRA/Lucas oil Racing Series Division 4 races, Showdown at Sundown while this event would feature Top Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters along with all the Super Comp, Super Gas and the others what made this event even more special was this would be the first race of a 10 race season for NHRA and Top Fuel Harley’s! I guess due in part to the demise of the AHDRA, yet when they started promoting exhibitions in the 2012 season you kind of had to think something was up?
I arrived as I always do right as the gates opened, being that this was a Division race I needed to not only pick up the required paperwork and ID, but also to be sure to introduce myself to this group of NHRA officials. While only my second time in an NHRA event I went to the Press/Media room, from there I was instructed to go up stairs one flight to the main control room for the NHRA.
After introducing myself to the man in charge and getting all of the rules and such, I turned to leave and there they were…A table full of “Wally’s!” Let’s see, nobodies looking surely they won’t miss just this one? Unfortunately at this time I had not unpacked any cameras and did not even think about my phone to grab a quick shot, plus they were damn busy up there.
Just in case you might not be familiar, the Wally is the official NHRA trophy awarded to the winning drivers of each class. The 18-inch tall, 12-pound trophies have been handed out since 1969 and are named after Wally Parks who formed the NHRA back in 1951. Contrary to what most folks believe, the figure atop the Wally is not Mr. Parks but is instead modeled after Top Gas racer Jack Jones. Seems Wally Parks called Jack and asked him to pose for pictures that would be used as a model for the trophy. The photo that ended up being used for the model was shot at Pomona Raceway in 1969.
Back outside I made my way back over to the truck to grab a camera and go see what was happening in the pits. For whatever reason I had thrown my black “Arctic Edition” Carhartt in my truck the night before. I actually found this jacket in a Texas store in August, as I was preparing to begin travelling to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for my winter trips.
I was glad I had it. A cutting wind as a chill (for Texas) met me at the track. Making my way into the pits, I found the Top Fuel Harley folks right next to the tower. Seems 16 of the big boys showed up for this first race, along with a handful of the other MC classes: Pro Dragster, Pro gas, Street Pro and Hot Street.
While I assume the Wally was awarded to all class winners, I discovered that two riders in Street Pro and Hot Street got theirs for just showing up, as they ran unopposed on Sunday. I was even asked by one of the NHRA folks working on the track about the motorcycle race scene here, as some of the classes were a bit light.
Racers are required to attend a certain amount of division races to be allowed to compete at this show! You know, the events you get to watch on ESPN, and boy did they show up! While it is cool shooting the wheel stands of the SS class, the extreme amount of car racers roughly 335+ throughout all the car classes like Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, etc. pushed the schedule back.
As the day wore on the crowds picked up and began to resemble what you might see at a national event. This was due in part to tickets not costing quite as much as the Mello Yello Racing Series National events. Plus the draws of the Top Fuel Harleys first race amped attendance, and just to add the cherry on top, two jet cars were scheduled to run on Saturday night.
While the temps barely made it into the 50s, the wind never died down. At times the Big-3 automakers could have used the entrance tunnel, under the tower, for wind testing, as all day it whistled straight up the track from the finish line.
While the crowds braved the winds and the chill, there was some concern with the Top Fuel Harley teams. If the temps dropped anymore, it was going to be too cold for running big beasts! However, finally the first of the Top Fuel bikes rolled out from under the tower, setting off a round of applause from the windswept folks in the bleachers. Yet, that paled compared to the roar from those same folks, who waited patiently all day to hear those two Nitro methane breathing monsters come to life!
When they rolled out the two jet cars, one of the track officials came over and instructed me to move back off the wall to the return road. Having just re-grown my eyebrows, I moved quickly. The last time I got to see a jet car was at the Houston International Speedway and Shirley Muldowney was still racing. The jet cars were cool with lots of smoke and fire. I wonder what each pass costs them folks?
Sunday morning broke warmer and with no wind! While there were still a bunch of cars to run, every race seemed to flow. The longest delay was after a young man decided to see if either side of his car was made of rubber, testing it on both walls. While he was OK, the NHRA Safety Safari folks decided to be safe and send him to the hospital just to be sure. The track is a good ways from any hospital, so they decided to let him ride in a helicopter to expedite his journey. I mean, after all, he does need to start beating them side panels back out!
Also at the race were the Sportsman Motorcycles. I noticed two ladies out on the track, one who seemed to be by herself each time she came up, so I went to investigate and found out she wasn’t alone. Her husband was racing in the same class. I spoke with her about trying to see if I could get a story on her in one of Bikernet’s sister sites if they are interested, so we will see what happens?
The day progressed comfortably with great weather and hot racing. Doug Horne from Aberdeen, Maryland went on to take the first Top Fuel Harley Wally of 2013 with a 6.363 pass at 237.09 miles per hour!
See I told you there were two races! This year I headed out to the track before Starbucks even opened! Possibly due to my excitement of knowing I would be on the “Wall” at an NHRA National Event. Can we say, “Top Fuel Baby!”
See, last year I did get to attend and had a great time, after the shock of realizing I did not know how to read the conformation letter sent by the NHRA! This year I knew I would be out there on Friday, but until I had that orange vest in my grubby little hand I would not rest!
Of course the first thing I did after checking in and getting said vest, was to go the restroom and take pictures of it for Facebook. Why is it that pretty girls and psychotic photographers are always taking pictures of themselves in the bathroom? After unpacking the cameras, I headed to the wall. This is the location of all the race action, so there are all kinds of things to shoot! You of course have the TF, but there is also Top Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles too! I had goose bumps on the top of my head.
I was back and forth all day between my truck to grab a snack and water, or in the tower to cool down a bit as the Texas weather had returned to blistering normal. I came out and saw the top fuel cars lining up at the tower. I have been out on the track between two top-fuel Harleys snapping photographs and snorting fumes. Yet that can’t compare to having the air filled with Nitro methane when jet cars smoke their tires and rip down the track! When those first two cars fired off, my eyes watered, snot ran out of my quivering nose, and I could hardly breathe, it was intense!
Although it was still raining, you could cloud cover clearing towards the track, so I headed out and got visit with some folks, and then here came the rain again! As the afternoon wore on and it kept raining most of the folks left, except for diehards still sitting in the stands despite the heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.
As I stood there in the drizzle, a gentleman came up and tapped me on the shoulder. He asked if I was hungry and before I could even say anything, he drug me into his company’s suite, H&S Constructors, Inc. His family and friend were all hanging out and a couple of the ladies started handing me all kinds of food and drinks, just the nicest folks! After some good food I went to check on the status of the race, finally after a confirmed lightning strike within the park the NHRA called the event for the day.
Till Next Time,
–Rigid Frame Richard
