Wally Parks 1913-2007

Truly a sad day in NHRA history and racing history as th efounder of the NHRA has passed on. It was his vision to get street racing off the streets and onto a controlled and safe environment on race tracks with safety crews and rules and regulations that has turned the NHRA into what it is today. The following is from the NHRA website:

NHRA founder Wally Parks, 1913-2007;
patriarch of drag racing dies at age 94
Wally Parks, the driving force behind the formation of NHRA, has died at the age of 94. It was Parks’ vision, goals and unconditional commitment to the need for speed and side-by-side racing in a safer, more controlled environment that created what is today the world's largest motorsports governing body.

"Today is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing," said Tom Compton, president of NHRA. "Words simply can't describe the immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the millions of people's lives he touched along the way. The name Wally Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will guide NHRA for years to come. Everyone in drag racing, and the industries formed to service the sport, will forever be indebted to Wally, his vision, his focus and his desire to create, build and grow NHRA."

John Force wants to race in two weeks!

John Force and as other racers in various sports wants to race in Richmond in two weeks! He hasn't even been released from hospital yet, but the will to win and race is still there as per other racers. I hope he does make a speedy recovery but realistically he probably won,t be driving a race car til next season. But woudn't it be a miracle if he could drive in the NHRA finals in Pomona! Cause we have tickets for that race now. Anyway as for his personal health it would be a good idea to stay away from the rest of the season to rehabilitate and learn how to walk again.
It was a good decision by Ashley not to run her race in the next round due to the nature of the accident involving her dad and also the fact that her dad's car got pulled apart when the chutes came out and Ashley runs the same type of car and chassis, what if it was weak in a certain area as well? I'm sure John Force Racing has and is dissecting the car to see what went wrong along with the Ford racing engineers and NHRA . You can bet one thing, NHRA will come out with new rules and safety improvements from this which hopefully protect future accidents of this nature. It was pretty scary that the car ripped aprt right in front of John's legs!

There is an interview here with John Force and Ashley Force:Interview

Pomona here we come

The place that the NHRA started is going to be the place for the first ever Countdown to the championship playoff format to decide the winners in each pro category. And we are going to watch, yes we bought tix for the Autoclub of Southern California NHRA finals in Pomona. Woohoo can't wait

John Force injured in accidend in Dallas

Only a day after my wife informs me she has booked a hotel in Pomona for the season ending NHRa race John Force has a serious accident in Dallas. He was racing Kenny Bernstein in second round of eliminations when he had his accident and crashed paths with Kenny and well the video is here:

John suffered multiple fractures to his legs and wrist and it sounds like he will be out for the rest of the season. I have seen John crash before and be on fire over his career but never seen his car split in half like this. I wish John and his family best wishes and hope for a speedy recovery as John Force is to NHRA as what was Dale Earnhardt to NASCAR.

Labor Day Drag Meet 2007

Well as I am trying to introduce new exciting things to my granddaughter (yes step granddaughter but if you need an explanation see my wife's page. But what could be better than a day at the racetrack. After all I got married at racetrack! So as some old school nostalgia race cars were here including two nitro burning fuel altereds and two jet cars and a few front engine dragsters and the cars from the Renegade class that races here at our local track.
Of course two of the granddaughter's heroes race here as so we had to see them as well. One races Jr dragster and is in her last year as Jr dragster and wants to move into faster full sizr cars. She told me super comp, then to Alcohol Dragster then Top Fuel! I said cool, that's very cool and we wish her well.Oh thanks to her for getting pics with the granddaughter.
Another one of her heroes also of the same first name (Ashley) who drives a super comp style car, IHRA has different class names for these cars but essentially is similar to a super comp style dragster, has just completed her Top Alcohol Dragster licensing from Frank Hawley's drag school. Cool! Just wait til the granddaughter is old enough to venture to an NHRA event with us to meet Ashley Force! So here are 3 girls, one who came up thru the ranks thru top Alcohol dragster in one of the best teams in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster ranks and is now a driver on the most premeir funny car team in NHRA history Ashley Force, and one who has just passed licensing requirements for Top Alcohol Dragster who drove Jr dragsters Ashley Bart, and another one who has aspirations to follow the same path as she graduates from jr dragsters. Does anyone see a trend here? I know from following NHRA racing for years and attending many live events as well as live local events that there is many women racing now that all started in the same place and got to move up thru the ranks and all are doing well in their respective drag racing careers. I wish these two girls well and hope to see them live on the NHRA tour one day. Other names that comes to mind is Melanie Troxell, Hillary Will and Erica Enders of the NHRA.

Here are some other pics of the days action.