Posted by: Jack Beckman, Valvoline/MTS Dodge
Not that driving Don Schumacher’s Funny Car isn’t about the coolest thing that anyone could ever hope to do, but man do I have to pinch myself several times a month just to make sure this is all real! The folks I meet, the stuff I get to participate in, and the talent that surrounds me sometimes makes my life seem surreal. Of course, try red-lighting in the second round against Robert Hight, and things come crashing back to reality in about, oh … .071 of a second.
The Winternationals was quite an experience, lasting seven days for the Sportsman racers. I only wished it lasted that long for me, as that really was a bummer. I have since gone to the doctor and had my head removed from my … uh … you-know-what, so I’m done shooting myself in the foot this year. The weekend wasn’t a total downer, as there were several upbeat moments:
My bestest little buddy, Dakota Ragsdale, flew out to California with his mother Carrie. Dakota was introduced to DSR a couple of years ago through our outreach program to children with heart problems. The Ragsdales have adopted three high-need children, and I just love Dakota and his brother and sister. After getting wind that Dakota was having some serious health issues (which he probably will face for the rest of his life), DSR’s LuAnn Bishop (who heads hospitality and works part-time as an angel) arranged to have Carrie and Dakota come out. Not only did we get to hang out, I took Dakota up on stage in our hospitality “meet and greet” Sunday morning to introduce him to all of the fans. That little boy thinks everything and everyone on this planet is wonderful, and his outlook never fails to put a smile on all of our faces.
With all of the rain, you would have thought there wasn’t much to do for the crew. However, we unloaded and warmed the car several times when it appeared there would be a break in the weather, only to have to reload it when the rains came. I felt bad for our guys … we warmed up three or four times just to get in one qualifying run! Racing and beating defending champ Cruz Pedregon in the first round was an outstanding way to begin our season, and I sincerely hope we defend our Phoenix title this weekend.
I got to work with two of my buddies, Jason Pidgeon and Matt Ilas of ESPN, on a story that we had been kicking around since early last year. It was 1969 when Jack Jones, a well-known Top Gas racer (back then Top Gas was a very popular class, even more so than Top Alcohol is today), posed adjacent to the Pomona starting line for Les Lovett, the phenomenal late, great photographer for NHRA. Wally Parks wanted a trophy that better symbolized the victories of drag racers, and thus “the Wally” was born. If you saw the TV coverage, then I don’t have to tell you about the piece. It was such a thrill for me to get to do that, standing in the same area where Jones posed 40 years before, holding the FIRST Top Fuel Wally ever awarded: Prudhomme’s ’69 Indy trophy. Back when I was that 7-year-old kid hanging over the guard rail at Orange County International Raceway in 1973 I never could have imagined things turning out like this. How’s that for cool? Speaking of cool (and I wasn’t able to run this photo back when it was taken, as I just received it via e-mail last week), here’s a shot of the very same Jack Jones and me taken at the ’08 Finals, complete with a Goodyear slick for reference! Man, do I get to do some fun things!
I got to spend some time with several of my longtime friends. The Murachanian/DeMattei group was out in force (sorry you had to come back Tuesday for my goof-up). In the pits, I got a photo with a group of good friends, and the rain enabled us to hang out and catch up on lost time.
Because of all of the downtime for rain, ESPN was trolling (bad pun) the pits looking to fill some time. They slapped the headphones on me and I got to talk with Mike Dunn and Paul Page about my meteorological skills and the benefits/detriments of rain tires in drag racing (I AM joking). Don’t I look like I just lost my lunch money and am about to cry in this photo? Maybe I was getting ready to do my Danika Patrick “tizzy fit” routine when that shot was taken? Next time I’m insisting on makeup before I go on camera.
After I was defeated second round, I would go up on the line when my teammates ran. I thought I did a good job of sneaking up there undetected (well, except for the bright yellow “MTS” shirt), but I got caught! Yep, the photographers apparently had a running bet that I didn’t know what the other side of the camera looked like. I used to be hard-core into photography, and sneak up on the line whenever I could. Let’s just say security escorts became a routine part of many of my national event experiences! Anyway, I snapped a few shots of Capps doing his deal in the second round, and I got caught on film. No, Don, I am not supplementing my income moonlighting as a photojournalist, this was just for fun.
Other than that, there was some other “stuff” that kept me busy after the race; I got to hang out with my favorite mayor, I actually fixed something ... make that two somethings (one of which I had broken), I fixed something else that I didn’t break, and I’ve finally made it in drag racing. Allow me to explain:
Friday after the race I spoke at the Mayor’s luncheon for Rancho Cucamonga. Don Kurth was a student at the school, and I am so thankful to have met him. He is not only the mayor, but also a real-life doctor and one of the most inspirational people I have had the privilege of associating with. His story truly should be made into a book one day. The real surprising thing to me about speaking there was the level of attendees. Most of these folks were extremely successful business owners, doctors, and other professionals. How the hell does a drag racer make it onstage at an event like that? Easy, I know the mayor!
Sit down if you aren’t already … this is big news: My motorcycle is running, and I fixed it! The carb parts came in, I reassembled both carburetors (and only had one washer left over), reinstalled them (what a pain), reconnected everything (more pain), started it, and the front cylinder WAS STILL DEAD! Just as I was about to break out the baseball bat .. voila! (That’s French for “my Vulcan is all better now”), the front cylinder came to life. Miracle … maybe. I’m leaning towards a possible needle and seat issue, or simply divine intervention. I hurt my wrist patting myself on the back and giving myself high-fives, but it is running.
Remember the RV washer/dryer combo that we were selling? Well, I busted the handle right off that thing. Long story short, apparently there’s some kind of “latch release” timer that was just way too long for me during a demo for a potential buyer, so … ”Snap”! There went $52, but I totally redeemed myself with a complete fix (less $52).
Karen and Rodger headed out to Speed World in Phoenix to race their cars. Rodger did great, lasting until the semi-finals. Karen threw a rod … not so great. We still have the engine from Jenna’s Super Comp car here in the garage, so Cindy generously offered it to Karen (ah, aren’t the ladies just the sweetest!). I pulled a valve cover off to prime the engine once I changed the oil, and damned if it didn’t have two broken intake adjusters! Listen, I swear I had nothing to do with those … I think. Anyway, that little 20-minute project turned into three hours of bliss in the cold garage. The next day I drove the motor (technically I drove my Nissan, with the motor in the back) down to fellow racer Mike Woodard’s house in Torrance, as he was driving back out in his pickup and could haul it. Otherwise I’d be trying to stuff a 565 in the back of the PT Cruiser … not a great idea.
I’ve made it! I’ve always said that the criteria for “making it” in racing is: multiple Wallys; getting on the cover of National DRAGSTER; and getting mentioned in the final paragraph of Bob Frey’s article in ND. Check, check, and (finally, Bob!) CHECK! Ya-hooo, how neat to read my name (and Jason’s) while kicking back in the motorhome one night at Pomona. Oh, life is good.
Well, that’s about it, unless you want to talk about surfing (went twice: first time was great, second not so good) or helmets. The 2008 Valvoline crew presented me with the most awesome helmet, and I debuted it at Pomona. This photo of me in the seat is the only one that I have of it right now, but I definitely will show the back of it in a future blog. It’s very funny stuff.
Finally, if any of you are confused as to WHICH car I drive, or, more precisely, who sponsors me, let me clear the confusion: Mail Terminal Services will be the primary sponsor for 12 races, and that is the paint scheme we had at Pomona. Valvoline will also take 12 races, and that car will be identical to what we ran last year. Clear? Cool.
We’re out the door on the way to Phoenix … stay tuned (and this weekend we’re bringing a Wally home!).