Posted by: Doug Herbert, Herbert Performance/BRAKES
Well it's time to wrap up the 2008 season and I actually have to say this will be one year that I definitely won’t mind seeing in my rear view mirror.
We had a special guest at Pomona come by and sit for the very first time in a Top Fuel dragster. Anna Lisa Smith came by, lots of rumors going around about her and her desire to drive a Top Fuel car. Talking to her about it I think she is serious and with her father Bruton Smith behind her I believe anything can happen. To have her involved in our sport would be great and I will do all I can to help. I made the suggestion to drive an A/Fuel car for a while and learn how to race before jumping into a Top Fuel car. I raced an alcohol dragster for five years before jumping into Top Fuel and from what I have seen racing the A/Fuel car sure helped Ashley Force on her move to nitro. No matter what, I’m sure that Anna Lisa will do really well and I will be around to coach if she needs it.
We made a nice first pass on Thursday at Pomona to put ourselves solidly in the field and taking a first round win was great. Keith Stewart is taking the crew chief job seriously and I’m sure we will do some great things together.
After the race I spent Monday visiting some friends in SoCal including Marty the Party and Marty Sr. After the visit with Marty I headed up to meet my friend Lyle Larson. Lyle is helping us with the land speed Bonneville car so we went up to visit the guys at Vortec superchargers and talked to them a little about possibly running superchargers on the land speed car instead of the twin turbos. This idea is still a bit up in the air but one thing that we know for sure is that the car will be powered by two, Dodge Viper engines that will make about 2000 hp each. The car is four wheel drive. My dad Chet Herbert has done most of the design on the chassis. Some of my other friends helping the project along are Ray Evernham, Chris Nachtman, Hans DeBot, Greg Fornelli, Michael “Fatback” McSwain, and Barry Dodson. Keith Adams is the project leader and has been working on the car for the past couple months, we are hoping to have it ready by summer of 2009 for a test session.
Monday night was the NHRA awards ceremony. Sitting at my table Ginger and I had plenty of elbow room. I was lucky to have my old buddy Jim Brissette and his wife, Carroll, join us for the night. What a treat that was since I haven’t had much time to hang out with Brissette this year. It was a fun night and it really closed out the season for me.
Even though I was a bit numb at the season opening Winternationals, just a week after Jon & James’ accident, I figured that would be the toughest race of the year and, don’t get me wrong, but every race was tough. I want to thank all the fans that came up to me at every race throughout the year and expressed their sympathy. It’s good to know how many great fans we have all across the country.
I am going to spend the next couple months working hard. Between being at my shop, Doug Herbert Performance Parts, BRAKES, looking for a sponsor for the 2009 season and the land speed project car I am sure that I will stay plenty busy. If you need any parts, be sure to give us a call or check out the website. If you know anyone that wants to be involved as a sponsor with my race team, the land speed car or with BRAKES then drop us a line.
By the way, here’s something I came across on the internet recently and I thought it was kind of neat. http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01296631 Most NHRA fans know that I’m a licensed pilot but I found my old plane on the net and it’s used for topographic mapping now. I thought that was pretty cool.
Until next time… Doug