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Going for 50, and other thoughts
Yesterday, we shipped the 48th and final 2008 issue of National DRAGSTER to our pals at Conley Publishing in ultrachic Beaver Dam, Wis., and, as tradition requires, we hoisted a few glasses of bubbly and toasted one…
Of new muscle cars and old songs
My son, Chris, busted through the front door Sunday all but out of breath.
"Dad, there's a new Challenger parked at the end of our street!"
The boy, 19 and strapping-big as an ox (and probably capable of actually busting the door open in a…
To the friends we lost: Thank you
Today is the annual day of thanks – thanks for the people and things we have in our life and, to me as well, thanks for the people we have had in our lives. As we sit around the table today, flanked by good company and good food, let's remember the…
The good guy in the black cowboy hat
My most enduring memory of Larry Sutton is from a cold and misty night at Orange County Int'l Raceway, where Sutton, dapper in his trademark black cowboy hat, was on his third tour of duty as the…
The DRAGSTER Insider answering machine
"Hi, this is Phil Burgess at The DRAGSTER Insider. I'm either out of the office or on another article right now, but if you leave your name and your question, I'll get right on it. Thanks for calling."
Beeeeeeeeeeep.
Q…
Pomona, now and then
It's Friday in Pomona as the 2008 season dwindles away to its last few days, and, hopefully, like that old coffee commercial, it's going to be good until the last drop. As noted previously, qualifying is a show unto itself for the championship…
Cleaning out the ol' mailbox
I don't know that there's a more wonderful feeling for an NHRA fan than the anticipation during race week when the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is coming to your hometown. Man, you get to see all the cool cars and sleep in your own bed to boot!…
Back on the ghost-track trail
Like haunted houses full of the spooky apparitions for which they are named, it seems that there's no exorcising the demand for ghost tracks at casa DRAGSTER Insider, so here we go again. If you don't already have it, download a copy of…
OCIR Week: Your turn
Apparently, OCIR Week is that special kind of week that contains more than seven days. My Inbox has been flooded the last several days with heartfelt thanks and heartwarming memories from those who had the opportunity to…
The rise and fall of Orange County Int'l Raceway
(Above) From left, Mike Jones, Larry Vaughn, Mike McKenna, NHRA President Wally Parks, and Bill White unveiled the vision for Orange County Int'l Raceway at a November 1966 press conference. (Below) The final…
OCIR's Last Drag Race: The day the music died
(Poster courtesy of Steve McDermott)
Oct. 29, 1983. It was a day, 25 years ago today, on which many Southern California racers and race fans mourned, and mourned heavily.
Twenty-five years ago,…
Welcome to OCIR Week! Today: The '83 season
Welcome to OCIR Week at The DRAGSTER Insider, a triple-play week of nothing but stories of good ol' Orange County Int'l Raceway, beginning today with a look back at the fabled SoCal supertrack's final season. It…
The column with a little of everything
It's been a busy week here at The Big Show, what with all of the various series working their way down to championship scenarios – the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Summit Racing Series, Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, etc. – and putting together…
Top Fuel domination, 1983 style
The 1983 Larry Minor-owned, Gary Beck-driven, Bernie Fedderly-tuned world championship entry was one of the baddest Top Fuelers ever, recording 16 of the season's 17 quickest runs, including a national record…
Ghost-track hunting goes high tech
Okay, ghost-track fans – and that seems to be just about every one of you based on the e-mails (more than 60) I've received and all of the comments last weekend in Bakersfield (about a dozen) – it's time to get…
My Bakersfield of Dreams
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about missing my 30th high school reunion to be at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event in Dallas, and noted that, all things considered, I'd rather be at the drags than at…
You've got questions, we've got answers
Another week, another zillion ghost-track requests. … I'm slowly working my way through your latest batch of submissions and stories and will present them sometime next week. It takes time to track them down, research a little history, pinpoint…
Ghost tracks, the scary sequel
Like a scary sequel to your favorite horror flick, we're back with another edition of ghost tracks. Every serious drag fan, of course, had a favorite haunt in his or her formative years, and many of them have passed away, leading to the sport that's…
In a Pryor life, plus more ghost tracks
Bill Pryor tried on Don Garlits' car, the first step toward Top Fuel.
Friday's ghost-tracks column inspired a lot of mail and a little bit of sadness from those who had…
A vividly imagined column
I spent some enjoyable time with Billy Meyer at Texas Motorplex during the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, listening to him spin tales about his career that I was all set to share with you here today,…
Your turn
Yesterday was a travel day home from Dallas, so I spent some time finishing this entry. During the weekend, I not only covered the big event but also did my darnedest to catch up on some correspondence I reckon I owe y'all (maybe I was in…
Motorplex memories and mishaps
It's Friday morning at Texas Motorplex, and it's good to see the old gal again. I haven’t been here in a few years, and even then it was to attend the Division 4 NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals and not an NHRA national…
Be true to your school
Voted most likely to become a drag racing editor? We didn't have a drag racing team, so I had to settle for volleyball. That's me, number 5.…
They didn't call him 'Wild Bill' for no reason
The man, the myth, the legend: "Wild Bill" Shrewsberry Shrewsberry, second from left, drove more than wheelstanders. He's pictured with crewmember Dee Catton,…
Concord, N.C., 1960 style
"T.V. Tommy" Ivo has always been a great self-promoter – witness his television career, four-engine Showboat, glass-sided trailer ... heck, the guy even unabashedly signs his correspondence "your hero and mine, TV Tom" – and…
Stone, Woods & Cook: From the inside
When ND published a story in 1984 about the great 1964 Lions Drag Strip match race of Stone, Woods & Cook versus "Big John" Mazmanian, we also arranged a reunion of sorts. (Above) Leonard Woods Jr.…
And the winner is ...
Final results for Favorite Race Car Ever Stone, Woods & Cook Willys 2088 (17.40%) Winged Express 1598 (13.31%) “Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: The final round!
Final results for Favorite Race Car Ever Stone, Woods & Cook Willys 2088 (17.40%) Winged Express 1598 (13.31%) “Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega 1115…
Superman lives!
Long before John Force ever saddled up in his first Funny Car, drag racing had another gregarious character that we all called “Superman,” a tough-as-nails nitro jockey who piloted fuel dragsters and Funny Cars in a 20…
Mondays with Murray: Shirley Muldowney
Seeing drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney in the photos from John Force’s induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, Mich., last Wednesday reminded me that I haven’t run a Mondays with Murray column in…