Backfire !! --- 2002 Backfire - March 2002 Backfire - February 2002 Backfire - January 2002 --- 2001 Backfire - December 2001 Backfire - November 2001 Backfire - October 2001 Backfire - September 2001 Backfire - August 2001 Backfire - July 2001 Backfire - June 2001 Backfire - May 2001 Backfire - April 2001 Backfire - March 2001 Backfire - February 2001 Backfire - January 2001 --- 2000 Backfire - December 2000 Backfire - November 2000 Backfire - October 2000 Backfire - September 2000 Backfire - August 2000 Backfire - July 2000 Backfire - June 2000 Backfire - May 2000 Backfire - April 2000 Backfire - March 2000 Backfire - February 2000 Backfire - January 2000 --- 1999 Backfire - December 1999 Backfire - November 1999 Backfire - October 1999 Backfire - September 1999 Backfire - August 1999 Backfire - July 1999 Backfire - May 1999 Backfire - April 1999 Backfire - March 1999 Backfire - February 1999 Backfire - January 1999 --- 1998 Backfire - December 1998 Backfire - November 1998 --- Home Page E-MAIL to NORTHERN THUNDER
Backfire! Backfire! Backfire!
BACKFIRE!

JUNE 1999

Postings are listed from NEWEST to OLDEST. Happy scrolling !


Subject:   "blood" did it....
Date:       Tuesday, June 29
From:      Kenny Youngblood

It ain't quite done yet, but I hope to have my web site up soon at: www.youngbloodart.com, and would love to be included on Northern Thunder. I will let you know as soon as it's up. Thanks, Kenny.

 Wow, an e-mail from MR. Youngblood, himself. The king of drag racing paint schemes and artwork. I can hardly wait to see what the finished product will look like. Keep us informed, please.


Subject:   Helllloooooo????
Date:       Tuesday, June 29
From:      Paul Shackleton

Bob, you still alive? What's happening?

 Yes, Paul, I'm still alive.... but just barely. After the absolutely crushing disappointment of not even getting the car in my hands until AFTER the Winternats, we're curently working at full speed trying to get the car ready for the Winter Finals in less than three weeks. Dont' worry, we won't be any sort of competition for you then... or any time in the near future. Again, many congratulations on your victory at the Winternationals. Even though you weren't the quickest car on the grounds, you turned on the win light three times when it counted. Good on ya' mate!


Subject:   Learning to drag race
Date:       Sunday, June 27
From:      Joel

Where can I learn to drag race my 1999 Z28? I'm not interested in learning to drive a rail (sounds funny). I just want to learn about launching and the "ropes of drag racing".

 They don't have any schools (that I know of) for beginners in street cars, but for a very informative booklet on "Getting Started" in drag racing, visit the Willowbank Raceway website and open the link to the booklet. Another source of info would be Frank Hawley's "Drag Racing: Getting Started" book. Another very good source of info that would be applicable to your situation. Good luck, Joel.


Subject:   Report
Date:       Wednesday, June 23
From:      Theresa Davidson

What happened? Or is too painful to talk about yet? commiserations.... all the guys could tell me was that the dragster was still on the docks.

 Well no news is good news.... in most cases. For my situation, no news is bad news. We didn't even get the car landed here at Ken Lowe's until two days ago. We're currently working hard trying to get the car bolted together and ready for the Winter Finals in July.


Subject:   Hey Bob...
Date:       Monday, June 21
From:      Jerry Kumre

I found this article in USA Today, among some others. Go to www.usatoday.com, then to sports, then other motorsports until you find Drag Race articles of which there are some good ones. Hope all is well down under and you get to the track soon. I will get you some info on our car soon.

 Thanks for the article, Jerry. It was definitely worth reading and puts NHRA's "new deal" in a slightly different light than Glendora would like to see. Unfortunately, the archived articles cost $1 each, and being a major cheapskate, they aren't accessible to me. Do you know some way to hack into them for free? Thanks for the best wishes for our car and when you get a chance, let me know how things are going in "Nitroville". (Jerry runs an A/Fuel car).


Subject:   Australian rules, eh?
Date:       Friday, June 18
From:      Jim Grant

I have been following your saga and I offer my sympathies for what has been a long, frustrating and expensive procedure only to have been in vain due to a clerical error of one digit on the computer which caused the beauracracy to short circuit. I commend you on your attitude however. There's always July and next year! Good luck, especially with the unorthodox B-1/screw blower innovation. Quite frankly, I was surprised to read about the  flow numbers. Impressive! Good luck in July.

 Thanks for the commiserations, Jim. I certainly hope that your downunder experience, starting next year, goes much more smoothly. In hindsight, perhaps the container should have been shipped a month earlier... and then we wouldn't have had such an impossible deadline. Yes, there's always next year, but at the moment we are focused on being at the Winter Finals next month. We'll let you know how we make out.


Subject:   Warwick District track update
Date:       Thursday, June 17
From:      Peter Bower

I'm sorry it has taken a while to write but I have no computer at the moment (hence the lack of site updates also). This will change soon I hope. It is incredibly cold here at the moment so if I make mistakes, it is because my hands aren't working well.

About the track: Well, Bob Reid (I guess we could call him the construction organiser) was away for three weeks on a well deserved holiday. He has been at the track every weekend for the last three years almost, with very few days off. I have yet to speak to him since his return and find out the very latest. Currently we are in fund raising mode and are selling lifetime passes for a single person at around $280 I think and corporate passes for about the same which admit 2 for 10 years only. I am not sure of the response we have had to this, but if any of you are interested I will find out if there are any left.

About the track: Well, the spectator fences are up in places, there is almost no fencing left to do. We are still waiting on the sparky to wire up the track. If it drags on too much longer we might have to find some other way to wire it. I need to check this out further. But on the lifetime pass and corporate flier it said the track was opening in late 1999. I will be meeting with Bob Reid this afternoon to discuss this and to see if we are on track for next month.

I have been very busy and have not had time to look at the track lately so there be more to tell you but I don't know. I will be taking a squiz at it today also. If there is anything important I will let you all know. I have some new ideas for our site also which as soon as I buy a new computer, will be putting in place. I'll also inform everyone when I update the website.

 Thanks for the update on the progress at the new Warwick track, Peter. While we had hoped to make a trip down to take a look, preparation of the race car is using up all our time and we'll unfortunately have to give it a pass on this trip. Hope the progress continues and that when we come back at the beginning of next year that the track will be up and running. Keep us posted.


Subject:   Aussie Babes
Date:       Thursday, June 17
From:      Peter Bower

It was good to catch up with and your crew chief and talk to you. Well, I see you have not yet uploaded your new Winter Nats pics to the Babes page. I took a few myself and as soon as I scan them I will send them to you. You have inspired me to get snap happy as well as video crazy at all big meets, so look forward to tonnes more pics in your e-mail.

 Bring 'em on. There's always room for another few (or few dozen) Aussie Drag Babes in the Photo Gallery. You know the address and the mail box is always open, so send the pics as soon as you can, Peter.


Subject:   It's a little thing
Date:       Monday, June 14
From:      Rob Potter

Hi, great site! One little thing though... on the Canadian Tracks links page -- Cayuga International Dragway is NOT in London, Ontario. It's in Cayuga! (Actually a small town called Kohler). To a guy like me that has walked the place since 1969 this means a lot; nothing against London, but I had to let you know. Thanks for your time and check out my pics on the Cayuga page.

 Ooooopssss!!! Sorry about that, Rob. Having never been east of Winnipeg, my lack of geographical knowledge about Ontario must be understandable though. Rest assured, the correction has been/will be made as soon as possible. Keep up the good work with all the great pictures of the action at Caygua, too.


Subject:   Nanaimo
Date:       Friday, June 11
From:      Pat Ryan

Well, your sister is not very bright as it took until today, Friday, to figure out how to keep up to date on what's happening (or not happening) down in Australia. After reading your "What's New page, I don't think I'll call Mom and give her any information. Do you even now have the race car? Another thing that concerns me is the responses on the "Backfire!" page. There seems to be several references to a fire? Does this have anything to do with your place or is this just some sort of cryptic code among racing junkies? Also, who is Bill Phillips? The name sounds familiar, but I can't place it.

Anyway, I hope things have improved, you sounded pretty discouraged when you wrote the Update. You may think you're going through your mid-life crisis, but you still have another year to go before you turn 50. Lots of good things can happen in that time. Oh yes, we bought a trailer and are planning to come over to Vancouver next Saturday to pick it up. Why didn't we buy one on the island you may well wonder. That would have made too much sense and been far too easy. If there's a hard way to do something we'll find it. TTFN.

 Yes, Sis, for all the latest happenings (or non-happenings) of the Northern Thunder Downunder team, just check out the What's New page. As for the references to a fire at my condo... well, that's just Larry Pfister's way of trying to get me excited and worried. Rest assured, the building and my apartment are just the way I left them.... messy. Bill Phillips was the fellow who got me started in this insanity we call "Top Alcohol" racing. He had a service station at Bainbridge and Lougheed back in the late 70's, early 80's, and after spending lots of time talking to him about dragsters, I ended up buying his entire stock of 392 Chrysler parts for my first dragster. As for the "mid-life crisis", I've actually been going through it for the last two years. All I can hope is that this whole exercise (the new dragster) doesn't turn into an "end-of-life" crisis. Hope you and the family have a fun summer travelling around in that new Ford Expedition and the new trailer. Let me know how things are going on the homefront whenever you get a chance.


Subject:   Borderline Insanity
Date:       Monday, June 7
From:      Tim & Rita Probasco

YO! WILSON! GOOD LUCK DOWN UNDA WITH THAT NORTHERN THUNDA!

 Thanks again for the good luck wishes, Tim. By the way, have you ever thought of getting a new keyboard, or at least repairing the "caps lock" button on your current one? Hey buddy, just kidding, eh? Thanks again and we'll keep you posted on our progress.


Subject:   Damn....
Date:       Monday, June 7
From:      Darren Fahy

Darren again annoying in depth again. Rang Dave on the mobile (phone) just before now to get the bad news. What the hell have you got to do to get this damn car off the wharf? You must be getting to the stage of wanting to strangle the damn aussie beauracracy. I was still hopeful we might be able to get you somewhere near the track but that seems to be an image of my imagination. Well, the offer still stands that if I can do anything to help, I am at your call. Just wish I could help with all the dramas you're facing with officialdom. Okay, still looking forward to being of some kind of help when everything finally does come to fruition. Best of luck and hope to hear from you soon.

 You've heard the old story about "the best laid plans of mice and men...." Well, the cat has eaten our mouse and now it's turning on us. Still, the car has actually travelled nearly 8000 miles and we're only a few days and miles away from having it here at Ken's... so that's one HUGE hurdle cleared, isn't it? As soon as it lands here at the shop, I'll be on the phone asking for some help, so get plenty of rest in the meantime, because you'll be busier than you want to be very soon.


Subject:   Borderline Insanity
Date:       Sunday, June 6
From:      Tim Probasco

YO! BOB! HOPE U R WELL! Now, let's go Drag Racing!

 Thanks for dropping in and sending us your best wishes Tim. I know you're ready to go racing, and by the way, how has your season gone to date? As for our racing deal, the car is here in Brisbane, but getting it through all the official government hurdles and ready to race at the Winternationals next week is looking marginal at best. We'll let you know how we make out, though.


Subject:   Decals 'n' stuff
Date:       Saturday, June 5
From:      Brett Roberts

Hi. My name is Brett Roberts and I am 12 years old. I was wondering if you guys happened to have any sponsor or team decals, posters, autographed storyboards, herocards or any promotional items, to add to my collection of memorabilia. I currently have over 400 stickers and posters from all different race teams and car performance parts. If you did have any I was wondering if you could please send anything out to me? Thank you in advance.

 Thanks for asking, Brett, but (at the present time) we don't really have anything in the way of promotional "goodies". The budget doesn't even allow us to have all the parts we need for the car (not to mention the operating expenses), so stuff like handout cards, decals, posters, etc. are currently on the "to do - later" list. We will send you a colour (laser copy) picture of the "old" car doing a burnout at Mission Raceway and hope that will satisfy your request.


Subject:   Me Again....
Date:       Friday, June 4
From:      Darren Fahy

Gee, it only seems like it was about an hour ago I was talking to you and looking at how to try and make your life somewhat easier than the idea of going into the html nightmare for every bit of your web space. Oh yeah, that's right it feels like that because it was just an hour ago... I have just been checking out the web site and you don't need to worry, the update has finally gone in and you're up-to-date for now at least.

Okay, just wanted to drop a line and let you know even though you'll probably check it at Ken's before you get around to reading this. Okay, I await the phone call on Monday and HOPE all I hear is good news. Catch you later and take care.

 Don't hold your breath waiting for that phone to ring, Darren. The container hasn't arrived yet and we're still waiting for our phone to ring with the good news that it has. We'll let you know as soon as something develops. Thanks for hanging in there, mate.


Subject:   LINK
Date:       Friday, June 4
From:      Michael Paske

I just came across your web site (very nice, by the way) and would like to invite you to exchange links or banners with us. Please visit our site at: http://www.carlover.com.

We're an online store that sells auto accessories AND we also have the internet's largest encyclopedia of automobiles with tons of pictures and info. I think your site would go well being linked with ours -- and vice-versa. So please visit our site and e-mail me if you're interested. (When responding, please include a short description of your site and the URL the link should poin to). Looking forward to hearing from you.

 Thanks for the offer Michael, but your site just doesn't fit into the categories of links we have. We're oriented to the "hardcore" side of drag racing: no doorslammers (unless they're blown), no "accessories", unless they fall into the category of safety equipment, very wide wheels and tires, weather stations, etc. Thanks for asking though.


Subject:   Website hosting for Northern Thunder
Date:       Friday, June 4
From:      Glenn Miller

G'Day Bob. Thanks for responding. I knew you were down under, no worries mate. I hope you do well and I hope you keep safe.

 Thanks for all the help with the website hosting and the best wishes for success in Australia. We'll keep you posted on our progress, Glenn.


Subject:   Toni says Hi!
Date:       Thursday, June 3
From:      Toni Patterson

Bob, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through your site. What will happen when you go back home? I was pleased to meet you and Tom when I attended the Drag Race School and Ken tells me that he will get me down the track. Hope he does... How is your container going? Is it here yet?

 Thanks very much for the kind words, Toni. The container still hasn't arrived, it's currently enroute from Singapore, and with the Winternationals looming very close, our chances to get it ready and running for the race aren't looking that good. Hope you can get back in the school car soon and complete the course. I know it can be very intimidating the first time you put the "loud pedal" on the floor... but just keep at it until you get to the finish line. After that, it'll be so much easier to keep doing it. Good luck and let me know how you do next time out, Toni.


Subject:   Quick Times
Date:       Wednesday, June 2
From:      Don Macgowan

Bob, just dropping you a line to let you know, we did do a reprint of your first experience with Bill in our June issue, thanks. Hope all works out for you downunder.

 Whew. Thanks for bailing me out of another "biting off more than I can chew" situation, Don. While my intentions were good (aren't they always?), time and other distractions prevented me from following up on the Bill Phillips story. Glad you were able to use the original story I wrote on the day Bill passed away. Any chance of getting a copy of the issue?