Merry Christmas to you also. I just got my car out of the jig; welding last night till 8 pm and all day today. Lots of work (to do) and little time. I will start to assemble my new stuff in February. Kind of last minute but that's kind of fun. I won't go (to the Bakersfield March Meet) unless it's right though. Keep in touch, let me know how your car is going. Good luck next year, I think that we both will be experiencing something new: all new parts!

Have a good couple of days off. I still need your ex-mechanic. Have you guys kissed and made up yet?

Well thank you Bob, and I hope the snow depth stays below your boot length. We are racing our local Green Machine Funny car against Robin Kirby's Top Fueler tomorrow so it will be a noisy Boxing Day if nothing else. Stay well and happy and stay away from strangers come New Years eve. Regards, Stu Bond

Hope you have a good Christmas Bob. Guess it's a bit cooler over there than here. We'll be sitting by the pool with a beer this afternoon having an Aussie Christmas. (BBQ). I figured you've been busy by the gaps in your web site updates. It's been a bit radical here as well with getting all the various programs in place for the 2000 season. Let's hope you have a five-second New Year when you get back down here.

Bob: Appreciate your quick reply, am very surprised you live in Canada. Canada is a fantastic place - Bev and I were there earlier this year. We flew into Vancouver; then took a short flight to Kamloops to pick up a motorhome; drove over Kicking Horse Pass to Lake Louise and Banff; then up to Jasper and Edmonton (shopping mall). We then went up the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse, Skagway, Homer, and then all through Alaska, Fairbanks, Seward, Valdez, Anchorage, etc.

This was our second visit to Canada, our third to Alaska and our eighth to the USA. Last year we did the cruise down the inside passage on the ferry system.

When you are next in Australia, please call in. Regards and all the best for the season and new year.

Happy holidays to all our friends! We had such a wonderful 1999, made all the more special by meeting so many new friends. We hope to meet even more new and old friends during the coming year. We hope this Christmas finds you happy, healthy, and content.

Here are Emily and Jason on Christmas Eve 1999. 1998/1999 ANDRA Top Doorslammer trophy compliments of Victor Bray! (It's still safe and sound, Victor!)

All the best from the Pratt Family to you and yours! Bill, Denise, Jason and Emily. Waldorf, Maryland, USA

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

This is DRAG-O-RAMA's latest up-date. It is to inform you of new and exciting features just added. Go check 'em out! Merry Christmas to all our old and new friends from DRAG-O-RAMA! We'll be updating like crazy during the Winter and you'll be informed of all the changes and upgrades around Spring (DRAG RACING SEASON!). Until then, we're wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays and the best for 2000!

Click the link for your card: Xmas Card

Thanks Bob, good luck to you next year! Oh yeah, remember . . . . . you ARE the normal one. Ron

HI TAD BOB! GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU! GREAT CHRISTMAS CARD IDEA YOU HAVE! WAIT TILL YA HEAR ABOUT OUR LAST DRAG RACING SEASON! MORE LATER!

You have just received an animated greeting card from Cliff Morgan. You'll see the personal greeting by using the following Web location:

Bob, thank you so much for replying. When I get something in my old noggin like this it drives me to distraction until I find an answer. If you don't mind, and totally at your leisure, can you provide any info on the EWMN car? I'd sure appreciate it. I think I also mentioned the Blind, Crippled and Crazy car and THAT is going to drive me even further over the top.

I had a car back in the dark ages called Florida Thunder; an SBC on 30%. With junk yard engines I didn't want to put more in it for fear the crank would break and set the driver on fire! You're right, "why be normal?" And HAPPY HOLIDAYS !

Hi there Bob. Merry Christmas to you and yours and hope it is a great one for you all. Hope to see you down here sometime. Have a safe New Year too. Christmas Card. Love and hugs, Dona xoxox

Hey mate! Thanks very much for your card. I was wondering how you were going. Are you still able to make it to Australia for racing? You know you have a place to stay with us when in Melbourne. I have been transferred with work back there from Albury (if you didn't know already).

Please keep in touch. Say G'day to the big fella for me, and look forward to seeing you here soon. Regards, Steve Piesley (from the "Wish I had Money to race Southern Thunder Racing Team")

Bob, All the best for the festive season too mate. Well I have to go and have dinner now so all the best for the silly season from the land of sun and lots of rain lately. P.S: Starting a new job on the 4th of January.

Bob, you have me at a disadvantage. Are you local or do you live in Canada?

And to you too Bob. Look forward to seeing you next year.

Hi Bob. The best of wishes to you and thanks for your note, I had lost your address when I left ANDRA. You will find it easier to get me on vicw@sema.org these days. It is going very well and I am busy working on an Australian SEMA Show in May. Have a good one.

G'day Bob, and the same (Christmas wishes) to you, mate. We've had lots of good mail from Jim (Grant) and feature him in what's coming up in our news section. Have you clued him in on what to expect in Central Queensland? Doesn't matter, as either way we'll do our best to show him a good time. Regards and holiday wishes.

Hey You! Thank you so much for the kind words! I wish you only the best for the holiday season! I am actually pretty busy all weekend long, we've got some of Lance's family to visit and friends and x-mas parties and etc, but I would really love to talk to you.

So maybe when you get a chance you can give me a call. I know you're very busy, so no problem if you don't have the time. It's just great to be in touch with you; isn't e-mail great? It enables us procrastinators to actually keep in touch. So anyways, best wishes for Christmas. Miss You A lot!!!!!! Love Always, Sandra.

Bob: Thank you, and best wishes to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year. I can only guess that your Christmas List to Santa included the remaining parts you need to get your car together. I guess now we will see if you have been naughty or nice this year. I sure hope Santa is not a big backer of NHRA, or you might be doomed. You might luck out though, with all the reported teams switching to "horsepower in a drum", the big guy just might have some blown alcohol hardware that the elves have stashed on the shelves.

I agree that the new year should be interesting, once again with a bunch of new injected nitro teams. I will be in full Seattle Police WTO riot gear when they are starting up the first few times. Helmet, face shield, flak vest, lexan riot shield, maybe even the gas mask until they get their idle circuit figured out. Injection is nice, but I would rather be blown.

Have a great Holiday!

Bob: As to your question: "Been there, done that, blew up the T-shirt......" I would like to think 90%, then maybe we could be within a tenth instead of two tenths. Who knows???? Now get to work.

Enjoy this offering I got from a friend in the US, my apologies if you've seen it. I'm now away until 4th of January, so Happy Xmas all.

Thanks very much, Bob. I agree on all counts. I would love to continue our relationship. Best of the season to you and yours. Denise and the kids and I will be hibernating in the house with a fire going! Talk to you soon!

Happy holidays to you too Bobby. Hope you get things "rollin" in the New Year. Bill & Carol

Bob, Just a quick note to wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and a safe New Year. From Anne & Dave - Craig Racing

Thanx for replying Bob. A Merry Christmas to you and all the best in the New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS; we used your nitro stuff and added a Top 10 (list), thanks, Don. P.S: Send us your mailing address and we'll add you to our mailing list.

Hey BW: We WILL be forced to plaguarize 10% less, but will make up for it by infringing copyrights by 25% more, and flat STEALING more work from professional photographers. Just found out there's a HELL of a lot less editing and typing involved when ya put up sound and pictures.

Welcome to the auto racing equivalent of Sesame Street. Yours truly will jump in the oversize dustbin and play Oscar the grouch. CC (Cole Coonce) does Big Bird. Norman Hechtkoff and Dean Papadeas as Bert and Ernie, with a special guest appearance of Cole Coonce as The Count.

Hi Bob. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and your family! As to your (continuing) technical problems: Try checking your mail before sending, let me know if the problem continues. Make sure your mail server (smtp) (pop) (incoming) (outgoing) is set to: mail.mortimer.com

Best of the holidays and hope the new year is good to you. Any room to hide me when you go down under? All the best to you, Bob. Later, "The Troll"

In a move that underscores their aggressive desire to win an unprecedented 10th NHRA AA/Funny Car Points Title, John Force Racing has procured the exclusive engineering services of Tim Gibson for the Year 2000 season. In 1999, John Force claimed his 9th Funny Car Championship most convincingly, a feat which apparently has only whet his passion for more domination.

Enter Gibson. The one year contract calls for Gibson to do in-house, proprietary "funny car development," i.e., enhance the aerodynamic flow and effects of the 2000 Mustangs used by both Force and team co-driver, Tony Pedregon, as well as a third r&d "flopper." All bodies will be manufactured by Jack Rousch Racing in accordance to "Techno Tim's" specifications, with minimal changes applied to bodies already produced, but with further enhancements applied to coupes currently in production by Rousch with a scheduled April, 2000 delivery.

Gibson, a graduate from UCLA in 1990 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, had been recently employed by a variety of Funny Car teams to engineer more downforce out of the GM Firebird and Camaro body styles, changes which will take effect in the upcoming season. Ironically, as an employee of Force, Gibson now has to out-engineer some of his own work by squeezing more downforce out of the Ford Mustang styles utilized by both John Force's Castrol GTX "Hound Dog" machine as well as Pedregon's Castrol SYNTEC AA/Funny Car.

What made Force's offer particularly attractive to Gibson was the team's reputation for perfection as well as its zeal for conquest. "Force has put together a family of extremely talented, highly motivated people," Gibson said in reference to a bodacious braintrust that includes Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly and John Medlen, "What I am interested in is this family that Force has put together -- it knows how to win. Whatever chemistry or intangibles are included in that (process), that is what I want to be involved in."

"In the last two or three years, by a sizeable margin he probably has more time in the wind tunnel than anybody," is how Coil summed up Gibson's contribution to the team. "He's also experienced in dealing with the NHRA's Rules Committees, which is very important as well.

"There are some changes within the parameters of the rules that Tim believes will be beneficial," Coil continued. "We're willing to gamble on that."

In an interesting juxtapositions of backgrounds, Coil, Fedderly and Medlen are all graduates of the school of hard knocks, while Gibson will be the sole, bonafide "collich boy" engineer under Force's employ. Nonetheless, in reference to an intellectual and engineering quid pro quo, Gibson said he welcomes the opportunity to not only pick the brains of some of the finest minds in drag racing, and that he also hopes to soak up some drag strip knowledge via osmosis. "There is something there that is beyond just racing," he said.

This does indeed cut both ways, Coil states. "By no means do we intend to use Tim for just aero projects. We intend to use him for a variety of engineering jobs."

Gibson, who in addition to his engineering duties also shoes the Bill Miller Engineering Top Fuel Dragster part time of the NHRA circuit, sees no conflict with driving a fueler for BME and crunching numbers for Force. "We will go to about twelve races, including Vegas and maybe Indy. We are looking forward to the delivery of a new Don Long dragster sometime next year."

Happy Holidays! The Drag Racing List (http://www.draglist.com) has been updated with all the drag racing action from 1999! We have hundreds of updates and additions for all our racers, both new and old, as we continue to build the lists both into the future and into drag racing's rich past. We now have detailed information on over 35,000 pro, semipro, and quick sportsman racers since 1950.

There are two new Danny White stories in this update. Danny lists the quickest 25 Small Block doorslammers of all time and runs down the quickest NHRA Comp cars of all time. Neat!

Special thanks to Curt Swartz for radically updating our historic fuel funny car lists.

Our DRL Links page continues to grow. We now have over 5,100 SEARCHABLE links to drag racing and motorsports sites. Check it out and be sure to 'Suggest a Link' to your own site if I don't have it listed yet.

As always, we are asking for current and former racers, crew persons, owners, or fans to provide any updates or additions to the list. If you were involved with any pro, semipro, exhibition, or quicker sportsman car at ANY period in drag racing, we want to list you at Draglist.com! Come on up, see what we have on your team already, and let us know what else we can add or fix.

Our intention is to list every driver, in every car they ever drove, in every year they drove it! That includes "hired guns" who drove four or five cars a year AND it includes those racers who perhaps only made one run down the strip -- EVER. We want them ALL! Please help if you can.

To all our online friends -- have the happiest of holiday seasons and a healthy and happy new year!

I'm waiting on more info on the WSM. I spoke to Colin Linney yesterday, and the issue is far from dead. I'm just trying to find out what went on at Thursday's onsite meeting, but basically I think their back to feasibility studies with Eastern Creek Raceway. Since there's no chance of taxpayers justifying the millions to build a drag strip in ECR, as well as the fact there is no room to do it and even if they manage to, they can't operate circuit racing and drag racing at the same time due to the lack of dates.

I don't know how this legal action can hold up, but it must have some substance, otherwise I couldn't see a privately funded drag strip being rejected. One that the government have to pay virtually nothing for. Anyway, all I can say is we are going to keep fighting.

Dear Bob Wilson: The Speed-O-Maniacs want to wish you and yours at "Northern Thunder" a very Happy Holiday season. We hope that you have had many visits through our links page and that you have enjoyed any and all return visits to our site. We hope to see you soon and look forward to seeing you in 2000. The Speed-O-Maniacs Jr. Drag Racing Team

Hey Bob, guess who seems to have received a damn virus of some sort now? Last week I did some work on the computers and then a couple of days later it wouldn't start up windows and got worse and worse. So I ended up formatting the hard drive and mucking around for a couple of days and the big hard drive didn't work any more. I ended up installing the "BIG" 341 MB hard drive into the pentium now just to get things working. Anyway, just thought I would give you a quick message and I hope everything on your end is going fine. Take care.

Bob, can we reprint your December 17 update regarding NHRA nitro news? We will give your site/you the credit. Please advise. Thanks, Don

This is to inform you that the website: www.northernthunder.com has been designated a Cool Site in the Netscape Open Directory: Sports/Auto Racing/Drag Racing/Racing Teams category at http://dmoz.org/Sports/Auto Racing/Drag Racing/Racing Teams/.

If you wish to display one of the Open Directory Cool Site awards, you may obtain them from http://dmoz.org/cool.html.

Dear Friend:

If you have already responded to the following announcement a few days ago, that means your package is already on its way and it should be arriving soon! If you have not responded to this before, please pay attention to it now. This is very important!!!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - Your future May Depend on it!

Before you know about this 'Important Announcement', you must first read the following 'Editorial Excerpts' from some important publications in the United States:

NEW YORK TIMES: "In concluding our review of Financial organizations to effect change in the 90's, special attention should be called to a California based organization, 'WORLD CURRENCY CARTEL'. Members of this organization are amassing hundred of millions of dollars in the currency market using a very LEGAL method which has NEVER been divulged to the general public. While their purpose is not yet known, their presence has most certainly been felt."

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS: "Members of 'World Currency Cartel', who always keep a low profile, are considered to be some of the most wealthiest people in North America."

More excerpts later, but first let us give you this very "IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT":

We are glad to announce that for the first time and for a very short period of time, WORLD CURRENCY CARTEL will instruct a LIMITED number of people worldwide on 'HOW TO CONVERT $25 INTO ONE HUNDRED OF LEGAL CURRENCY'. We will transact the first conversion for you, after that you can easily and quickly do this on your own hundreds or even thousands of times every month. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS "SECRET FLAW"!

It is even more explosive than we have yet disclosed. While currency does fluctuate daily, we can show you 'HOW TO CONVERT $99 INTO $588 AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT'. That means, you will be able to EXCHANGE $99, AMERICAN LEGAL CURRENCY DOLLARS, FOR $580 OF THE SAME. You can do this as many times as you wish, every day, every week, every month. All very LEGAL and effortlessly!

It takes only 5 to 10 minutes each time you do this. You can do this from home, office or even while traveling. All you need is an access to a phone line and an address. Best of all, you can do this from ANY CITY ON THIS EARTH!!!

Again, we must reiterate, anyone can do this and the source is NEVER-ENDING. For as long as the global financial community continues to use different currencies with varying exchange rates, the "SECRET FLAW" will exist.

As we said earlier , we will do the first transaction for you and will show you exactly how to do this on your own, over and over again!

The amount of exchange you would do each time is entirely up to you. Working just 2 to 10 hours a week, you can soon join the list of Millionaires who do this on a daily basis many times a day. The transaction is so simple that even a high school kid can do it!

We at the World Currency Cartel would like to see a uniform global currency backed by Gold. But, until then, we will allow a LIMITED number of individuals worldwide to share in the UNLIMITED PROFITS provided for by the world currency differentials.

We will espouse no more political views nor will we ask you to do so. We can say however, that our parent organization, CILS, benefits greatly by the knowledge being shared, as we ourselves, along with YOU, benefit likewise. Your main concern surely will be, how you will benefit.

As soon as you become a member, you will make transactions from your home, office, by telephone or through the mail. You can conduct these transactions even while traveling. Don't believe us? Experience it for yourself!

Unlike anyone else, we will assure you great financial freedom and you will add to our quickly growing base of supporters and join the list of MILLIONAIRES being created using this very "SECRET FLAW" in the world currency market.

DON'T ENVY US, JOIN US TODAY!!!

There is a one time membership fee of only $195. BUT, if you join within the next 10 days, you can join us for only $25 administrative cost. Your important documents, instructions, contact name/address, phone number and all other pertinent information will be mailed to you immediately. So take advantage of our Anniversary date and join us today.

(If you are replying after the next 10 days, you must pay $195.00 for the membership fee. NO EXCEPTIONS, and no more E-mail inquiries please).

Upon becoming a member, you promise to keep all infos CONFIDENTIAL!

Should you choose to cancel your membership for any reason, you must return all papers/documents for a refund within 30 days.

IMPORTANT:

(Note: We are ONLY accepting CHECK-BY-FAX as a form of payment at this time. We WILL be able to cash the check you send us by fax, you do not need to mail us a check. If your check is dark, please PRINT ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THE CHECK ONTO THE PAPER YOU ARE FAXING US so that it is clearly legible!) Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. No shipments will be made until the check has cleared.

Here are some more 'Editorial Excerpts':

WALL STREET: "A discreet group of Americans, operating under the guise of World Currency Cartel have recently begun making rumbles in world finance market. While at this time, their game is not completely known, they certainly will be watched by those making major moves in the currency contracts."

FINANCIAL WEEK: "Watch them, monitor them, extract their knowledge and try to become one of them. That is the soundest financial advice we could give to anyone."

NATIONAL BUSINESS WEEKLY: "While this reporter has been left in the cold as to its method of operation, we have been able to confirm that 'World Currency Cartel' and its members are literally amassing great fortunes overnight."

To be removed from our list, simply click "reply" and put the words "Remove Currency" in the subject line. Warning: If you do not put the words "Remove Currency" in the subject line, you will not be removed. The process is automated.

A vacationing penguin is driving through Arizona when he notices that the oil-pressure light is on. He gets out to look and sees oil dripping out of the motor. He drives to the nearest town and stops at the first gas station.

After dropping the car off, the penguin goes for a walk around town. He sees an ice cream shop and, being a penguin in Arizona, decides that something cold would really hit the spot. He gets a big dish of vanilla ice cream and sits down to eat. Having no hands, he makes a real mess trying to eat with his little flippers.

After finishing his ice cream, he goes back to the gas station and asks the mechanic if he's found the problem. The mechanic looks up and says, "It looks like you blew a seal." "No, no" the penguin replies. "It's just ice cream."

Hi, I've been following your web site, and it seems like you know what you're doing! I have a blown altered and I am trying to build a rev-limiter. The Fiat has a BBC with an 8-71 and a Super Mag IV. Would a mag rpm operated switch from MSD, activating a relay to ground out the mag, work? Is this not the same principal as the PSI rev-limiter, only the PSI uses a mechanical action to ground the mag?

Being a poor racer from Edmonton, I find it out of the budget to spend $1000 (US) for the PSI unit. I currently use an Autometer kill box, but I thought I would try something more reliable. Is the MSD switch idea possible, or will the blower back-fire in my face. I value your opinion, please get back to me. Thanx.

Thanks for the update on the Sainty team. We can't afford to lose any of the Top Fuel teams, so I hope they keep their toes in the water, especially after the rejection of the Western Sydney Motorplex proposal. It's hard to see where Sydney goes from here, suitable land is so hard to locate there even if we had financial backing.

The government and CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motor Sports) are obviously very worried about the financial viability of Eastern Creek Raceway and with good reason. Without the weekly street drag meets it would probably go under and that's the last thing the government wants. They've been there too often before. Queensland Raceway was certainly not reassuring, going into receivership, owing $6.5 million after only about 10 weeks of operation, which included two major V8 Supercar racers.

Without Sydney, drag racing cannot expand or progress. It's the central location both corporate wise and geographically in Australia. Let's hope Canberra Dragway gets the nod to restart, at least it might stop all the New South Wales teams from selling up until a strip can be established in Sydney. Cross your fingers.

As for getting to the New Years Series, I'm certainly looking forward to it, especially the Top Doorslammer and the International Top (Fuel) Bike round. I'm hoping some real competition in TB might finally get a few Aussie teams into the 6's, as we seem to be way behind in this group; even Europe is well ahead of us.

And Bob, don't fret about the cold, I'd gladly swap you for the heat here. We lived in Tasmania for 6 years where both kids were born and loved the cold, did lots of snow skiing, etc. It wasn't as cold as where you are of course but we sure miss it. Maybe sometime we should get together and do a house swap while you're down under; we've always wanted to go to Canada.

Anyway, catch ya at the Winters hopefully watching you race this time. Cheers, Craig.

Bob, from my viewpoint, from all drag racer's viewpoints and also from the ARDC's viewpoint, Gate 7 (Western Sydney Motorplex) is the ideal solution to the problem in Sydney.

Being involved for over 18 months, I came to the conclusion quite early that logic and common sense play no part in this issue. It's all politics and from all the indications I have, the New South Wales government want no part of another motorsport facility at Eastern Creek.

The problem the Labour Party/NSW Government faces is if it supports Gate 7, the Labour Party/Government will have to compensate the ARDC (Australian Racing Drivers Club) for lost income from the street meets; approximately $40,000 per month. In other words cancel out the rent payment of $10,000 per week. This would not be politically acceptable to both Labour and Liberal parties, the media and the general public to have a $150 million taxpayer funded facility given away rent-free. Is it any wonder that the ARDC supports Gate 7?

Eastern Creek Raceway is a dirty word for both political parties and they do not want any further involvement and possible voter backlash.

See you in the staging lanes at either Western Sydney Motorplex or Eastern Creek Raceway. Regards, Phil.

Bob, I would appreciate a reply as I am checking out our new machine (computer). Regarding the points you mentioned (on the Cackling Pipes Message Board) - taken OK.

However, in my 1st note placed on the net I said: "I support and have always supported the RPS Proposal for Gate 7 (Western Sydney Motorplex)." In my 2nd and 3rd notes placed on the net I said: "Gate 7 was the ideal solution to Sydney's problems." I consider those statements as positive views of support for the Gate 7 proposal.

The Government does not support the proposal and in the ARDC media release (copy I have is dated December 8, 1999) states:

Bob, when I was the New South Wales Divisional Director (for ANDRA), I attempted to keep the two options open, until one of them materialised and we could go back to full championship drag racing in Sydney. In other words, do not burn bridges...

Regards, Phil Woodman.

Bob, did we lose the 392 block in the move, or is still possible to get it? I will pay the shipping. I thought it make you happy to know we decided to go ahead and put the .060" parts to use. Surely the shipping will be less than the price of another block and having all the machine work done.

You know if you go ahead and complete this deal your luck just might change? Just a thought, and from what I have read (on the "What's New" page), it couldn't hurt. How could you say no to a face like this? Want to hear from you soon . . . . .

Bob, I think we have something in common. Bill Phillips... Don Gryte... I owned Bill's front-motored car for 20 years, after I acquired it from Don in 1976. And finally sold it back to Bill a year before his passing. Do you know what ever happened to that car and Bill's new front-motored car?

Both of those cars need to be out and racing with Bill's name on the side! The old Fuller (chassis) in AA/GD trim and his new car in T/F. These two cars are NorthWest Drag Racing History! Thanks for keeping in touch and I love your site.... Dave Craig, Craig Racing.

Well sir, here I am with one "shakedown" meeting under my belt and have little to show for it but a lot of great memories and a lot of new friends. I simply cannot say enough about the Aussie hospitality. The track bent over backwards to help me with any and all problems we had getting ready, getting the tech and license issued, hooking us up with local fabricators and parts houses, and just plain making us feel welcome. I find it hard to describe except to say "overwhelming hospitality"!

The car gave us a few headaches, but all new cars do and for all intents and purposes the car is new. Special thanks to Dwain Kremyr for a straight car and Blair Gehman for a great alignment job. The car is straight as an arrow! One of the major problems we had was an oil leak that we could not track. It turned out to be the vent in the puke tank not large enough which pressurized the crankcase and blew oil everywhere! When we sorted that out, all went well.

We still have to work on the fuel tune up though, we had one cylinder going cold right out of the box and that (combined with my staging "skills" with the new clutch setup) yielded disappointing times of 8.43 at 165 mph. We thought we had a real lemon on our hands for a while, or at least I did. The crew remained optimistic though and worked very hard and put up with my rantings. Les Arcand sorted out the fuel problem and we made the 16 car field qualifying 12th in Comp Eliminator (against a 6.99 index for AA/AP).

At the line in first round I "stuffed up" big time. All was going well; I had the prestage lit then built up the rpm to stage and saw a plume of what I thought was smoke come from the engine. I backed off the throttle a bit instinctively and when I did the car must have rolled back out of the staging light. When I looked up again I saw one lamp lit and thought I had deep staged (because I had done that earlier when we had the air gap too tight in the clutch). I wasn't alone in my thinking because some of the crew thought the same thing as did my competitor.

Anyway, I waited and waited then got the 20-second red light for not staging and lost the round at the starting line! I launched the car anyway and it turned out to be our best run. It hooked hard, left straight and pulled the wheels up in second gear. It was about 8:30 or so at night and very cold for Melbourne (10 degrees C) so the track was a little off. The car got a little out of shape but pulled all the way to the finish.

Of course because my inexperience led to a "no time" run, we have no idea how fast the car was and this becomes a bit of a "fish story", but all the finish line crew estimate a speed of 190+. It was at least our first 7-second run and we know we can do it again. The first thing I did was to jump out of the car after I realised what had happened and apologise to my competitor. I had no intentions of trying to "burn him down" and with typical Aussie hospitality he said "no worries, mate!"

The long and short of it is that it was both a disappointing weekend for the crew to work that hard to be denied the proof of their efforts in the form of a time slip; yet encouraging to us to watch the car go that fast. It is without a doubt the fastest this fat old man has ever gone by a long shot! I'll keep trying to improve my skills and hope to be able to provide you with actual times after the next event.

Some news in from Bob Meyer explaining the reasoning behind the recent SFI roll cage revision posted on our site last week: Wot's New. Now that we know what prompted this revision we shall be making the modifications before the 2000 season starts and long before our chassis has to be re-certified.

Still having problems updating the web page on our new server (seems to be in a time warp) if you have any trouble on the www.laracing.co.uk site - visit our mirror site. (It definitely works!)

Bob, I noticed on your one post, you made a direct link to your website. How did you do this? I am not very technically sound with a computer yet, and was wondering. Thank You!

Mike Carr, Federal-Mogul/Alcohol Forum moderator

Just got into your website tonight. I only get to use this computer a few times a week but just wanted to let you know I liked the website. Keep it up. Oh yeah, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy mimi . . . . min, ah hell, a Happy New Year. See ya.

Well I got through the school today. Another 30 laps on the car. Melissa Thompson did the school and did very well. She ran the school session quickest and fastest time. 9.12 at 145.60 mph and she did it on the first hit. Her 330/660/1320 were all no problem. The car is doing ok with the borrowed fuel pump. Loking forward to the new one so I can chase the tune up.

Sorry. I wrote this on the last day of the school but it laid in the drafts file and I forgot about it. I thought I would send it any way.

Bob, I could swear I heard her say "Come on Ken, quit goofing off and get to work."

I wish I could be as enthusiastic about TV as you. It hasn't been much help so far. Jim Tice was right, syndicate or have 'em pay you like stick and ball. Present deal killed match racing. I believe its all OVER the hill, and headed for an end. NHRA that is. Even the cool sportsman cars get buried in NHRA way. I say, US Nationals, fastest 8 Super Stocks in country. HEADS UP. NO bogus GT cars. You would watch that once a year. SS guys deserve it. Are you going to OZ? They seem a bit more realistic there. Probably blinded by BIG MONEY they see on horizon.

Dear Sponsors that couldn't make it, Newspaper/Magazine editors that might like to print it, or friends that wish they could have been here. Here is the report (lifted from our website) from our inaugural "Drag Racers' Ball and Presentation Night" with some accompanying photos. Hope you enjoy. Theresa.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!

Who ever said Drag Racers were just a bunch of girls? Proof was in the collection of wanton hussies accompanied by some rather butch characters that showed up on November 20 for the only purely social event of the year. The first Drag Racers' Ball and Presentation Night was an absolute runaway success with many an unlikely club member taking the opportunity to dress in drag! Despite numbers being down with the inability to present Track Championship Trophies, the evening was far and away the best fun you could have with your clothes on.

One of many memorable moments emerged when a tabletop striptease was performed by . . . nah, you had to be there. True to the purpose of the evening, M.C. Geoff Smith (dressed in his version of drag - a slick) lauded a long list of sponsors (some still in shock, no doubt, as two of the more outrageously dressed members vied to show their appreciation in a more, shall we say, physical way) and those able to attend were presented with a lovely framed certificate of appreciation courtesy of the efforts of Bec, Alana and Deb. Clubman of the year was Earl McCallum (mauve kaftan style ensemble with honey blonde wig) for his contribution to the Raceway and instigation of the Fun Day Mini Nats.

Several Minties moments were presented to members who either in the course of their assistance during the year or as a result of indulging in the sport, had their embarrassments recalled and recounted for all to enjoy. Stewart McLaughlin (rather prim in black stockings and pumps) recalled our achievements for the year and who accomplished them, Brett Anderson thanked all on behalf of the club, noting the quality and quantity of strong club spirit and commended Robby Nunns as the President's choice for his attendance at every working bee and meeting to render a helping hand.

The host, Mike, of the Reef Hotel was called on to judge the best dressed of the evening and after considerable thought over the contenders he gave the gong to Des Pimm with his glitter wig, satin nightie ensemble. Other notable costumes included racey numbers worn by Peter Gehle (complaining of the cold) and John Coots (permanent wedgy) plus Andrea Smith's (Do I make you horny baby?) Austin Powers get up and Deb Mayfield's interpretation of Beetlejuice just to name a few. Late arrival Doug Bottrell tried to outdo all others by sporting three Dolly Partons claiming to be the perfect woman - however this was debunked when he was informed the perfect woman would be wearing these Mount Vesuvius' on their back!

Big thanks goes out to those who made the special effort to travel up from Hervey Bay, Peter & Judy Fiegl, Darrel Cowell and Mike Jenkins. Happily, the only regrets expressed on the evening were by those that hadn't dressed up because they didn't believe any one else would and those marking the absent, wishing they were here to see this! A fantastic evening was eventually brought to a close with many an aching face (from laughter, truly) and eager anticipation of some photos as proof we were not unduly affected by alcohol when we saw what we saw!

WILLOWBANK ANNOUNCES TV SCHEDULE

Willowbank Raceway today announced a packed schedule of Network Seven telecasts of its Wreckers Hotline Drag Racing television program for 2000. In a change from previous years the raceway will now produce extra programs from its larger events resulting in ten, hour long episodes of the program being broadcast between the end of January and the beginning of August.

General Manager, Dennis Syrmis explained, "Originally we started by broadcasting all our events as soon as possible after race day but over time we've found that isn't the best approach. Television is very expensive and the track has to get the best value out of it we can. Promoting upcoming events in shows broadcast a week or two beforehand is producing a very good response, so the 2000 schedule reflects our plan to capitalise on this.

"We will also be dropping TV at a couple of smaller events. This will allow us to feature more of the very good racing we have at the larger meetings and showcase our sport in a more favorable light with big crowds in the background. This is our fourth year with TV and the increase in sponsorship and corporate support gained by the track now fully justifies the costs involved. It's onwards and upwards from here."

Scheduling more programs in a shorter television season of just over seven months will result in a far better frequency of broadcast with resultant increase in audience numbers. All episodes of Wreckers Hotline Drag Racing will also be broadcast nationally by Foxsports. With Foxtel subscriber numbers continuing to grow dramatically the impact of the wide reach of the Foxsports broadcasts is now being felt.

Both the Willowbank Raceway office and a number of program sponsors, such as Travelaire Tours and Ken Lowe's Drag Race School now report that they receive very strong phone enquiries after every broadcast. Both Channel Seven and Foxsports have indicated that they are particularly happy with the performance of the program and are providing the best possible scheduling.

"As you'd expect with the Seven Network heavily committed to lead up programs and coverage of the Sydney Olympics, plus an AFL season that starts earlier than usual, we've had to accept some compromises in timeslots but overall we're very happy with the schedule we've been able to put together with Seven. Foxsports also continue to support us very well with good timeslots. Good ratings and an entertaining, high quality product are what both Seven and Foxsports look for and we certainly strive for both.

"We're now using the very latest in digital post production facilities along with added features such as in-car cameras and more behind the scenes stories. With the fantastic line up of events we're covering this year I'm sure we're going to be able to continue to set the standards in Australian Drag Racing television coverage," commented producer, Rob Oberg.

A real benefit of the release of the full television schedule is that racers will be able to go to sponsors with definite information about the TV coverage and the exposure available through their teams. Other than the racers and program sponsor Wreckers Hotline, the biggest winner in the change of scheduling in 2000 is likely to be long time sponsor of the New Year Series, Castrol, with coverage of the three rounds now expanded out to five episodes providing the most extensive exposure of the series ever.

The complete schedule of events to be covered and the racing categories included along with planned Network Seven Queensland broadcast dates and times is as follows:

Foxsports broadcast dates and times will published in the Foxtel Guide each month and are also available at their internet site.

Hello to everyone in internet land: Wishing you a beery Christmas and very very merry new year. Hope to catch up with you soon in person, (yuck they all said) or by the electronic media we all love. THE NET. Isn't it a lovely thing?

So from me and the girl. Goodbye for now. Safe holidays if going away (lucky bastards, wish I was going somewhere). Love from Steve and Kate.

Top 20 things you don't want to hear in a nuclear power plant.

Dear Marketing director:

A Global Drag Racing Team !

Does your company wish to be a partner/sponsor to our new Pro Modified team, and share the glory together with us?

There will be a lot of stories/coverage in most of the car magazines all over the world about our entry in the IHRA and NMCA Series 2000. We will offer your company the best marketing tool in the world!

TV-channels, Car Magazines, and espescially the spectators will focus extra much on us, because the team Speedghost is from Europe/Scandinavia. Our team name was chosen because there should be something mystifying around our new global Pro Modified Raceteam. Team Speedghost is the first European drag racing team ever to race a whole season in the USA.

If your company is interested to be a part of the show and the new team, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible for more details and for our millennium schedule. These cars could be the marketing tool you need for your company in year 2000!

Tommy "Tiger" Ove Bjork, drag racing promoter and driver, was born in Jakobstad, Finland in 1956. He now lives in Sweden and works as a laboratory technician for Phillips 66 in Norway. Tommy "Tiger" started his drag racing career in 1978, driving a '68 Corvette Stingray and two years later in the same class a '70 Chevelle with a big block engine. He has raced in seven classes all told ranging from Street classes to 200 mile per hour Pro Modifieds.

In 1990 Tommy "Tiger" created a new class called Pro Classic which was similar to the IHRA Top Sportsman class, but intended for cars built before 1969. The class changed its name and Tommy "Tiger" became the promoter and founder of the Nordic Pro Street Cup. This was a series designed to attract cars racing on the streets and find them instead racing safely at a real race track. NPSC has approximately 400 participants today and is growing.

Tommy "Tigers" beautiful Pro Classic 1957 Chrysler 300 C (built in Sweden) was one of the most popular race cars in the series. The Chrysler 300 C was also driven successfully for two years by European 1998 - 1999 Pro Stock Champion Nicklas Andersson.

Tommy "Tiger" then bought Mike & Charlene Faucher's 1967 Pro Modified Chevy Nova race car at the Super Chevy Show in Gainesville, Florida in 1995. Tommy, together with K.H. Mostrom, decided to race "The Baby" turn-key in the European series. This car became the first blown alcohol Pro Modified race car in Europe and they held the European Pro Modified record at 6.64 seconds elapsed time and 208 mph for three years.

The team received great support from Mike Faucher and Quest Racing, which is based in Boston, Massechusetts. To build on that success, Team Speedghost now plans to participate in the IHRA Pro Modified series in 2000.

Mike Faucher will be the new crew chief for our 1957 Chrysler 300 C, called the "Beautiful Brute". The car has a chrome moly chassis and a new rear end and wheels supplied by Centerline. The car will be equipped with a new Mopar Performance 526 CID Hemi or Wedge engine, which will be supercharged and running on alcohol. The car will have a three speed Lenco transmission and 36" tall GoodYear tires. A beautiful new paint job will display our sponsor's colors.

Keep Team Speedghost in mind and visit us often at our website, speedghost.com, which will soon be updated. There will be an upgrade after each race, along with commentary and photos.

Thanks for the mention of the team and the "praise". This whole thing (as you should know better than anyone) took a lot of work and that was the physically easy part. Now we start racing. It was very nice of you to mention us on your site. I have been checking the old "Frozen Thunder" page (couldn't resist, it's 30 Celsius here in Melbourne today) but it seems you were pre-occupied with work and whatever and as you can imagine I've been busy too so I let it slip for awhile and just read it today.

We will make our first test pass on Wednesday. They are prepping the track for the Top Fuel meet Friday-Saturday and by Wednesday afternoon there should be three drums of VHT on the track and who knows how many tires? I'll try to keep everyone posted.

When do you get here? Give us a ring on the mobile when you are in OZ and we'll maybe hook up. Our first meeting at Willowbank will be January 15.

Hi Bob, Hope that all is well with you and hope that you have a great holiday season!

IGNITION FAULT HALTS BRAY

An ignition fault stopped Victor Bray's charge towards another Australian Top Doorslamer Championship round win at Western Australia's Ravenswood Raceway on Saturday night. Temperatures hovering over 40 degrees throughout the day made track conditions very tricky in qualifying. Bray stamped his authority on the event by topping the sheets with a 6.53 second pass, a massive quarter of a second ahead of fellow Queenslander Les Winter. All other runners were back in the seven second zone or worse.

Bray faced Adelaide's Dave Koop in the opening round with the Castrol GP50 Chevrolet leaving the start line well and appearing to have the South Australian well covered until the 3000 horsepower engine went suddenly quiet with a total loss of ignition. Koop was then able to drive by for the win.

"It was simply a matter of an electrical connection failing and leaving me stranded," said Bray. "It's really disappointing but that's racing I guess. The team did such a good job in the heat and the Castrol GP50 Chevy felt really strong. This was our chance to put a stranglehold on the championship but instead we've lost our lead. You can bet we'll be throwing everything at it at Willowbank to get back on top."

In a fairy tale story Dave Koop went from bottom qualifier at the event to take out the final over Western Australia's Robin Judd and move to the lead in the series courtesy of the 50% bonus points awarded at WA rounds. The next round of the Championship will be held at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway on January 15th as the headline feature of Round One of the Castrol New Year Series.

5 cents for the Northern Thunder plug on Header Flames, payable in monthly installments....hahahahahaha. I enjoy your web site. I discovered it by going through Lyle Greenberg's site. For whatever reason, I cannot access Header Flames without getting kicked off. I can only get on HF through Lyle's site, so that's how I saw your Northern Thunder. I like reading the comments and also the press clippings. Interesting to read articles from years ago. Did you notice that one of the Flamers had posted about the Lions Last Race article?

Yeah, it was interesting to read that article, and to see the thinking of Snake & Olson. I wonder what comments they'd have now if they read that article? :-) I guess it was hard for them to see the future -- how many people then thought that drag racing was gonna be where it's at now? Even then, they realized they needed sponsorship. Olson made the comment that even if they went to alky, they'd eventually run the same numbers as the fuelers. I think that a dragster with an 800+ inch motor, screw blower with no restrictions, clutch management system, nitrous oxide, and alcohol, could run real close to what the nitro cars are running today. Probably high 4's at close to 290, anyway. Of course, what would the cost be to run such a car? Less $$ for fuel, but all the rest would be the same. Same argument as Olson & Prudhomme. :-)

I have a video called "American Nitro," that was shot in the 80's, and they talk about "250 MPH Funny Cars". Bill Doner, a promoter at the time, makes the (far sighted) comment that one day, the fuelers would be running four seconds and 300 MPH. At the time, that was just a dream . . . no one realized what it would take to run those numbers. Today we take it for granted. Sheesh! I'm always amazed that the cars of today still run a single blown hemi engine, same as they've run for 40 years, and yet they're in the 4's at over 300.

Well, anyhoo, that's my rantin' & ravin' for today. :-)

Just picked this one up surfing today -- is this another case of no-one telling the racers what's going on? May also be of some interest to Comp Racers -- I am having trouble with my new server -- please use this link to get to the story: Wots New.

PS: If anybody is getting this information officially please let me know - because I'm certainly not!

Hey, can you imagine, guys, that jerk (Billy) was trying to borrow a couple bucks from me "to buy a soda" yesterday! Well, whatever was that, I think that was NOT funny. Please, don't lend him any money.... you won't get it back... I didn't! That's all I wanted to tell you. Have a good one.

HEY BW: No, thank YOU for diggin' up all those fine old articles for the kiddies to read, and old codgers like me to RE-read...wind's about 14mph, temp's low 70's...lil' chilly for my thin blood...

Ski
Editor at Large-Large Editor
Nitronic Research- Drag Racing's definitive website
Nitronic Research

NHRA advised PRO yesterday that the NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car Committee voted unanimously to reduce the nitromethane percentage accepted for Top Fuel and Funny Car racing in 2000. The policy was adopted and will become a rule when ratified by the NHRA Competition Committee and Executive Management.

For the record, NHRA and PRO face three critically important issues:

1.    Spectator risk from engine explosions
2.    Frequent breakage and down time
3.    Frequent tire smoke

The first issue poses a serious and immediate threat to NHRA Drag Racing and our livelihoods. A reduction of the nitromethane percentage was the only acceptable method of reducing risk to spectators in time for the 2000 season. Additional engine limitations -- compression, fuel supply, supercharger, ignition, etc. -- but the reduced percentage accomplishes the immediate task of reducing volatility and providing NHRA a line of legal defense in case of future incidents.

Initially the percentage (probably 85%) will be measured by a simple hydrometer. NHRA will check your fuel before a run at your option, but will check the fuel for verification purposes after a run. Any brand of nitro can be mixed to the desired percentage . . . for now.

To assure long-term policeability, NHRA engaged Greg Jorjorian, Managing Director of Market Development for Dow Chemical. Note that Dow recently acquired Angus Chemical. They asked Jorjorian to answer this question: "Is it possible to produce a tamperproof blend of nitromethane and methanol that can be easily analyzed for foreign chemicals?"

Jorjorian answered that Dow could produce a tamperproof blend of nitromethane to a percentage specified by NHRA. Presumably, other nitromethane producers could also produce a tamper-proof blend for easy rules enforcement.

With that assurance from Dow, the NHRA Committee voted to place the nitromethane limitation in effect on January 1, 2000.

As enforcement becomes more of a challenge, it may become necessary to switch to a spec fuel at some time in the future.

NHRA will not place further limitations on aerodynamics as once proposed.

PRO will continue to monitor rules developments and will forward any further information as it becomes available. Again, please refrain from making any media comments until PRO has provided a position statement. We'll try to offer that statement later today.

Rain caused the cancellation of last Saturday night's Coca-Cola Wild Bunch Classic at Willowbank Raceway. After threatening skies had covered the area all day during qualifying, gusty winds finally brought showers to the track about ninety minutes into the evening race program. The rain then persisted long enough for raceway officials to abandon the event.

As a result, this weekend's episode of Wreckers Hotline Drag Racing scheduled for broadcast on Sunday afternoon has also had to be cancelled. In it's place it is now planned to broadcast an extra episode from Willowbank's next event, Round One of the Castrol New Year Series on January 15th. This event will feature rounds of the Australian Championship for drag racing's two professional sedan categories, Ice Break Top Doorslammer and Travelaire Tours Pro Stock. It is also expected to draw a big support field of well over two hundred competitors.

In Ice Break Top Doorslammer, Victor Bray has started the season strongly again with a win in the opening round in Melbourne and a new world record speed of 232 miles an hour (371 kph). At Willowbank he will again be facing many strong challengers as he attempts to win a fifth consecutive title with his Castrol GP50 Chevrolet. Local drivers Andrew Searle, Peter Gratz, Brett Stevens and Les Winter will be joined by Melbourne's Peter Kapiris, Sydney's Steve Stanic, Adelaide's Dave Koop and Perth's Robin Judd as they attempt to stop the Bray juggernaut.

Rounds of the Castrol New Year Series always generate a great deal of interest. Already eight of Willowbank Raceway's ten corporate boxes are booked with strong sales also in the 1st Provincial Corporate Club. A large spectator crowd, upwards of 15,000, is expected to turn out to see the Top Doorslammer – Pro Stock double feature.

The first episode of Wreckers Hotline Drag Racing from the meeting, featuring Ice Break Top Doorslammer, VPW Mail Order Super Comp, and Morgan & Wacker Comp Bike will go to air on Channel Seven on Sunday January 23rd at 9:00 am, with the second featuring Travelaire Tours Pro Stock, Wreckers Hotline Top Comp and all support category finals on Sunday February 27th at 2:00 pm. Both programs will also be telecast at a later date by Foxsports.

Victor Bray is headed west to Ravenswood Raceway outside of Perth this weekend for round two of the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship, hoping to extend his lead in the series. He started his chase for a fifth consecutive title in the best possible way last month in Melbourne, with a win and a new world record speed of 232 miles an hour (371kph), but is none the less guarded about his prospects in Perth.

He commented: "The two Western Australian rounds of the series carry 50 percent bonus points towards the championship. You get almost as many points for making the semi-final as I got for winning last month so it's easy to see how important it is to do well over there. The track conditions can be very different too, so it's usually who's smartest on the day rather than the most horsepower that wins. Robin Judd and Dave Simpson should both have a big local knowledge advantage over the eastern state teams. They're good racers and will be pumped up in front of their home crowd. With Andrew Searle, Les Winter, Peter Kapiris and Dave Koop also going over from this side of the country it's probably going to be the strongest field ever seen at Ravenswood. If we can come home still in front I'll be very happy."

The Australian National Drag Racing Association's policy of 50 percent bonus points for Ravenswood Raceway events is designed to encourage teams to travel the long distances involved from the east coast. Bray experienced mixed fortunes at the two Western Australian rounds of the series last season with a win at the first but an early exit in the semi-final at the second. He appears to have overcome the tyre shake problems that plagued his Castrol GP50 Chevrolet through the later part of the season.

A good result on Saturday night would establish a very strong points foundation for Bray to defend his title and head for a fifth Australian Top Doorslammer Championship.