Hidden in the pages of the NHRA's National Dragster first issue of 1998 are a number of rules revisions for the 1998 NHRA Rule Book. The most interesting one, for Australian readers, comes under the heading of Top Fuel.

It reads - Engine: Delete first and second sentences; replace with "Any internal combustion, reciprocating, 90 degree V8, single camshaft, automotive-type engine permitted. Multi-valve and/or overhead-cam engines constructed prior to 1/1/98 permitted through 31/12/98; all other multi-valve and/or overhead-cam configurations prohibited. Effective 1/1/99, all multi-valve and/or overhead-cam configurations prohibited."

Looks as if the fire is still burning but the heat is off, at least for 12 months.

DRAGSTER Australia spoke to Phil McGee from McGee Cams in the US and he believes that even the revision is a misprint. From what he understands, the NHRA had lifted the ban completely.

"Top Fuel racer Don Reed had been buying up a heap of our parts and was absolutely shattered when the initial ban came in," said McGee. "Apparently just the mention of that cost Reed a sponsor. He applied to Carl Olson to have the rule changed and the following revision was made.

"This whole thing has been a matter of ignorance. The NHRA wants to slow the cars down and the potential was always there to run some big mph with our engines. No one could really understand why the rule book has a minimum of 490-cid but I guess they figured that by shortening the stroke on our engines they could rev a lot higher than other engines. Another statement that we had heard was that the NHRA only had the equipment to "cc" hemi engines, and not ours."

McGee also said that the rumour of them taking the NHRA to court was false as in the US a manufacturer can't take NHRA to court, but a racer can.

Who knows, maybe the fact that the NHRA has been struggling to attract full fields to some of their rounds last year indicates that they needed every racer they can get, Reed being one.

Reed is planning on a debut at the Gatornationals this year.

ANDRA still stands by its earlier remarks of not supporting the ruling on an international level.

The FIA Drag Racing Commission meets in New Zealand in March.