I haven’t been posting much because I’m writing a lot for Yahoo! Sports.  You can catch my writings here.  In another month or so, I’ll be back to blogging a little more.

The drag racing year will be heating up as the weather does the same – although when the weather heats up is anybody’s guess here on the Central Coast of California where we’re having another cool Spring like last year.  In fact it’s 65 degrees and windy right now (noon) on Memorial weekend – 20 degrees cooler than normal.

Anyway, with more Nostalgia Drag Racing will come more comments by yours truly so hang in there and keep tabs on me at Yahoo! and learn all you could or couldn’t imagine about college football and motorsports – that’s what I mostly write about.

On this Memorial Day weekend, there’s plenty of racing to occupy us but remember what this weekend is about and keep our past, present and future soldiers and what they fought for, front and center.  Peace.  

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Sometimes Nostalgia drag racing feels like a family affair.  I remember often, when we were at the track, people offering up food, drinks, parts or just a shady place to sit, was a common occurrence.  That’s one of the many reason Nostalgia drag racing thrives – it’s like a living breathing family.  BUT, I’ve already talked this in the past – so where am I going?

With racers having more and more troubles with empty pockets, I’m going off the reservation, philosophically.  We don’t have a family feeling in our own personal world.  Governments have become a kind of surrogate parent.  Whether its school for our children, financial aid for well, many or just individual needs; every time we’re in need, we think the government needs to come to the rescue.  How in hell did we get so weak?!

Ever wondered why you think you need help?  Is it because you don’t have enough money?  Why was it back 50 years, that one person, usually a husband, could work enough to support a family?  Get the drift of what I’m saying?  Taxes are the difference.

I’m not sure why but Tax Day is April 15 or 18 – I guess it’s dependent on whether your late or not.  See, we used to be able to pay for more than were paying for now.  Ask any drag racers from the old days.  Not that it was inexpensive but almost anyone could go drag racing years ago but now, you need a great paying job or a sugar-daddy.  And with inflation moving up the ladder, it’s getting worse.

If you and I had more money rather than sending to Washington where the DCMob will waste it, your town and mine could control more of what goes on around us – Rather than having a government minion decide where to spend it.  You could spend the extra money to take care of yourself and your family and not always have empty pockets.

So the next time someone mentions they need this or that and want the government to do it, mention why were in this situation … too many taxes.

OK, back to regularly scheduled racing event.

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I want to expound on the racing and drag racing world and let everyone know what I know, that our motorsport (more precisely Nostalgia drag racing) is one of the most exciting events in all sports.  So I’ve been taking on some writing ventures and it has been interesting to say the least.  Generally speaking I’m freelancing and really just trying to build a portfolio.  I’ve written a decent amount in the past but it was always either a website, presentation, proposal, sales brochure or newsletter.  Structured.

The blogs have been fun the last few years and it really amounts to free expression of what I’m thinking at the time.  I don’t have an editor.  I don’t have a proofreader.  I don’t have a deadline.  I don’t have anybody but myself – just winging it.  What you see here on the blog is one and done.  No drop net.  Not structured.

I’ve talked to a few people in the business and as far as blogs go, a couple guru’s said I have a knack and have become pretty good.  But blogging, especially my own blog,  isn’t like writing an article to be published by another party.  You have to follow their guidelines and everything has to be right.  With internet writing, key words are, well, key.  Titles have to mesh with the story and certain procedures and rules have to be followed.  Yeah, rules.  I’m not big on rules and having been my own boss for many years, I don’t take to others rules very well.  But I’m trying and although it kind of suffocates your thinking and thought processes, I’ll get through it.  There are aids and they can help.

Writing is not as easy as it looks and the creative nature of written material, style and your prose is key as far as I’m concerned.  Research and knowledge of facts is also a primary requirement.  But I was told recently, there’s a more important key in writing currently and that I should be aware – know English.  Grammar, sentence structure, punctuation etc are a big concern right now.  Why?  There’s a lack of general knowledge when it comes to the rudimentary rules of writing.  Our schools and in particular, our government schools are a failure.  We could go into the reasons for the debacle that is our educational system but that would take some time and I’ll maybe go there another time.  But simply, supposed knowledgeable people who would otherwise like to write, can’t or won’t.  Good grammar is gone like high-button shoes.

I was stunned!  I’m happy that my spelling and English grades were always on top and my education through parochial schools (Lutheran), helped my communication skills.  But I had no idea that folks who had the want and creative to write, aren’t because they either are incapable, embarrassed or don’t want to go through the trouble of learning the correct way of using grammar.  Amazing!

So in fact, I have a head start in my new venture, for what it’s worth.  I’m not sure what it says about a society that can’t write but I know one thing’s for sure: Civilization may be on the brink if we can no longer put our words down and express and communicate the elementary acts like offering ideas, opinions and facts.

Alright, enough imparting on the demise of society and back to offering my always scintillating and correct punctuation, grammar and sentence structures on the world of motorsports (& other stuff I like).

My English teachers would be proud.  I think.

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With an apology to Leo Sayer and his famous song “Long Tall Glasses“, but if you ever had a thought about dancing, now’s the time to stop dancing, because our folks out at Famoso this weekend need help.

STOP THE RAIN DANCES!

One of the larger sporting events of the year is this weekends March Meet and the weather man has been none to helpful.  The qualifying for today looks like it will get in but after that, well, it don’t look too good.  On and off showers will be in store for racers and fans Saturday, so there’s hope but Sunday Eliminations?  Let’s just say it’s not good.  Ugly rain, heavy at times.

This is a little late in the year for a series of storms to be coming into California but that’s what we’re looking down the barrel of.  In fact, wet weather will be with us here in ‘sunny’ California until the end of the month.  So much for scheduling a make-up date right away.

Bakersfield has always had a knack for holding off wet weather as it’s almost a desert with mainly dry conditions a vast majority of the year.  But as usual, schedule a drag race and the rain will come.  I think Kenny Bernstein said something to the effect that if you have drought conditions, schedule a drag race.  I mentioned in the past how and why of weather and drag racing in California because of the good weather.  Not working too well this past year.

So think nice clear sky’s and PLEASE, no rain dances!

I reminded of the words to the old pop anthem: It Never Rains In Southern California … ” it never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn you, when it pours … ”

Yeah, well, you get the gist.

Home Of Nostalgia Drag Racing

Home Of Nostalgia Drag Racing

In case you didn’t hear, the venerable strip at Famoso is all new and 100% concrete!  Yes, one of the oldest drag strip tracks in the country is all concrete, from starting line to finish line.  This is obviously great news and should make for cleaner runs.  Oh yea, and faster runs.  And it looks beautiful.

It was only a handful of years ago when the track was completely resurfaced so you have to hand it to the Bowser’s and of course a thank you has to go to Auto Club.  Hopefully this will make for racing like we’ve never seen before at Bakersfield and if you have the time, there’s a test and tune this weekend, as well as the following weekend, too.

Now, I’m not asking too much to hope that the next improvement will look something like more seats and/or more pavement for the racers and fans to plop themselves down on.  Again, a big thanks to Auto Club Famoso Raceway and here’s to a great March Meet later this month.

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The back stroke is a time consuming phenomenon that against our wishes, requires us to move backward while trying as hard as we can to move forward.

You’re traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination …

You are a drag racer preparing for a race; your truck and trailer (hauler) are sitting beside the shop ready to be loaded with the racecar and the tools and equipment necessary for the journey to the track and a weekend of racing.   With a day left for getting ready, you grab your check list and with a couple of crew members on the way over to help, you begin loading.   While putting the spare racing tires up on the rack in the hauler, you realize the bolts holding the tire rack are loose, something unnoticed after the last outing and they must be tightened.  You go back into the shop for your impact wrench needed to tighten the bolts and discover that a crew member had began putting new fittings on it but had been called away before finishing.   You must finish changing the air fittings if you can find them.  You are far from putting the tires on the rack.

… next stop – the Backstroke Zone!

Have you ever noticed that sometimes no matter how hard you try or how well you think you are prepared, you just can not move forward without first moving backward?  It can happen through no fault of your own.   Something in the shop breaks, a bracket, a brace under the stairs to the mezzanine that must be repaired as a safety issue, you need special tools and the tools needed are in the tool box, locked up in the hauler, ready for the trip to the races.  You go back out to the hauler, which is now mostly loaded, move the items necessary to access the tool box, undo the straps and locks securing it and retrieve the items necessary to fix the broken braces.  You have what you need to fix the stairs but now you must take the time to do it.   When you’re finished, the tool box needs to be reloaded and tied down.   This has nothing to do with racing – you have once again entered the Backstroke Zone.

Think about it, it happens to someone every day.  You’re making a run to the parts house, they’re working on the street in front of the shop, in order to leave, you have to turn right instead of left; now while driving the opposite direction of your choice, there’s an accident ahead with traffic control that sends you yet in another direction causing you to take the great circle route to the parts house.   A fifteen minute trip has just taken half an hour!

At least when you’re swimming the backstroke, you’re getting somewhere.

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man.  It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.   It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition.   You are traveling through … the Backstroke Zone.

See ya at the races

Ronnie Hier

Home Of Nostalgia Drag Racing

Home Of Nostalgia Drag Racing

Ah yes, the marketing partner or more commonly known as sponsors, are a hot commodity.  Especially this time of year, looking for a marketing partner is a cold hard fact that hits you right in the face like a snowy Winter blizzard, so this time of year can REALLY be tough if you don’t have a sponsor.

Marketing is a harsh business and involves creative answers to businesses advertising needs.  Drag racing is a great marketing vehicle but it requires a race team to be equally creative and vigilant about their ability to offer branding that advertises what the company needs.  Not easy for people who grew up twisting wrenches. When your promoting, advertising, marketing and racing, as Pink Floyd says: “Money, get away”.   You need constant support and investment.  But what if you don’t have what it takes (money) to pursue your passion in racing?

Again, this time of year is a frantic time.  Businesses are gearing up their pursuits and many have already costed-out their budgets.  The smaller businesses are more apt to have funding because they work on an as-needed basis but they don’t have large sums to invest.  Larger companies set their budgets up in the prior year and although they have more to spend, they’re locked into campaigns that were largely set up for the first of the year.  A real conundrum for race teams as the finish line nears.

What’s the answer?  Actually, I don’t have one but will say this: American businesses need to broaden their perspectives and perceptions and race teams need to work on offering real marketing solutions so they can do the thing they enjoy most, racing.  Don’t be a snail, hustle up folks, times awastin’.  … “Money, It’s a gas – Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash – New car, caviar, four star daydream … “

More on Pink Floyd here:

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• Number 5  Peggy Llewellyn – Peggy has in her own right, overcome hurdles that no one in drag racing has.  As both a woman and black woman at that (Jamaican/Mexican American descent), she has accomplished what no other black women have and that’s a Top 5 finish of the points in a NHRA Pro Series.  She’s also the only black woman to win a Final in a Pro class and further, is the only woman to qualify in the final NHRA Countdown.  Although her career has been relatively brief, her accomplishments have been far-reaching.  Hope to see her full-time in 2011.

• Number 4  Ashley Force Hood – Ashley’s career, like Peggy’s hasn’t been long in the Pro ranks but it has been memorable.  Up until her wins, she was only known as the daughter of John Force and being voted “Hottest Athlete” in the world a few years ago.  But now Ashley is better known as the first woman to ever lead the Funny Car’s in points, plus she also was the first woman to ever win a Funny Car Final.  Within a handful of years, she’s the most accomplished woman Funny Car driver in history.  Ashley will be taking off the 2011 season to have a baby but I’m sure she’ll return soon.

• Number 3  Bunny Burkett – Some of you may not remember Bunny but she was one the earlier drag racing women and actually won her first event in 1964.  She would become known as a successful Alcohol Funny Car driver (1986 IHRA Champion) in the 80′s and 90′s.  Her’s was a tough row, having to strut her stuff (yea, it wasn’t glamorous) in the early years to make a buck.  Many tough years of mending after accidents and health issues, Bunny was still making appearances through last year.

• Number 2  Angelle Sampey – As the woman with the most championships and wins, Angelle’s career was remarkable to say the least.  During her best years from 2000-2002, she had no peer.  Angelle dominated Pro Stock bike like no one before or since.  Along with her 3 Championships, she also won 41 meets, an astounding fete for anyone, let alone a female motorcycle driver.  She also held a record of 182 consecutive races without a DNQ – unbelievable.  Angelle retired last year and is now about to have her first baby in a month or so.

• Number 1  Shirley Muldowney – Not surprisingly, Shirley is the bellwether of women racers -  in all motorsports.  No woman racer is as consummate a leader and blazed a trail as wide and long as Shirley Muldowney has.  Ranked in the Top 5 all-time greatest drag racers, her path and shadow is huge and offers the others listed here and all other women racers, a course and direction that I’m sure will go down in the annals.  She had a hellacious accident in the 80′s that sideline her for a time but she battled back like everything else in her career.  A match-race phenom (to make money), Shirley still found time to win 3 NHRA Top Fuel Championships and is in every Hall of Fame she can be in.  What more can be said of one of greatest racers – and will probably always be #1.  Did she ever retire?
  

Yes, there are others who should be noted, such as past icons, Shirley Shahan, Lucille Lee and current women drag racers, Melanie Troxel, Erica Enders and Karen Stoffer.  On the Nostalgia side, Leah Leduc and Mendy Fry have made great strides.  Drag racing nowadays has more and more women all the time and they’re are many more coming up through the ranks.  We’re lucky.

Books on women in drag racing.

More on Shirley Muldowney.

Vote for your own favorite!

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