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Bir 2013

Registered member said:
hard to find an older BIR race where john force didn't win.
here's one of em'
.....from a much simpler time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejzHBixdZuY&list=PLcShOw025ClsBzSTnzJR3ov2hmdkvbbDZ

and the infamous 1988 northstar nats. (the zoo at it's wildest point ever ;))
25 years ago, i really can't believe it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mDCUCE_DUw
Click to expand...






Joey Tomato wins both in top fuel. 1988 was one of the best finals ever in my opinion, any time, any track.

1992 Was his 5th final in a row there, won 'em all but 91 when he lost to KB on a Holeshot. That loss was a tough one, he had just come off from sweeping the swing, and was looking for 4 wins in a row. (In the season, and at BIR)



I remember 1992 very clearly. Lot's of cars were running 4.8s and 4.9s. Joe was stuck in the 5.0's. I was sitting on the tower side when Amato and KB ran their round. As they came up to where I was, KB broke the camshaft and banged the blower. I was only 12 then, but I can still picture that run in my head.

I was standing by Joe in the winner circle after the race, and a reporter asked Joe how many 4's he had run that weekend (Knowing full well he had not run in the 4's at all. It was a big story since Joe had made the first 4 second pass there in 1990) Anyway, after the question, Joe didn't miss a beat, and told him "4 win-lights!"


1990 is my favorite year from BIR. Cooler weekend, seemed to be misting Sunday on and off. Lot's of cars had run 5.03, 5.02, 5.01 all weekend. Nobody had run in the 4's at BIR yet, but lots of people were getting close. Joe had to run Ormsby in the semi-final. The general stepped on it a little bit, and sure enough 4.99 came up. Before the final, I spent a lot of time running between Joes and Frank Bradleys pits. Even though I was only 10 at the time, I knew something was up with Bradley. The engine was all apart, and they didn't seem to be working all that fast putting it together. I ran back and told Joe, I was pretty sure he was going to get a single in the final. He got on his pedal bike, made a quick run and back. Bradley has pulled a head stud on his last engine, and was done. Joe went on for his single, and ran 4.97, even quicker. The place went nuts!!! More importantly for me, that was my grandpas first race. He was very impressed with the sights and sounds.


 
Last edited:
great story paul, knew you'd like those two old videos w/amato winning both.
remember 1990 all too well also, being a bradley fan i was enjoying a great day
@ races watching frank marching all the way to final only to hurt his last bullet
and had to watch joe take the solo win......frank was up there on the starting
line watching joe.....i believe in the semis frank put up a 5.00 or 5.01, just missing the 4's,
then the next pair in semis joe ran that first BIR 4.
those races are 20+ years old but i still remember them like yesterday too.

best revenge for frank was a few years later taking the gwynn's la victoria
sponsored, mike dunn driven tf'r to the winners circle....what a great day that
was too.
 
Registered member said:
great story paul, knew you'd like those two old videos w/amato winning both.
remember 1990 all too well also, being a bradley fan i was enjoying a great day
@ races watching frank marching all the way to final only to hurt his last bullet
and had to watch joe take the solo win......frank was up there on the starting
line watching joe.....i believe in the semis frank put up a 5.00 or 5.01, just missing the 4's,
then the next pair in semis joe ran that first BIR 4.
those races are 20+ years old but i still remember them like yesterday too.

best revenge for frank was a few years later taking the gwynn's la victoria
sponsored, mike dunn driven tf'r to the winners circle....what a great day that
was too.
Click to expand...

Great memories here too of 1990, Mike and Paul. I remember that event being smoking hot weather on Thursday with temps in the mid 90's and lots of humidity (my brother and I were there all four days, as on Thursday they ran an alcohol session) and by Sunday, temps had dropped into the upper 50's and was rather windy. It was the last time I didn't bring a pair of pants and a sweatshirt to the track. We were downright freezing. Bruce Larson had a huge fire in his funny car during Saturday qualifying, and I think Force might have too. It was the first time I brought a video camera to the track and I caught Larson's fire on video. We ran the battery down on the video camera replaying the video over and over for everyone around us, lol.
 
Yup, Larson melted one pretty bad. Didn't have a back up body, had to borrow one from KC Spurlock. Force had a fire also, cameback to win the race.
 
Registered member said:
Yup, Larson melted one pretty bad. Didn't have a back up body, had to borrow one from KC Spurlock. Force had a fire also, cameback to win the race.
Click to expand...

yep. Watched Larson's crew get that body converted over to mount onto his chassis. Took a little doing. Wasn't like they could just haul it over to their pit stall and just drop it on.
 
I need to scan my pictures from that race. If I remember correctly, one of Saturday's Pro sessions took about 3 hours because of the fires and oildowns. I have a great pic of Shirley losing every molecule of oil from her engine.
 
definitely remember the FC fires that year.....and other memories

bernstein runs over crew after burnout
ormsby wheelies into guardrail, ends up using 3 chassis that year i think?
tony christian beats world conquerer glidden in PS
jim yates wins first PS race ever (dynomax car)
john force wins @ BIR more than any other track
joe amato about the same
eddie hill wins in '93 on a monday i think? (the year he took the title)
vandergriff out on cory mac on way to first win until front wheels come way up (jerzees)
scelzi/smith tf accident
schumacher runs 337
jason line wins stock elim. somewhere in early 90's on way to stock elim. crown that year
annual chute failures end up safe as cars take turn 1
and of course the greatest FC year just a few years ago when Bob Bode took it all :cool:
sure i'm missing a few
 
Pro Stock Motorcycle's Mt. Rushmore. From the 1997 event.
9479190333_2d33d3a71b_c.jpg
 
nice photo...who's behind?
tony p. / white b. / john f. / ? / randy anderson / chuck e. / cruzer / freddy neely? / tom h.
 
From the BIR 2012 discussion 23 Top Fuel Entries last year.

Only 19 this year, but I can't find the list from last year (NHRA website is a broken link). Who are the missing 4... or 5 considering Brittany Force is a rookie.
 
Off the top of my head, thinking these 4-

Scott Palmer- Not coming , I know that.
Bruce Litton- Always ran this race with event sponsorship, (Lucas) not 2013.
Dom Lagana - Running less races with sponsor loss.
Keith Murt- Just bought his own track, cut back on races.
 
Last edited:
paul smith helped murt two years ago @ BIR, most likely last year too; is helping alexander this year. (wonder if he could do
double duty at one race if asked?)
IMO to see anything over 18-19 cars per pro class at any nat. event other than indy surprises me; as an independent 20+
cars really decreases your chance of being paid anything.
 
Registered member said:
Off the top of my head, thinking these 4-

Scott Palmer- Not coming , I know that.
Bruce Litton- Always ran this race with event sponsorship, (Lucas) not 2013.
Dom Lagana - Running less races with sponsor loss.
Keith Murt- Just bought his own track, cut back on races.
Click to expand...
Paul, the Laganas will be helping on Bodes car this weekend.
 
Registered member said:
Paul, the Laganas will be helping on Bodes car this weekend.
Click to expand...

Sweet!!! I know they always have a good time back at Judge's with everybody. I think it's nice for them, they can blend in and party a little more then say, Shoe or Antron.

Maybe some of that horsepower from their recent 330 mph run they made will rub off on Bob's car. :D
 
Registered member said:
paul smith helped murt two years ago @ BIR, most likely last year too; is helping alexander this year. (wonder if he could do
double duty at one race if asked?)
IMO to see anything over 18-19 cars per pro class at any nat. event other than indy surprises me; as an independent 20+
cars really decreases your chance of being paid anything.
Click to expand...

I bet if they paid 17-18 like Half of First round money, you would see more cars!
 
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