Blast from my past pics.

[BrianT]

from about 1970

 

[mike]

Cory McClenathan was approaching the finish line at near 300 mph when his dragster's engine exploded, causing shrapnel to puncture the left rear tire. You can see the supercharger rotors above the cockpit and the remains of the tire at the right of the picture. Cory was able to stop the car without hitting the guard wall. If my memory serves me correctly, this was 1992 in Brainerd, Minnesota. National Dragster's Marc Gerwertz got a nearly identical picture as he was standing beside me.

1993 Brent. This was a few months after his nasty accident at the rock.

Thanks for posting these photos. Very cool.

Regards,

Michael

 

[steve]

If I remember right it was shortly after this that Jimmy Prock invented the skid pads on the bottom of the chassis. I saw this car back at the shop in California after this happened and he was talking about a way to save the chassis should he lose another tire.

 

[Bubba]

1993 Brent. This was a few months after his nasty accident at the rock.

Thanks for posting these photos. Very cool.

Regards,

Michael

Thanks for the year correction. I do remember this happened on Monday morning as Sunday was rained-out. This race was in the second round and Cory, with a lot of help, was able to return for the semis.

 

[Bullet]

1993 Brent. This was a few months after his nasty accident at the rock.

Thanks for posting these photos. Very cool.

Regards,

Michael

Correct, his '92 car was blue with chequers.

 

[NitroRichFire]

Thanks Brent and Brian for posting your pictures, kind of like being in a time machine, great pics guys!

 

[mick]

First round, Top Fuel Eliminator, 1997 Champion Auto Stores Nationals, Brainerd, MN. Fuel line fails, causing Gary Scelzi's dragster to loose traction, allowing opponent, Vicky Fanning an easy win.

was this scelzi's rookie year?

how times change - red and white / budweiser and winston........
those were the days.

thanks for the old BIR pics brent - very cool.........i was somewhere in
all of them also (except monday shot of cory's)

 

[Toejam]

It's funny how 15-20 year old pics take on a nostalgia bent! Who says you had to be around this sport in the 60's to have good memories!

 

[Speed1288]

It's funny how 15-20 year old pics take on a nostalgia bent! Who says you had toe around this sport in the 60's to have good memories!

Haha very true, for someone my age (21) Those cars are nostalgia and the ones I grew up around loving

 

[flapjack]

I have a hero card from John Force, circa 1987. It has not been treated well
by me, so I don't know how high of quality of a scan I'll get out of it.

Force + Ford fans: this is before Tasca, Sr. converted him to running a Ford.
And the sponsorship was red and white (Coca Cola, of all things).

I'll get the scan done ASAP and post it...

 

[flapjack]

Going further back, I remember there being a Pepsi Challenge booth at the races.

 

[Bullet]

First round, Top Fuel Eliminator, 1997 Champion Auto Stores Nationals, Brainerd, MN. Fuel line fails, causing Gary Scelzi's dragster to loose traction, allowing opponent, Vicky Fanning an easy win.

Man, this picture is so old even the GOODYEAR on the rear tires is printed in white!!

 

[mike]

was this scelzi's rookie year?

Yes it was Mike.

Regards,

Michael.

 

[TooTall999]

Going further back, I remember there being a Pepsi Challenge booth at the races.

My first national event was Englishtown in 1982...I remember the Pepsi challenge being there...with really long lines...it was when the Summernationals were run in July...really hot and humid

 

[Buns]

Great pics! This is nostalgia for me being 28.

 

[mick]

Tommy Johnson Jr, blasts off from the starting line. Location: Brainerd, MN. I can't recall the year I took this photo, but I returned next year with the print and had Tommy autograph it.

seem to remember a BIR rainout that was won by eddie hill and even more
of a guess to say tj may have been in other lane?

 

[Bubba]

Brainerd International Raceway, 1984. The first NHRA national event I attended with press credentials. In the near lane, the guy who would teach me how to drive a dragster thirty-one years later, Frank Hawley.

 

[mick]

old BIR pics in december.....love it.....thanks brent

 

[rckymtn3]

Connie Kalitta had stated that had he had the Big tires on in Houston '89 he wouldn't have crashed the Guardrail like he did which almost killed him!

That was one of those wrecks where I felt sore just watching it. He could have hit anything else but that k-rail, and he would have been better off.

 

[Bubba]

old BIR pics in december.....love it.....thanks brent

You're welcome, Mike.