Dave Wallace's Last Column (1 Viewer)

[ProStockJunkie]

::: DRO ::: Now and Then - The Last Column - 12/8/06

Listen to the ranting and raving of one of those dinosaurs whom this columnist swore he’d never become; going on and on about the good ol’ days, when a starter ruled the starting line and the best parking spaces went to the early birds, instead of to sponsors, celebrities and Top Eliminator Clubbers.

 

[megadeth]

Dave is a great guy. I can totally understand his dilema. I usually sit with him when he shows up at Sonoma or Pomona and he does have a valid point about the state of drag racing.
I was fortunate to be in Pomona when his Dad was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the NHRA Museum Dave and his brother were so proud it was cool to see.

 

[Nick Name]

I remember him as the Drag News kid at San Fernando. We have e-mails back and forth about those days.

Jay

 

[Toejam]

I've admired some of Dave's work in the past, but this Pouting over the fact that Drag racing's no longer like it was in the 60's is Tired as F**k! If the Goodguys don't get your Rocks off you may as well find something else brutha!

 

[ProStockJunkie]

I don't really see anything wrong with 'pouting' over the days when things were much more simple and exciting, the 'little guy' had a chance and the fields in all eliminators were much bigger.

Guess you'll just have to wait until all of us 'old timers' who experienced the golden days of drag racing die out, because I'm quite sure someone will still be complaining until that day. Then I suppose the 'pout d'jour' will be about how much better drag racing was before the "chase for the championship" got introduced, so we could mimic NASCAR instead of drag racing standing on it's own merits.

 

[Harry Mannback]

I remember the good old days, and in some ways I miss them. However, so much has changed, from the price of running a car to the cost of the strip itself. I just don't see how it could have stayed the same. I miss the old days but I look forward to the new stuff too. If things don't change, people loose interest. Used to love it, still do.

 

[vegasnitro]

I've admired some of Dave's work in the past, but this Pouting over the fact that Drag racing's no longer like it was in the 60's is Tired as F**k!

DING DING DING we have a winner.

 

[Nick Name]

How would you guys like to hook up with three or four of your buddies and run a top fuel car out of your paychecks. Then you would have a different outlook on it. Now you are all just spectators.

Jay

 

[Toejam]

I don't really see anything wrong with 'pouting' over the days when things were much more simple and exciting, the 'little guy' had a chance and the fields in all eliminators were much bigger.

Guess you'll just have to wait until all of us 'old timers' who experienced the golden days of drag racing die out, because I'm quite sure someone will still be complaining until that day. Then I suppose the 'pout d'jour' will be about how much better drag racing was before the "chase for the championship" got introduced, so we could mimic NASCAR instead of drag racing standing on it's own merits.

Jackie, you don't think JR Todd winning 3 races the "Little guy"? I wonder how many low-buck racers back in the day complained that they couldn't compete with Garlits or Prudhomme?

Now before everyone Jumps my ass, I'm not criticizing everyone who enjoys the Nostalgia racing, not at all. But I do get tired of all the "Way it used to be" stuff, and how us fans today have NO idea what real Drag is. I've seen Burnout and American Nitro among other movies. The tracks and facilities they ran on were Dumps for the Most part. If you don't think this sports come a long way you haven't been to the track in years. If the Goodguys series is what it takes for you to enjoy this sport so be it.

 

[T.Smith]

How would you guys like to hook up with three or four of your buddies and run a top fuel car out of your paychecks. Then you would have a different outlook on it. Now you are all just spectators.

Jay

Jay, I could not have said it any better.

 

[Rocketman 207]

How would you guys like to hook up with three or four of your buddies and run a top fuel car out of your paychecks. Then you would have a different outlook on it. Now you are all just spectators.

Jay

Post of the day.....

 

[vegasnitro]

I wonder how many low-buck racers back in the day complained that they couldn't compete with Garlits or Prudhomme?

Now before everyone Jumps my ass, I'm not criticizing everyone who enjoys the Nostalgia racing, not at all. But I do get tired of all the "Way it used to be" stuff, and how us fans today have NO idea what real Drag is. I've seen Burnout and American Nitro among other movies. The tracks and facilities they ran on were Dumps for the Most part. If you don't think this sports come a long way you haven't been to the track in years. If the Goodguys series is what it takes for you to enjoy this sport so be it.

Right on Joe. My Dad has the same problem, he tends to look at Drag Racing in the 60's thru rose colored glasses and give me the spiel about 32 car fields and how cheap everything was compared to now. Well guess what, EVERYTHING was cheaper in the 60's, not just racing. The tracks were dumps. There was no TV. You had to wait for coverage in Hot Rod magazine 3 months after the event. And when they had 32 car fields, how many of the 32 cars were really competitive? I may be "only a spectator", so take Don Prudhomme's word for it, not mine. He will tell you how much better drag racing is now any time you ask him.

BTW, I would love to hook up with 3 or 4 of my buddies and run a fuel car. But none of us have that kind of scratch. So ... I do the next best thing, I buy a ticket to several events a year to support the guys "living the dream", and it seems to me that things only get better every year (as far as the on track product, facilities and the smoothness with which national events are run).

EDIT: removed smart assed remark due to my deplorable reading comprehension skillz.

 

[Toejam]

How would you guys like to hook up with three or four of your buddies and run a top fuel car out of your paychecks. Then you would have a different outlook on it. Now you are all just spectators.

Jay

Isn't that why they have Alky Dragster/FC, Comp eliminator and the Super Classes, So each racer can run his/her budget? I'm still waiting to hear how you make TF/FC affordable to the average John Doe.

 

[Rollout96]

Isn't that why they have Alky Dragster/FC, Comp eliminator and the Super Classes, So each racer can run his/her budget? I'm still waiting to hear how you make TF/FC affordable to the average John Doe.

I agree with you Joe but I think the point that some are trying to make is that you USED to be able to get together with buddies and actually run a T/F car. My dad and his buddies got into it right at the point it was getting too expensive for that.

We see that "yearning for the old days" in practically every portion of our lives. I guess we can call it the greener grass syndrome!!

 

[Rocketman 207]

I think the point that some are trying to make is that you USED to be able to get together with buddies and actually run a T/F car.

BINGO!!!

 

[vegasnitro]

I agree with you Joe but I think the point that some are trying to make is that you USED to be able to get together with buddies and actually run a T/F car.

Oh, then I completely misunderstood what Jay Eshbach was saying. I thought he was saying spectators don't know sh!t since they have never run a fuel car, not that if it was still 1960 we could actually afford to run our own fuel car. I will go back and edit my post and virtually flog myself on these here interwebs.

However, I still stand by the notion that even though I can't afford to do it now as many people could 40 years ago, that doesn't mean fuel drag racing isn't better now, because in every facet, it certainly is better now.

 

[Toejam]

I agree with you Joe but I think the point that some are trying to make is that you USED to be able to get together with buddies and actually run a T/F car. My dad and his buddies got into it right at the point it was getting too expensive for that.

We see that "yearning for the old days" in practically every portion of our lives. I guess we can call it the greener grass syndrome!!

Jay that applys to just about any Form of Motorsport. Costs will always continue to rise whether it's Drag racing or Circletrack.

 

[None]

I've admired some of Dave's work in the past, but this Pouting over the fact that Drag racing's no longer like it was in the 60's is Tired as F**k! If the Goodguys don't get your Rocks off you may as well find something else brutha!

I'm wonder if any of you understood what he was writing. I'd love to see a top end interview with Pat Foster than these little cookie cutter speeches naming sponsors until they cut the interview off or fall asleep. Other than speed and et, todays racing is pretty bland. The nitro classes can't even get competitive field of 16 cars at any one race and didn't have a full field at least at one event this past season. How many of you were around in the 60's? How many were at Long Beach when the fog came in and you couldn't see the top end? How many were at Bakersfield when Kalitta's push car ran out of gas but the car fired anyway? Up until the rear engine cars took over, drag racing was the sport of kings, even if they were Road Kings.

 

[Sully]

Yup, you are right, things aren't like they used to be - and they never were. Used to be able to run 7.90s at 200 mph on a working-man's salary. Still can, but not in Top Fuel.

 

[Rocketman 207]

Drag racing's early days were full of (Burbank) Road Kings...
Don Prudhomme...Tommy Ivo...
Bob "Floyd Lippencotte" Muravez...Don Gaide...Kenny Safford...
Tom Mc Courry...Cederquist Bros....
Jimmy "Magic Muffler" Miles...Don "The Beachcomber" Johnson...
Jerry "Rainbow's End" Sater...Stan Dalton....just to name a few!

Including...Richard "Fiasco Automotive" Johnson...
"Who put the tune on? FIASCO!" Tony Nancy, "Hollywood Knights"