Fuel Racing Lesson from Fast Jack!

[The Counterfeiter]

WOW!!! Before and during final round at today's test (over an hour) Jack was in the booth talking about an amazing array of top fuel tech and driver insight.
The guy is just incredible! If you weren't there, I'm sorry you missed this.

 

[Tim5636sc]

Wonder why we are boyz? You cant shut us up! He is a walking drag racing encyclopedia. If you can stump that guy you have accomplished something that many can not. Oh he knows alot about history of other stuff like 1980's hair bands! He's a pretty fair driver as well.
If you see him tomorrow, let him know that his favorite fan, my son Andrew predicted that he would win the championship this year, so no pressure!

 

[J.C.]

I have to admit, I rarely listen to the announcers at the track.. blah, blah, blah, lol. However, when Jack started talking about downforce and how they create it on funny cars, I was captivated! I never knew those cool looking wicker bills (sp?) on the trailing inside of the front fender were there to create down force! He fed us many other interesting tidbits as well. Jack was very interesting and entertaining during the persistent downtime

 

[topdigger]

I have to admit, I rarely listen to the announcers at the track.. blah, blah, blah, lol. However, when Jack started talking about downforce and how they create it on funny cars, I was captivated! I never knew those cool looking wicker bills (sp?) on the trailing inside of the front fender were there to create down force! He fed us many other interesting tidbits as well. Jack was very interesting and entertaining during the persistent downtime

This is where Drag racing on TV lacks! If they would do good in depth tech stuff so the fan can understand what they are watchin and WHY what they are watchin is happenin, I bet the fan count might grow.NASCAR TV is excellent at this.Theu need cut away cars and stuff and need to explain this stuff to fans more often.I used to hate roundy round racin (except for dirt) now I love it because their coverage allowed me to learn to understand waht I was watchin.

 

[clwill]

This is where Drag racing on TV lacks! If they would do good in depth tech stuff so the fan can understand what they are watchin and WHY what they are watchin is happenin, I bet the fan count might grow.NASCAR TV is excellent at this.Theu need cut away cars and stuff and need to explain this stuff to fans more often.I used to hate roundy round racin (except for dirt) now I love it because their coverage allowed me to learn to understand waht I was watchin.

Well said. I wish the NHRA coverage both on TV and at the track was far more broad-based. They seem to assume everyone has the same level of knowledge of the sport -- what you could call "advanced intermediate". Yes, Bob Frey will occasionally slip in a comment explaining how qualifying works, or ESPN will show a graphic full of "rules for qualifying", but that's it.

Wouldn't it be great if they spent the time to develop a series of 2-3 minute videos that explain many aspects of the sport? Everything from beginner topics such as why do a burnout, how points are earned, what the million classes are, and so on, to far more technical concepts like why teams use a set-back blower, how SAFER barriers work, what the exact effect of density-altitude is on the various classes, and on and on. With five minutes effort you could come up with a list of 20-30 of these topics. Get smart people in the sport like Jack and AJ and... to host them. Make sure they have high production values with great graphics and cut-aways, and so on.

They could play these videos instead of the incessant repetitive advertisements during downtime and between classes at the live events, and in place of the over-and-over crash replays we get today. Also put them on the NHRA web site instead of the rough "how it works" section there.

Yes, ESPN does some of these, but they are cursory and rarely longer than a minute or so. Usually it's someone in the pits pointing at things and trying to explain as best they can. They need to be carefully written, designed, and done in a studio.

How many times have you taken a newbie to the race (or tried to explain it while watching TV or sat next to someone who's new?) and had to back up and explain all these things? As a S/C racer, I have to explain the class at every event I go to, when the cars come out and the newbie next to you goes "what the heck is this?" Once they understand how it works, almost everyone goes "wow, that's interesting, must be tough to compete."

This strategy of meeting the needs of all the fans and potential fans is crucial to expanding and keeping the base. NASCAR has done a great job of this, NHRA can and should too.

 

[Gipraw]

or even some of those cheesy animated videos that Skuza used to have on his TV show ..

 

[clwill]

or even some of those cheesy animated videos that Skuza used to have on his TV show ..

Exactly! The one they did of how timing works was great, I brought my wife and kids in the room to see it. They understood immediately.

 

[GregM784]

Don't the powers that be say that drag racing is hard to broadcast because of oil downs? this would be the PERFECT answer to the delays. Have 30 minutes of these ready.

Then bump the between round time back to 90 minutes.

 

[.]

Fast Jack would make a great color commentator if Mike Dunn moves on to bigger and better things. Mike Dunn often signs autographs as "Mike Dunn ESPN"; my kid told Fast Jack that he thought he did a really good job announcing on Saturday; Fast Jack said to my son that maybe if he is ready to retire from Funny Car someday and if ESPN has an opening, he could get a job with them; he signed my kid's blower belt "Fast Jack Beckman - ESPN 2017". Lewis Bloom, in the tower, was a nice touch on Saturday as well.

 

[Mooseman]

They should make the event broadcast just like the old main event video dvds , up close and personal camera shots , over the top overwhelming sound and noise , interview with the drivers and crew cheifs where they explain what goes on between runs and how everything works . Exactly like the old main event video stuff , watch NITRO WARRIORS and you will now what I mean.

 

[Nunz]

I haven't met him yet, but just from his interviews on TV you can't help but like the guy. I think he gives some of the best interviews out there, he's very smooth, humorous and knowledgeable. Best of all, you know deep down he's just an addict like the rest of us!

 

[Tim5636sc]

Calling my shot...next year, if I can convince him to do it, Jack WILL win the war stories shootout on competitionplus.com!
Just ask Greg Stanley!
I know that i always Pimp up the guy, but Jack IS the real deal! Wouldnt you agree Mr Williams?
I am sure many of us have our own great fast jack stories!

 

[clwill]

I know that i always Pimp up the guy, but Jack IS the real deal! Wouldnt you agree Mr Williams?

Absolutely. Though there have been people here and elsewhere who gripe about "buying a ride", Jack is simply a pure racer. He's infinitely passionate about the sport, and will drive anything. The day we bought the car (from Jenna and him) he spent the day bouncing between leaning in the cockpit imparting wisdom on my daughter, teaching me how to tune the car, making squirts in a nostalgia N/FC, signing autographs, helping the guy in the next pit change out a tranny, playing with Jason, and on and on. If you could harness that ADD, you could probably win the TA/FC title on that alone. And not a mean bone in the body...

 

[Horsepower & Heels]

I absolutely LOVE reading his blogs on NHRA.com. He is such a great and colorful story teller, that you feel like you are living it too. Kudos to one of my favorites!

 

[Gary H]

Well, there WAS one person that wasn't interested...

 

[Tim5636sc]

Look at that hair! Dude is bringing back the mullet of 03' back! I would run away too if i were that kid too!

 

[Tony]

Good and versatile driver, cancer survivor, fan-friendly, a gearhead, articulate, humble and energetic. But what I admire the most about Jack Beckman is his willingness to blame himself for a bad run in front of the ESPN top-end cameras. If Jack screws up, he admits it and won't blame the race car, or the track prep, or his crew chief or crew members, unlike a former DSR funny car driver.

 

[HotRodCrazyBob]

Absolutely. Though there have been people here and elsewhere who gripe about "buying a ride", Jack is simply a pure racer. He's infinitely passionate about the sport, and will drive anything. The day we bought the car (from Jenna and him) he spent the day bouncing between leaning in the cockpit imparting wisdom on my daughter, teaching me how to tune the car, making squirts in a nostalgia N/FC, signing autographs, helping the guy in the next pit change out a tranny, playing with Jason, and on and on. If you could harness that ADD, you could probably win the TA/FC title on that alone. And not a mean bone in the body...

DITTO!

What he said!