Re: Larry Dixon

[megadeth]

I am certainly not going to pick on Larry for being late ONCE. The guy is one of the baddest dudes to ever strap in a hot rod.

Any way you slice it, the Al Anabi team had a FANTASTIC weekend. LD got his 500th round win and Del won the race and all anyone wants to talk about is one bad bulb? Bad form in Materland tonight IMO ...

That's the point this wasn't his first time this year. Don't forget the qualifying mistake in Pamona he seems to be in a funk! Not everything posted is a kudos thread.
I also hate this current countdown crap "just stay close till it matters" takes something away from all previous events up until Indy doesn't it?
So I guess its no big deal who wins basically up until then right!

Pretty bold statement considering all the legends of the past who have won more Championships then rounds isn't it?
Don't get me wrong I'm a Dixon fan too but just like anybody who watches sports when your team or individual you root for isn't doing well it makes for good water cooler talk. It's not necessarily meant to be bashing!

 

[yoda]

I will say it again! Never questioned Tony's driving ability but if Mike Green didn't have Alan's logs that were left with the team then Tony wouldn't be were he is right now. That's just a fact! A really big fact!

Sounds like a slight at Mike's skills there, Bob....

How about assuming that Tony's a really great driver in a high dollar, first-rate race car with a crew (led by an excellent crew chief) that is just as great and they ALL possess the drive and experience to know what it takes to win races?

 

[megadeth]

Sounds like a slight at Mike's skills there, Bob....

How about assuming that Tony's a really great driver in a high dollar, first-rate race car with a crew (led by an excellent crew chief) that is just as great and they ALL possess the drive and experience to know what it takes to win races?

Fact is a fact Martin. That log is making the difference. Does Mike have the skills to be a good tuner? Absolutely! What pushed him to the next level? The Log!

The proof "How many races has he won as crewchief of a top fueler before having access to that log?"

Now how many has he won since inheriting the log?
I understand it's a new team and that takes time to gel. The car going from A to point B is determined by the tune-up isn't it? All the parts changes for every fuel team are exactly the same on every other team now isn't it?
So the deciding factor is what? The tune-up!

 

[yoda]

Fact is a fact Martin. That log is making the difference. Does Mike have the skills to be a good tuner? Absolutely! What pushed him to the next level? The Log!

The proof "How many races has he won as crewchief of a top fueler before having access to that log?"

Now how many has he won since inheriting the log?
I understand it's a new team and that takes time to gel. The car going from A to point B is determined by the tune-up isn't it? All the parts changes for every fuel team are exactly the same on every other team now isn't it?
So the deciding factor is what? The tune-up!

From 2007-

With nearly 20 years of experience, the last five with Prudhomme, Green has established himself as one of the sport's top fuel tuners. In addition to his role on Gary Ormsby's 1989 championship-winning Top Fuel team, Green has visited the winner's circle 38 times, 17 as a crew chief.

PROfile: Mike Green | Article from National Dragster | HighBeam Research

Way more than I have....

Actually, way more than MOST have....

 

[megadeth]

From 2007-

PROfile: Mike Green | Article from National Dragster | HighBeam Research

Way more than I have....

Actually, way more than MOST have....

O.K. with Ormsby he was an Assistant. 17 time winner in how many years? Some were as a Funny Car tuner for the Snake.
How many championships as sole Crew Chief?
How many times do you hear what most gauge their success off of? Is it round wins?, Races won? or Championships? I'm going with the latter. As I said before he has been doing this for a long time do I hope he wins a championship? Absolutely! I love to see first timers win anything for that matter and he's a fine tuner but not championship caliber until he does that it will be my assesment. Try to remember it's just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions!
You can't tell me that log hasn't helped his chances now can you?

 

[vegasnitro]

That's the point this wasn't his first time this year. Don't forget the qualifying mistake in Pamona he seems to be in a funk! Not everything posted is a kudos thread.

First of all, I agree that not every thread has to be a kudos thread.

BUT, I think we need to see more evidence of a problem from someone of Larry's caliber before we start piling on. Especially on the weekend he became only the 7th driver in history to get 500 round wins.

They may not have qualified at Pomona (certainly not all Larry's fault) and Larry may have cut a bab bulb yesterday, but in between they went a whole bunch of rounds and won Gainesville and they are a threat to win every time they pull through the gates.

LD is going to be just fine.

 

[Randy]

I will say it again! Never questioned Tony's driving ability but if Mike Green didn't have Alan's logs that were left with the team then Tony wouldn't be were he is right now. That's just a fact! A really big fact!

You are kidding, right?

 

[vegasnitro]

The proof "How many races has he won as crewchief of a top fueler before having access to that log?"

I agree having the log is a good reference, but you have to know what to do with that information and apply it to current track conditions.

I can read medical books til the cows come home, doesn't make me a doctor.

Are you also willing to attribute Capps' early success to Ed McCulloch having access to the same information? Doesn't it make sense that DSR would share that tuneup info across the whole team?

 

[Nunz]

This is a joke of a thread...

 

[clwill]

I agree having the log is a good reference, but you have to know what to do with that information and apply it to current track conditions.

Absolutely correct. Or as your financial adviser would put it: past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

[MM]

You are kidding, right?

c'mon randy....you know if you have a log you can just plug in the numbers and go right?


you've never been around a fuel-car have you Bob?

 

[megadeth]

First of all, I agree that not every thread has to be a kudos thread.

BUT, I think we need to see more evidence of a problem from someone of Larry's caliber before we start piling on. Especially on the weekend he became only the 7th driver in history to get 500 round wins.

They may not have qualified at Pomona (certainly not all Larry's fault) and Larry may have cut a bab bulb yesterday, but in between they went a whole bunch of rounds and won Gainesville and they are a threat to win every time they pull through the gates.

LD is going to be just fine.

I'm sure that Larry will be fine thats not what I'm refering too. Larry very rarely gets left on and so far it's happened 3 times this year.
Bristol and these 2 : Atlanta (W) Cory McClenathan (Fram Dragster) 0.090 3.865 313.44
(L) Larry Dixon (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster) 0.109 3.846 315.27

Houston (W) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster) 0.082 3.895 310.91
(L) Larry Dixon (Al-Anabi Racing Dragster) 0.104 3.889 307.02


I'm a Larry Dixon fan and want to see him win I'm sure when he gets throught this slump they will give everybody fits.
I just want to see it happen sooner rather than later.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Slam on LD all you want, boys. I've said it all year and I'll say it again; It's just a matter of time...........

Sean D

 

[Bullet]

This is a joke of a thread...

^^^ Nothing else needs to be said! Nunzio got it in one!

 

[Randy]

c'mon randy....you know if you have a log you can just plug in the numbers and go right?

Yep!

For the rest, the problem with relying on a "log" is that, besides changing conditions (weather, for one) the tracks change with age, the tires and clutch discs look round but they have a mind all their own as batches change, NHRA makes a little rules change and that screws up everything, and each blower has a mind of it's own. Then there are the chassis. They are like snow flakes. Every one is "slightly" different in terms of tune-up.

I think everyone figured the first run out of the box at Pomona the Al-Anabi team was going to rip off some 3.70's at 330 MPH. Alan and crew had only slight hurdles to overcome...like new chassis, new clutch discs, new fuel systems, management, etc. Absolutely everything that would be considered an issue for an already existing team if only just one of these items on the list had to be sorted out. But for Al-Anabi all of this is lumped together. It's like you had a great running car and the whole thing burned to the ground on Interstate 10, transporter and all, And now you're trying to make a come back. The new driver (least significant in terms of "getting the bugs out") is also under a lot of pressure because he knows anything with Alan Johnson's name somewhere on it is supposed to be "bad azz" from the get go.

I'm sure Alan was very up front with the Sheik about the tremendous task of starting a new team from nothing and the level of expectations from the media and those who have never run a car before. I'm sure if you asked any of the other crew chief's out there they will tell you they feel it's only a matter of time before the team and tune-up comes together.

RG

.

 

[megadeth]

I agree having the log is a good reference, but you have to know what to do with that information and apply it to current track conditions.

I can read medical books til the cows come home, doesn't make me a doctor.

Are you also willing to attribute Capps' early success to Ed McCulloch having access to the same information? Doesn't it make sense that DSR would share that tuneup info across the whole team?

Not a good example Chris. If you were a doctor and read those books then you could apply it. Same goes for Mike he is a Crew Chief with access to 5 years worth of info from an 8 time Top Fuel champion Crew Chief covering just about every different type of conditions i.e. weather, humidity, track temp etc... That makes a big difference with the calls on race day wouldn’t you think?
Do you think he changed the set up of the car from what Alan was running or just continuing the winning formula? I’m assuming the latter.
Everybody always pulls the proverbial "have you been around a fuel car" rabbit out of their hat when the results speak for themselves.
As for Capps and Ed they have their own tune-up they chose to be more aggressive and its paying off. Of course they share info Don has stated that many times it's a well known fact.
Once again it’s my opinion doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t make it wrong either relax people.

 

[megadeth]

Slam on LD all you want, boys. I've said it all year and I'll say it again; It's just a matter of time...........

Sean D

Nobody is slamming anybody. Just wondering why he is off his game. He is still one of the best shoes out there.

 

[Lori]

Sounds like a slight at Mike's skills there, Bob....

How about assuming that Tony's a really great driver in a high dollar, first-rate race car with a crew (led by an excellent crew chief) that is just as great and they ALL possess the drive and experience to know what it takes to win races?

Martin,
I agree. Don't forget how well Cory did under Mike Green last year. They also have Lee Beard as team manager or whatever his title is. Lee knows his stuff quite well. I think the entire team deserves credit.

 

[megadeth]

c'mon randy....you know if you have a log you can just plug in the numbers and go right?


you've never been around a fuel-car have you Bob?

Then answer me this Mike why is it so important to save all the data? Hmmmm

They save everything from test sessions to qualifying to race day now why is that?
You can't de-value that type of info. I'm sure any other Crew Chief in Top fuel would love to have access to that info and would be better off because of it don't kid yourself!

 

[MM]

Then answer me this Mike why is it so important to save all the data? Hmmmm

They save everything from test sessions to qualifying to race day now why is that?
You can't de-value that type of info. I'm sure any other Crew Chief in Top fuel would love to have access to that info and would be better off because of it don't kid yourself!

it's nice to have that information as a point of reference but the idea that you can take any crew chiefs notes and just plug it in to any setup and immediately be as successful as Mike Green and the Army team have been this year is ridiculous