"Live" from our Southwestern Swing

[Ed Wright]

Sprinkled on us just as I came out of the water box for today's SS Q1/Q-only. Shut us off for maybe two minutes. It stopped so we fired them back up and ran. Still windy as heck. Round 1 of Stock is done. Super Gas just ran first pair. Just called Top Dragster to the lanes.

[Larry Hill]

Well we made it thru the 1st round. We had a broke single. Larry had a .009 light, so we have started out our trip very well. As Ed said, it sprinkled just a little, but the sun is shining and they are moving everything along quickly. Hopefully we will get in a couple of more rounds today. I think they are going to run until it starts raining. I am going to try and get a few more pics this afternoon.

[Mike Fuller]

Second round winner! Go Larry Go!!!!

[Larry Hill]

Thanks, Mike. Yeah, we made it thru the 2nd round. It has just started raining here. I think they finished up the 2nd round of Super Stock, too. We are on hold for the moment. The radar doesn't look good right now. I made a few pics that I will post in a while.

[Ed Wright]

Feels like ice water down on us now.
Got round two of SS in.

[Mike Fuller]

Radar looks like you guy's are down for the night. Rest and relax and enjoy Patsy's indoor kitchen.

[Larry Hill]

Here are a couple of shots from today:


Here is the big tower here at Thunder Valley

[Larry Hill]

This picture was taken from the stands. The horses are closer to the racetrack on their side than I was on my side!


Harry McCurry J/SA The car is owned by Ed Dobson.


Jimmy Hutto's AA/SA with Walter

[Larry Hill]

Brent Bratsen I/SA


Bob Sharp's car A/S


David Pearn L/SA


Scott Burton B/SA

[BobOrme]

Originally Posted by Larry Hill

Here are a couple of shots from today:


Here is the big tower here at Thunder Valley

I've spent a lot of hours in that "big" tower in recent years.

I've watched it rain quite a bit a few times. One year Bob Frey was there doing a piece for his Sportsman show at the divisional event, and there was a three hour rain delay. That was the most entertaining rain delay I've ever experienced! Bob did three straight hours of stand-up comedy. Not only is he one of the best drag racing announcers in the history of the sport, he's also one of the funniest people I've ever met.

I've seen racing delayed due to wind at Thunder Valley. I've seen that happen a few times at the Texas Motorplex too. The wind sure can blow in Texas and Oklahoma!

I was there the night Shelley Howard destroyed her TAD (and a gate) at a turnoff in the shutdown area. That was a very scary crash, but she walked away from it unhurt.

Heaven help you if race day activities end at the same time as a Sooner home football game ends. That little 4-mile stretch of highway 9 to I-35 can take 45 minutes to traverse when it is full of Sooner football fans.

I happen to really like the smaller drag strips like Thunder Valley. The experience, at least for me, is more intimate and friendly than it is at most larger (national event) tracks. Way too many of the smaller tracks have been closing in recent years, and that is very troubling for both racers and fans. When I see decent car counts at smaller tracks for divisional events, I can only smile. You folks really are the backbone of this sport. Your continued participation and support is greatly appreciated!