Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Without a doubt the most fun at one event we ever had. HOT is an understatement but it was WELL worth it. I Still wear the T shirt. Earlville could be a good location in the Fall.
I hope some group would take on that project. Good Luck I might drive there just to volunteer to work.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

WOW 10 YEARS!

It was truly a race I will never forget!

THE BEST DARN S/SS RACE EVER!!! HANDS DOWN!!!

I'd L.O.V.E. To see another one!

I think, I still have sweat running down my neck from that race;) Man it was H-O-T!!

Glen DeMenge

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

It was indeed the greatest race for S/SS'ers!!! Oh, and it WAS HOT!!! Oh, the stories from that race!!! I went with Rich Oakes and Mike Ridgway. Broke the duallie before we hit Maple Grove in PA! Another racer brought theirs out for us to use. And the stories continue from there......

I still have a "New-in-the-Bag" Class Nationals T-Shirt!! The only other shirt I have like that is the "First In The Nines" (on the scoreboard) Bobby DeArmond shirt! Two Classics!

THANKS ALEX AND CREW!!!
wow, 10 years......

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Memories...our woodstock....got there about midnight, lost, finally at some intersection we spotted a small sign to dragstrip....pitted in a field....hot hot hot....quick 32, car wouldn't run in the heat, class pics in another field...too many time trials....needed Pro filler cars (!).....standing in the food line next to Larry Hill, someone said he played in NBA once....still not sure.....did I say HOT.....thanks to Red and all the crew.....the place flat out hooked every time....still can't get over the shut down and exit area...we booked a Howard Johnson's, and room was wide open, sheets and white powder all over room...went to desk, was told room was out-of-service and they couldn't get in the last few days, waiting for locksmith!?

I watched Alex D get TV interview & he was worn out....he took too much underserved criticism from a few that didn't feel it went as advertised....I hope some of these posts assure him that the majority appreciated his efforts

a job well done

Thanks Alex

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

I was at a points meet and Alex asked me to take my two stockers to his event. How can anyone say no to Alex....I drove my G/SA 69 Camaro (which the week before Tony Goodman went 8 rounds with it at Mid Michigan) and I also took my freshly built 86 Camaro (now owned by Matt A.) and I think that was J/SA...Alex and Tony meet us at the gate and thank us for coming. Michael Beard was there taking a ton of photos...GM had a big semi rig there and lucky for me, Holley was there as my J/SA puked an electric fuel pump....nothing like changing a fuel pump in one of the hottest and stickest days of my life...If you buy the video you can see they called G/SA class first as that class had the most entrants....As usual, when they called G/SA I was the first one there....watch the video...They ran one race over twice and it was me....my second bulb was burnt out and they said "get back up there and run over"...it was the same outcome...the PONTIAC got me on the top end..
My J/SA had no chance as the motor we ran at that event was a real stocker and I mean stock..I think we had to run a 12.75 or something and if the heat was gone we could have done it...the driver of the J/SA ran a "hitter" with an injected Pontiac and he got lucky as my driver had a .00? light but could only run a 12.91 ( A week later at the IHRA Northern Nationals at Stanton it ran a 12.32)
we were parked in the dust bowl along with a 57 Chevy ( he admitted in the post before me....I love that car) with fenderwell headers.....I love those cars and those headers but they sure make a mess...
I think it was Jeff T. who bought a real nice supper for everyone and it was appreaciated. I remember several racers leaving before eliminations on Sunday as it was predicted to be hotter than Saturday with no chance of cloud cover. After we both lost we stuck around for a while on Sunday. I drove straight from Bryon Dragway to Holland with the AIR CONDITIONER wide open all the way...my tow vehicle had cloth seats and it was soaked..
I would love to go again only try September? I've had a few people tell me that I should try it....I even thought about it seriously then I came to my senses...I still have my Class Nationals Licence Plate ....If anyone wants Plates or T-Shirts, I think Jeff Lee (formerly of IHRA) or his dad, Fred Lee still has some...

Phil

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Thanks for starting this thread ,Mike. I meant to get one going. I didn't realize the date was upon us already.
Hot it was alright. Not just the numbers like here , but the humidity was sky-high over there in corn country. I remember starting my generator in the m/h when I was about an hour away because the dash air and refrigerator couldn't keep up . I never shut it off the whole time we were there. I never do that normally. You couldn't even sit outside in the shade.
Non stop time trials, seven ladder sheets for Stock, cars called for first round by ladder sheet 1, 2, etc, flat out racing, Top Stock, Nostalgia Super Stockers, free party at the clubhouse, Tequila shots with _____, ( I'll leave out the names) Great time and memories.
It truly was the Woodstock of S/SS racing.
I doubt it will ever happen again, to that magnitude.
I tried to get a West Coast version started out here the week before the Phx Nat's in October... I didn't get one reply on here ???

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

I was talking to Alex today about something unrelated, and I looked at this tall trophy I got (only race I ever won) and again told Alex what a great race it was, and how much everyone appreciated it. Maybe again? Who knows. There are too many stories to tell about the race, but Alex you did it and it was great. I will go again when you have the next one, but I will bring more cars next time.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

It is still one of the best races I raced at even though my car would't fall out of a tree, It never ran good in the heat anyway. We had a really good time, met many new faces, and never forgot the race. Also Jeff bought dinner and I don't remember if I said thanks then, but I am now. If was funny how many golf carts were driven to the golf course for the dinner.

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

Jeff what a GREAT JOB you did.. I was there and will always remember "HELL" of a DAY

Re: 10 years ago today--U.S. Class Nationals
 

It truly was an unforgettable event. It was the first time I'd ever been east of Idaho. Flew into Chicago with my 2 sons on Thursday night and when I stepped off the plane I turned around and said"What the hell is this?" as my shirt stuck to me instantly,,also the first time I'd heard the term "Heat Index".
I thought it was neat that they honored Al Provoast by letting him make the first pass, and then called every stick car on the property to the lanes,,over 60 of them if I remember correctly.
The class elims were great and its still the only Top Stock show I ever saw, and of course Matt had everyone covered.
At the end of the day Saturday I went and shook the hand of the video man and told him he was one bad hombre as I never saw him leave his post, even to take a leak! He said he didn't have to go as it sweat out of him all day long. I hated that we had to leave mid day Sunday to get to the airport, we left just as the raindrops started falling.
I've still got the videos, T-shirts and decals, not to mention over 300 photos that I shot.
Great memories forever,,,Thanks again Alex and crew.
Danny Durham