Fearless Predictions: Fast and Straight
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Courtesy Ford Drag Team
The 1969 Dan Gurney Mercury Cyclone owned by Mike Lattin of Snohomish.
Friday, July 17, 2009 | 12:01 am
Last Friday night I got a close-up view of an eternal battle that has consumed the money and time of many good people through the years.
No, not good vs. evil — it was Ford vs. Chevy at the dragstrip.
No, not good vs. evil — it was Ford vs. Chevy at the dragstrip.
That’s right, although my first racing love has always been stock cars on ovals, this past week I’ve been all about drag racing in preparation for the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent (qualifying at 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2, final eliminations at 6 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2).
To get a grass-roots feel for this type of racing, I took advantage of a long-standing offer from Car Club Challenge Association president Don Berry and vice-president Kent Magruder to check out a CCCA event at Pacific Raceways.
Berry said the CCCA, which boasts eight teams and about 200 racers, was started to help eliminate street-racing by giving drivers a controlled environment at the drag strip to show off their cars and driving abilities. The cars and the tires they race on are street-legal, many are the owner’s daily vehicle and most are driven to the track to race.
The variety of vehicles was impressive, ranging from classic muscle cars of the 1960s and 70s to today’s compacts and sport-utilities. Seeing a lot of the older cars, like Mike Lattin’s 1969 Dan Gurney Mercury Cyclone, took me back to my pre-teen years, when I would look at car magazines and dream of owning a fast ride.
The basics of drag racing — reaction time, elapsed time, breakouts and dial-ins — were all part of the event, which had a picnic-like atmosphere in the paddock. To go along with the trash-talking between the owners of various makes, there was grilled food and soft drinks out of coolers between rounds.
In addition to their Car Club offices, Berry and Magruder — who own 19 cars between them, more than I’ve had in my life — each heads up a team, which puts them front and center in the never-ending argument between which car-maker is better. Berry leads the Pacific Northwest Camaro Club and Magruder the Ford Drag Team.
There are eight different teams, including Dave Kranz’s Mopar Drag Team, listed on the club’s Web site (www.carclubchallenge.com), which includes links for interested drivers to sign up or get more information. Berry said the CCCA’s 16-event racing schedule, which runs April to September with eight races at Bremerton and eight at Pacific Raceways, is designed to be manageable during the summer months while keeping the focus on fun and competition.
To get a grass-roots feel for this type of racing, I took advantage of a long-standing offer from Car Club Challenge Association president Don Berry and vice-president Kent Magruder to check out a CCCA event at Pacific Raceways.
Berry said the CCCA, which boasts eight teams and about 200 racers, was started to help eliminate street-racing by giving drivers a controlled environment at the drag strip to show off their cars and driving abilities. The cars and the tires they race on are street-legal, many are the owner’s daily vehicle and most are driven to the track to race.
The variety of vehicles was impressive, ranging from classic muscle cars of the 1960s and 70s to today’s compacts and sport-utilities. Seeing a lot of the older cars, like Mike Lattin’s 1969 Dan Gurney Mercury Cyclone, took me back to my pre-teen years, when I would look at car magazines and dream of owning a fast ride.
The basics of drag racing — reaction time, elapsed time, breakouts and dial-ins — were all part of the event, which had a picnic-like atmosphere in the paddock. To go along with the trash-talking between the owners of various makes, there was grilled food and soft drinks out of coolers between rounds.
In addition to their Car Club offices, Berry and Magruder — who own 19 cars between them, more than I’ve had in my life — each heads up a team, which puts them front and center in the never-ending argument between which car-maker is better. Berry leads the Pacific Northwest Camaro Club and Magruder the Ford Drag Team.
There are eight different teams, including Dave Kranz’s Mopar Drag Team, listed on the club’s Web site (www.carclubchallenge.com), which includes links for interested drivers to sign up or get more information. Berry said the CCCA’s 16-event racing schedule, which runs April to September with eight races at Bremerton and eight at Pacific Raceways, is designed to be manageable during the summer months while keeping the focus on fun and competition.
NASCAR's other series get chance to shine
With the top-tier Sprint Cup Series off this weekend, it’s a good chance for the rest of NASCAR to get some attention. Both the Nationwide and Camping World Trucks series are continuing their Mid-West Swing this weekend with races on Saturday.
The Nationwide Series is at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill for the Missiouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 (6:30 p.m. on ESPN2) and the trucks are at Kentucky Speedway for the Built Ford Tough 225 (4 p.m., SPEED).
Closer to home, the Camping World Series West will be on the 1.98-mile road course at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway for the BI-MART Salute to the Troops 125 on Sunday (taped for broadcast on SPEED channel at noon on July 30).
The Nationwide Series is at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill for the Missiouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 (6:30 p.m. on ESPN2) and the trucks are at Kentucky Speedway for the Built Ford Tough 225 (4 p.m., SPEED).
Closer to home, the Camping World Series West will be on the 1.98-mile road course at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway for the BI-MART Salute to the Troops 125 on Sunday (taped for broadcast on SPEED channel at noon on July 30).
Local racing action
Skagit Speedway is closed to support the Clay Cup at Deming Speedway, but Saturday is Roll Back the Clock Night at Evergreen Speedway, with the Super Figure 8, Street Stock, Mini-Stock, Stinger 8 and Youth Hornet divisions slated to race.
Picks
For the NHRA Northwest Nationals, I’m looking to watch firsthand as Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) hoist the Wallys.
In 10 years of NASCAR truck races there hasn’t been a repeat winner at Kentucky Speedway, but I’m going to say that streak ends with 2007 winner Mike Skinner back in Victory Lane. For the Nationwide race I’ll go pretty far out on a limb and pick Steve Wallace to get his first series win.
Eric Holmes should move back on top in the NASCAR West points standings after winning at Portland. Holmes took the lead on June 21 but fell 24 points behind Jason Bowles after Bowles won the series last race, at Irwindale on July 4.
In 10 years of NASCAR truck races there hasn’t been a repeat winner at Kentucky Speedway, but I’m going to say that streak ends with 2007 winner Mike Skinner back in Victory Lane. For the Nationwide race I’ll go pretty far out on a limb and pick Steve Wallace to get his first series win.
Eric Holmes should move back on top in the NASCAR West points standings after winning at Portland. Holmes took the lead on June 21 but fell 24 points behind Jason Bowles after Bowles won the series last race, at Irwindale on July 4.
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