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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

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Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos: Steve Reyes

The dean of drag racing action photographers shares a handful of his famous and unforgettable photos
04 Apr 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Steve Reyes needs little introduction to most longtime drag fans. His is probably one of the best-known names in the business, and there isn’t a single photographer past or present who doesn’t admire and respect his body of…
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NHRA's Euro hero: 'No Jive Clive' Skilton

Recounting the NHRA career of English Top Fuel racer Clive Skilton; reactions to the passing of Pat Foster
31 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Some ado was made about European FIA champ Urs Erbacher’s first-round Top Fuel victory in Houston, which, as best as anyone’s records can tell, was the first round-win by a European Top Fuel racer in more than 30 years. A lot of European racers have…
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50 years ago in Texas ....

Ed Mabry recalls Don Garlits' conquering of the Texans and Californians in 1958.
28 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The NHRA is in the great state of Texas for the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, making this an appropriate column to share some tall Texas tales, which I will shortly. But first off, of course, is the sad news about Patty Foster taking his last…
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Memories of Al

Reactions to the passing of Funny Car racer Al Hofmann, including reader memories
26 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Al Hofmann’s unexpected passing last week took a lot of people by surprise because the last we heard of him, as reported by National DRAGSTER’s John Jodauga in one of his popular Where Are They Now? columns, he had retired…
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From the mailbag ...

Steve Swaja talks about the creation of Tony Nancy's Wedge dragsters; Don Roberts on the front- to rear-engined Top Fuel transformation
24 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
One of the (many) great things about writing a regular column such as this is that it sometimes becomes self-sustaining. Things you write are responded to by our always enthusiastic and knowledgeable community and become items unto themselves. I’ve…
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Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos (From Fischbeck)

Longtime drag racing photographer Mike Fuschbeck shares his favorite images
21 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The Internet constantly evolves. I remember when I thought that upgrading from a 14.4K modem to 28K was like going from riding a wagon to flying in a spaceship. Back when everyone connected to the Internet through AOL or Prodigy or CompuServe, back…
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History lessons relearned

The debut of the Garlitsglide and how it led to the first successful rear-engined dragster
19 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Flying home Monday, the battery in ol’ Lappy went dead in mid-sentence of the sixth paragraph of the event-overall story I was writing for this week’s coverage. No warning, no flashing lights, no dropped cylinder or…
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It's good to be back in Gainesville

Reliving "the Gators curse" in my first return to Gainesville in six years
14 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been to Gainesville Raceway, and the old gal has changed quite a bit. Actually, as these photos at right, from 1971 and 2007, attest, it’s barely recognizable from its…
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'Backdoor Bob' Struksnes

The life and times of Top Fuel racer Bob Struksnes
10 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Theirs is not a household name to the casual drag racing fan, yet they twice finished in the top four in the Top Fuel world championship race, including a third-place finish in 1977…
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Welcome back, 'Mr. Everything'

Legendary Funny Car racer Pat Foster battles back from health issues
07 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
(Above) The Barry Setzer Vega was unchallenged on the match race circuit in the early 1970s and went to three straight national event finals in 1973. (Below) Pat Foster, left, son Cole, and team owner…
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Where have all the nicknames gone? We've got 'em right here …

A super-dumb column in which we decide to give modern-day drag racers nicknames
05 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
"The Snake" and "the Mongoose" and "the Zookeeper." "Big Daddy" and "the King" and "the Ace." "Superman" and "Dandy Dick" and "the Smilin' Okie." Where have all the nicknames gone? Back in the day, a great nickname…
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Obsolete skills, part 2: Off the track

Pit-area prowess that's no longer needed
03 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Those now-growing-rusty skills weren't just things used on the track, but in the pits and other places, too. Adjusting clutches, mounting tires, restripping blowers, and more are all topics of changing conventions, as were the accommodations to…
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Obsolete skills, part 1: On the track

From dry hops to push starts and real bleach in the "bleach box," things we don't see at the drags anymore
03 Mar 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
"Remember when the music came from wooden boxes strung with silver wire." – Harry Chapin Technology is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and it's easy to get nostalgic about the good old days as singer-songwriter Chapin did in his 1980 song, and in…
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Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos ... er, dandy drawings

Famed drag racing illustrator John Jodauga shares some of his favorite works of art
29 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I'm going to throw a slight change up at you for this week's Five Fabulous Fotos and deliver a dandy dose of drag drawings from our own in-house artist, John Jodauga. J.J., who was part of the staff at DRAGSTER in the 1970s…
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Obsolete skills

Technology has made obsolete some longtime automotive and drag racing skills
28 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Here's a little bench-racing discussion starter. The other day I came across the Web site ObsoleteSkills.com. It's a funny little place where there is a huge list of "skills" that are no longer required for humanity to master, such as dialing a…
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Gator madness!

25 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The Phoenix event may have finished just a day ago with high drama in the desert, but it's pretty clear that a lot of people are Gators-obsessed already, even though the event is still three weeks away. Track…
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Friday's Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos: Joel Gelfand

Longtime drag racing photographer Joel Gelfand shares his favorite images
22 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
It's Friday which can only mean one thing (at least in this column): Time for another round of Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos. This week we reverse the lens and point it at someone outside the DRAGSTER staff: Southern…
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Diamonds in the rough, gators on wheels, diamonds on cars, and how to move a billion dollars

Drag racing gators; a diamond-encrusted Hot Wheels car
20 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I'll be attending the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals this year, my first trip to Gainesville Raceway in many, many years, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the old gal has changed. The new tower will provide a…
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V for Victory and P for Pisano

Celebrating the ol' "V for Victory" sign; keeping the Pisano name alive
18 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Happy Presidents Day, everyone. Did you know that U.S. President Richard Nixon once honored the motorsports world when he invited the biggest names in motorsports –- including "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Ronnie Sox, and Richard Petty -- to the White…
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Winning time

Winternationals celebrations, including a young Larry Dixon in 1970; vintage Dixon family press release; more Simon Menzies
14 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
One of the best parts of any race is the time spent in the winner's circle. You're surrounded by very happy people, whether it's the racers basking in the glow of victory or a group of tired but pleased NHRA staff members enjoying the satisfaction…
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The Winternationals mystique

What the Winternationals means to me, and probably to you, too
08 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I love the Winternationals. Always have. This is my 30th, and the memories never die. Indy is bigger, Virginia quicker, Las Vegas more flashy, but the Winternationals are magic. The points are all at zero and…
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Mail call ...

Simon Menzies weighs in; Doug Herbert heals; Greg Ozubko tells hockey tales; more "Growing Up Boy"
06 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
It's T-minus one day before the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals and my mind is so a-twitter at the thought of fuel cars firing down Parker Avenue that it's going to make it difficult to keep a train of thought, so I'm going to derail any…
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Can I get a Whit-ness?

The life and times of Whit Bazemore
04 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals begin in three days and, for the first time since man invented the wheel, Whit Bazemore will not be participating in the season opener. Okay, so it's "only" been since 1994 that…
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The return of Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos

National Dragster photographer Marc Gewertz shares his favorite images
01 Feb 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I'm proud to introduce the second in a series of Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos, works of art captured by the drag racing photographers who prowl the sidelines of our sport and capture, for all eternity, the moments that makes…
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Pioneering in Pomona

John Collins and the Pioneer Express Datsun Funny Cars
30 Jan 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
In case you haven't heard or have forgotten (yeah, right), the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals starts a week from tomorrow, the beginning to another glorious season of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing and the kickoff of…
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The good ol' days of magazines

Dick Wells tells Hot Rod stories; reader Don Nickles recalls shooting photos at Lions; 
23 Jan 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
There probably isn't a week that we work here at National DRAGSTER that doesn't cause us to do some research from previous issues that date back 10, 15, 20, or more years, where we often come across the names of those who…
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Growing up boy, the sequel …

Readers share their childhood memories 
21 Jan 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I mentioned on Friday that y'all were hellraisers as kids, sharing all tales of boyhood shenanigans, and I seem to have hit on a common trait among drag fans. One of my best e-mail pals, Howard Hull, who grew up hawking…
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Growing up boy

Hot Wheels, model cars, fireworks, and more. Growing up as a boy was cool
16 Jan 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I still have the first cars I ever owned. Let's see, there's that 1967 sleek Corvette and an immaculate '57 T-Bird convertible. A pretty cool late '30s Cord. Yes, friends, those were some pretty hot wheels for a 9-year-old to own. And, of course,…
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Five Fabulous Favorite Fotos: Jerry Foss

National Dragster photographer Jerry Foss shares his favorite images
11 Jan 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Even though I'm known as a writer, I consider myself a pretty fair photographer as well. Self-taught in my pre-NHRA days with decent results, I found out when I got here that I really didn't know as much as I…
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Top 10 lists, the one that got away ... and a white-knuckle SIMO

A Winternationals Top 10 list that almost got me fired; Don Ewald's tough Winternationals loss; Stuff in my Office: Riding a rollercoaster with John Force
09 Jan 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Monday's entry about the Don Prudhomme/David Letterman Top 10 list brought back a painful memory from 1989, when the DRAGSTER staff concocted a story for the Winternationals souvenir issue that was a series of Top 10 lists…
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