Question Quest Photos by Drum and Larsen
© 2008 Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
More Thunder (Part III) "Both of us have been rough enough over the years to win a lot of races."
Bob Glidden talked about winning and Richard Maskin
"It's a painting that will never get finished. You keep finding more and more and more."
Richard Maskin, famed NHRA engine builder, defined his speed.
"I eat, sleep and breathe drag racing."
Justin Humphreys
"It's not play. It's serious." Jerry Toliver
"If you're focused and you block everything out, it doesn't matter whether you're hitting a golf ball or riding a motorcycle down the track."
Eddie Krawiec
"My mind still thinks I'm 15, but my body tells me something else."
Chip Ellis
"I guess if you stood out in the middle of the street and kind of bent over and let a car hit you at about 40 mph. That might be a pretty good comparison."
Chris Rivas verbalized the launch of a Pro Stock Motorcycle that hits 180 plus mph in 1320 feet on a drag strip.
"Every year we get more people really fired up."
George Bryce about the state of the drag racing sport.
"I'm not there yet, but we're going to get there."
Nicky Morse, racing chef for Jegs talked about his TV ventures.
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Hot Sun, Big Thunder By Dwight Drum
The hot sun of summer is prime time for racing schedules, but the year still has four seasons. Inaugurating the passing of winter with springtime in Florida where the scent of orange blossoms and sound of roaring engines fill the low sky is appropriate. And warm.
Sun seeking tourists and fans of speed don't have to travel deep into the long state to find the bright rays and artificial thunder they crave. They don't have to look high in the sky for big noise from lightning, it happens on the ground. They don't have to bask in the sun on a breezy beach to justify their distant journey. They just have to find a parking place at the NHRA POWERade ACDelco Gatornationals.
For 39 years noise and speed on flat ground carved between pine forests north of a cozy college town in Gainesvillle, Fla., have thrilled fans of side-by-side racing. The spontaneity of drag racing and the incredible burst of speed to get to the win line draw tourists and residents as well.
The story of Gainesville Dragway over the years is all about growing crowds and faster speeds. Track manager Don Robertson said, "This year we ran out of parking places."
Drag racers are passionate and vocal about their sport. Prose can't compare. Recent select comments from a Q&A with nine top drivers and team members prove those points.
Part three is a fast read in many ways.
Bob Glidden {Pro Stock Car - RaceRedi Motorsports}
I ask the drivers since they get paid to play if they still have a kid inside them. You give them the ability to play. Do you still have a kid inside you?
"Both of us have been rough enough over the years to win a lot of races. That's why we're here, to win races. I guess you'd say we still got a lot of kid left. I remember the last race I won and I'm sure he does too. We just come here to win."
Richard Maskin {Pro Stock Car - RaceRedi Motorsports}"We created a group here, a team, piece by piece. Like any other business, this is a real business. You're talking about a lot of money changing hands here. Piece by piece we finally got a decent team and it's capable of winning. This week, next week, the week after and everybody is having to work harder because of us. That motivates us to work harder."
Justin Humphreys {Pro Stock Car - RaceRedi Motorsports}
Is there any part of your job that isn't like a job at all?
"I love being at the racetrack. I eat, sleep and breathe drag racing. It's all I think about and it's all I do. It's hard being away from the family sometimes but when you go out and make good runs it's all worth it. It's a tall deal. People don't understand it. They think, 'You guys got the best job.' It's easy, this and that. When you're gone 300 days a year on the road and at the racetrack every day seven to seven, at the shop and here and there, it's a lot of work. But when you run good, it's well worth it."
It's said that racecar drivers get paid to play. Is there still a kid in you that comes out some times?
"You know, it's not play. It's serious. It's hard work. It's hard. It's mentally exhausting. It can be physically exhausting. You sit in that car for a half an hour and it's 110 degrees outside and humid. It's not fun. This is a professional job and so it's not like playing. There is nothing like making a good lap. I think when you enjoy the lap is when the lap is over. And that's when you start having fun."
Eddie Krawiec {Pro Stock Motorcycle - Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson}
A lot of people focus but do racers has a special ability to focus?
"I think that's something that takes experience as you make more runs you tend to learn and understand it a little better. That was one of the things last year. I came out of the motorcycle ranks. Ten years I've been doing it. Everybody will always tell you coming over here you need to get to this level. Yes and no. I think the main thing is if you focus you focus and you block everything out, it doesn't matter where you are, whether you're hitting a golf ball or riding a motorcycle down the track.
"Along the lines of focus and preparation the main things that I do is I just try to keep a clear level head and don't think about anything. When you put your helmet on you get ready to go down the track it's a mental state. I know people that have talked to me and I haven't heard them. It's just your own mental state and however you choose to prepare for it. A lot of people you'll see get out of the car jumping and dancing around right before they get into it. I just put my helmet on and focus and mentally make the run a couple of times."
Chip Ellis {Pro Stock Motorcycle - Don Schumacher Racing}It's said racers get paid to play. Is there still a kid in you?
"Oh absolutely. My mind still thinks I'm 15, but my body tells me something else. Every day you get out of bed and your knees are cracking your elbows too. At heart I'm still a kid. This is all I've ever done since I've been a kid - is race something - bicycles or whatever. It's a great opportunity for me and I'm happy to be here.
Not every one can ever know what's like to launch on a Pro Stock Bike, a two wheel horizontal rocket. Can you explain it?
"It's really hard to explain because there is nothing really accelerates like these things. I think the Frank Hawley School really taught me to ride one of these things successfully. There is nothing to compare it to. I guess if you stood out in the middle of the street and kind of bent over and let a car hit you at about 40 mph. That might be a pretty good comparison.
"They hit so hard. When we let the clutch out they actually hit harder than a Top Fuel Dragster does in the first five feet. We're accelerating real quick, because there's a lot of horse power and not a lot of weight. We go out there and hit it real hard right away. It's amazing. You can't compare it to anything that's out on the street."
George Bryce {Pro Stock Motorcycle - Karl Klement Racing}
Your additonal comments about the state of the sport?
"When I continuously see our sport evolve to greater heights. The guys that have been in it forever say things like such and such can't come any more the money is too high, can't find a sponsor, blah, blah, blah. I can't afford to do it any more. I say out with the old and in with the new. Every year we get more people really fired up that have new vigor, new marketing opportunities and new financial opportunities. George Smith, my partner, have been so fortunate to sell 20 of these S&S powered Buells and we are on engine No. 48."
Your recent entry into TV seems to be is over and above even all that you have accomplished?
"Yeah. We had a cooking show, 'The Racing Chef' it's called. Last year it ran on FOX Sports in Ohio and it's running right now on Time Warner On Demand. I'm not sure how many million households have seen it. I'm working on a weekly national show. I'm not there yet, but we're going to get there. It's been great. It's a lot of fun."