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THE 47TH MARCH MEET Presented by: Clay Smith Cams
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NEXT RACE; POMONA NITRO NATIONALS, May 5,6 & 7 |
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The fruit trees of the southern San Joaquin Valley in full bloom; Mother Nature telling us that it is time to gather for the March Meet.
How apropos is this; continue on 1.75 miles east and one arrives at the Sacred Ground; maybe someday they will change the sign to Famoso Fuel/ Dragster Driver.
Fire Any Pair!!
What a strange and wild trip it turned out to be, definitely unique in the annals of Smokersville. Originally scheduled for the week-end of March 10-12, that date was totally eliminated when a series of storms packed with unusually cold air riding the back of the jet stream roared out of Alaska and took dead aim at California. Even before all the tow rigs could drop their precious cargo in the Pits at the Patch, the Goodguys re-scheduled the race for the following week-end. In all the years of the March Meet, there never had been back-to-back cancellations, but 2006 would set that precedent. Mother Nature ran a double reverse, using those orchards of fragrant fruit trees as a decoy, and won the game 2-0.
Many of the teams had left their trailers in the pits throughout the interim because the Goodguys provided security 24x7, and that eliminated the hardship of having to tow the race car back to the facility a second time. Thursday was set-up day, and though no actual racing was conducted, the action was continuous as teams scurried to set up their pit and get their race cars prepped and ready to run on Friday. Through all of this, one definitely got a feeling, quite literally, of the “quiet before the storm”. Although Thursday was balmy and mild, the weather forecast for Friday was not promising. Yet, drag racers, determined and optimistic as ever, worked late into the afternoon making sure every detail and task had been completed.
Dale Pulde, who won this race in 1975 driving the Eastern Raider funny car, acted as the unofficial greeter on Thursday. No, he’s not volatile, just letting the nitro boys know where to get their fuel.
Mike Pawluk, along with his dad Chuck, made the 29 hr. tow from Delta, British Columbia to compete at the March Meet. This is the ex-Nitro Thunder nostalgia top fueler that Mike runs in A/FD. Nestled between the 225” Neil & Parks chassis is a 364 cid small block Chevy with Rodeck heads and an SSI blower hooked up to a glide. It’s trim and fit at 1650 lbs., and Mike was looking to be in the show with runs in the 6.60-6.70 range.
Another view of Mike’s ride
The beautiful Tedford-McGee NTF car sporting a new paint scheme; stretching and getting some air after a long winter’s hibernation.
Mike Savage and the Speed Sport ’70 Hemi Cuda; now, if we could just put the motor behind the driver like the famed roadster.
Karen Oie at the controls and Brendan Murry tweaking the barrel valve. It’s a 400 cid New Century Performance block using Arias pistons and Brooks rods; the 2001 Stirling car adorned with Steve Davidson tinwork has run as quick as 5.87 at 243 mph.
Henry Charest, Agent Orange’s crew chief, reversing roles with Brad Thompson during Friday’s warm-up. Actually, this is standard practice for the team and Henry just plain can’t wait for it to happen. Check out the fan in the background; the idea is to SMELL the nitro!
Kris Krabill warming up Gary Turner’s “Pedaler” NFC.
Robert Luna (printer and clutch man extraordinaire), hungry crew member, Pete Jensen, and Rick Rogers; Pete did double duty advising both Jeff Gaynor and Rick on the best set-up. Hey Rick, what’s in the cup?
Jennifer Luna, the art director and creative whiz behind Full Throttle News, getting some seat time in Rick Rogers’ potent NTF.
TGIF
Friday started off on a positive note. The rain had not appeared and the skies were not all that threatening. Promptly at 8:00 a.m., the lanes filled with Hot Rod, NEIII, and NEII. Then, just as things were really coming alive, the skies darkened and the precipitation started falling. Although it was on-and-off, it never gave the Famoso crew an opportunity to dry the track and racing was never resumed that day. All the teams were resigned to the fact that they would get only one qualifying run on Saturday. There were 20 top fuel cars for the 16-car show and 14 funny cars for the 8-car program. With only that one chance to go down a racing surface that could best be described as cold, slick, and inert, the anxiety level of the drivers escaladed exponentially. With the racing cancelled for the day, the work in the pits resumed as crew chiefs used the extra time to exact the tune up.
Hot Rod really put on a show for the fans as witnessed by this Chevy Nova with its wheels-up launch.
Bracket racing at its highest level; the very entertaining VRA Hot Rod class. The winter rains had stripped the track of a lot of its tackiness, so I’m sure the pros appreciated seeing all this rubber being laid down.
Friday evening the rain was relentless. To say that it came down in buckets would be an accurate assessment of the night. This left the Famoso crew with the daunting task of getting rid of all that water. Beginning at first light, they would labor continuously for five hours to get the surface race ready. Then, just as the cars were being called to the lanes, a squall line passed through and negated all the hard work. Fortunately, the VHT had just been put down and the rain did not penetrate past the surface. Back at it they (the crew) went and by 3:00 the Goodguys recalled the cars to the lanes. First out was D/G, followed by C/G, and the balance of Hot Rod and NEII that did not get a pass on Friday; then Top Fuel followed by Funny Car. Luck ran out at 6:00; the sun had gone down and the track temperature plummeted dramatically. When it dropped to 61 degrees, GGs called it for a day and contemplated their Herculean task of completing the event in one day. On the positive side, the forecast for Sunday was clear and sunny; on the downside was the fact that AA/G, A/G, B/G, NEI, A/FD, and Jr. Fuel had yet to make a run.
For those that did, including Top Fuel and Funny Car, the one chance shot resulted in some unexpected results. Most surprisingly, was the fact that reigning TF champ, Rick White, would not be in the show. Nor would Brendan Murry, and when was the last time he failed to qualify for a show. Dan Rusk, sporting Donovan power for the first time and Denver Schutz were the other two unlucky competitors in top fuel. Jim Murphy and WW2 Racing let everyone in the pits know that he was ready to tie “Big” with a fifth March Meet victory when he laid down the only five of qualifying: 5.94-238.72. Close behind was Brad Thompson at 6.03-250.13, followed by last year’s March Meet champ Howard Haight (6.13-248.00). Mendy Fry (6.18-181.67!), Sean Bellemeur (6.22-245.96), Brett Harris (6.23-218.23), Shannon Stuart (6.36-227.33), and Pete Kaiser (6.40-232.01) finished out the top eight. On the bump was Rick Williamson at 8.66-94.92. By the time the floppers hit the track, the temperature of the racing surface had plummeted dramatically. The situation was not helped when Nate Bugg oiled the entire length of the track coming out of the first pairing; just what an exhausted Famoso crew didn’t need. Steve Romanazzi, stepping up from the CIFCA ranks, made the best of a desperate situation and led the pack with his “Warrior” at 6.40-217.91. That was followed Dennis LaCharite’s “Back in Black” at 7.34-153.63, Dan Horan Jr. at 7.61-157.31, and Jack Beckman in Jeff Gaynor’s ‘Cuda at 8.11-132.50. Noteworthy was Steve Nichols driving the Mill Road Boys entry with a wild 8.26-210.13!!
Welcome to warm and dry California where the sun always shines. It poured Friday night and would take the Famoso crew until noon to dry and prep the track.
Due to the numerous rain delays, this guy made more runs down the track than any racer; laying down the VHT so we could get back to racing.
On Saturday, GGs unveiled the Wall of Champions honoring all the drivers won had won a March Meet from 1959 through 2005. On hand were past winners (left to right): Art Chrisman<1959>; Don Garlits<1965,1971,1979,1986,1987>; Gary Beck<1984,1985>; Butch Blair<1988>; Pete Kaiser<1995>; Bill Dunlap<1994,1997>; Jim Murphy<1998,1999,2003,2004>; Jack Harris<2001,2002>; and Howard Haight<2005>.
Rick White, the reigning VRA champion, showed up with his brand new Hansen car. Known for making gobs of horsepower, the champ couldn’t get his powerful 392 cid Rodeck to behave and failed to make the show.
Rick Williamson left hard and straight, but things got hairy down track; real hairy!! The good news was that Bill Schwartz Racing qualified #16 at 8.66-94.92; the bad news was they would have to race Murphy in Round #1.
WW2 Racing’s ace pilot, Jim Murphy, cleared the skies with a tremendous 5.94-238.72 on a very fickle and crabby track.
Brad Thompson was only nine clicks back of Murphy at 6.03-250.13, and on Sunday would serve notice that Bakersfield was “his house” with a Promethean 5.86-240.83.
This is what you call thrashing to get your ride ready for a race. Primer, no paint; no decals; and shoe polish. And, the name on the car aptly described the events of the 47th March Meet.
Kris Krabill’s first trip down the quarter mile in a nitro funny car; if you recall, owner Gary Turner was a player in top alcohol dragster in Division 7 during the late 1980s and into the 1990s.
Digger Jr.and the Brain Surgeons; no, that’s not the name of a rock band. It’s Dan Horan Jr. and his crew.
Brett Harris qualified #6 but had to be shut-off in the first round against Adam Sorokin when a fuel line mal-functioned.
Yeah, finally a nice day!!!!
SUNNY AND STRANGE SUNDAY
As previously-mentioned, several classes never got a qualifying pass during Friday’s and Saturday’s abbreviated sessions. The Goodguys faced a daunting task of getting the remaining classes qualified and then find enough time and light to complete the entire program of eliminations. This logistical nightmare was somewhat lessened when they were able to fix ladders for A/FD, (A) Jr. Fuel, and (B) Jr. Fuel due to incomplete fields. Under a sunny and reassuring sky, Hot Rod Eliminator started promptly at 8:00, followed by NE1 qualifying, and the first round of Top Fuel. Although some of the NE1 cars made mischievous runs, there was nothing to indicate that the track had an “issue”. By the time 10:00 a.m. rolled around, and with the top fuel boys (and girl) at the top of the lanes, the race-starved were ready for some nitro.
Top Fuel offered a lot of interesting scenarios. Jim Murphy was extremely motivated by the possibility of winning his fifth March Meet and matching Garlits’ record. Brad Thompson, the CHRR winner, desperately wanted a victory at his home track. No female since Lucille Lee in 1982 had won the March Meet, and Mendy Fry had a keen eye on the prize. And, you know Fugowie Howie was not going to relinquish his title without a fight. Then, there was the sentimental favorite in Adam Sorokin whose dad, Mike, had won exactly forty years ago in 1966. When the first pair fired, it seemed like all the rain, cold, and disappointment of the past two days, simply dissipated into the blue skies above. When the undeniable serenade of a nitro motor reverberated throughout the facility, the fans clambered out of the RVs and hit the stands. The 47th edition of the greatest race in drag racing shifted into high gear. The first pair matched ’95 winner Pete Kaiser in John Eirich’s “Ground Zero” against 2004 CHRR winner Rick McGee. Pete, who had a good look at the five’s at the CHRR event, served notice that he was ready to continue the quest in ’06; his 6.00-237.54 bested Rick’s 6.05-249.16. The balance of the round went off without incident. The winning times were impressive: Murphy at 5.91; Thompson at 5.86; Bellemeur at 6.03; Haight at 6.17; and on down the line. The only odd ball occurrence was a leaking fuel line that forced the officials to shut-off Brett Harris.
But, in the end, the top fuel heat was just a cruel illusion. Though it went off without a hitch and gave no hint of the looming danger down track, the gassers would not be so fortunate. First up would be A/G, followed by AA/G, and B/G; we would never get past two pairs. Bill Burch, in the right lane, had a difficult run, but nothing to justify what happened to him. Out about 800’, the car made a hard move across the track, caromed off the wall, and began to barrel roll. It was a horrific scene to watch, but the safety equipment did its job and Bill would be taken to the hospital conscious and alert. After all this carnage was cleaned up, Steve Castelli, the 20005 champ, came to the line. It was a good launch and the car looked stuck, but at about the same place on the track as Burch, but in the opposite lane, he too made an abrupt move to the left and spanked the wall. Because Castelli’s accident was so spectacular and unexpected, few noticed that the competitor in the other lane also kissed the wall and heavily damaged his racer. It was at this point that everyone involved knew something more than driver error was causing the havoc. Racing was suspended while racers and track officials walked the track. What they would discover was water seeping up through cracks in the pavement and compromising the integrity of the racing surface. There was no option left other than to cancel the race and that’s what they did.
It is slightly ironic that an event which had commemorated its past top fuel champions in a special tribute and presentation on Saturday, would not add a new honoree to that list on Sunday. This old gal (Famoso Raceway) is in dire need of a makeover. I hope she gets it, and soon, because drag racing needs to have its March Meet.
Pruitt Racing with its immaculate NE1 altered; a very capable and talented 17-year old Leah Pruitt at the wheel.
This NE1 competitor smacked the wall twice right out of the box; how about the three fans in the background: “There’s a drag race going on?”
Pete Kaiser almost got the Ground Zero top fuel dragster into the fives with his 6.00 win over McGee; this very capable car could finish in the top 5.
If Murphy or Thompson flinch or falter just a bit, bet on Sean Bellemeur to pass them and take the lead; his 252.52 in round #1 against Richey was top speed of the meet.
Mike Fuller Racing showed up at Bakersfield with a dazzling new paint scheme; veteran shoe Bill Dunlap got past Shannon Stuart in the Circuit Breaker 6.19-228.83 to 6.31-214.64.
Mendy Fry’s first competition with the Jennings-Schelle NTF went fairly smooth; on Friday her 6.18-181.67 showed that the car will be plenty competitive once it makes a clean, full pass.
Terry Cox got involved in a good, old-fashioned peddlefest with Mendy in round #1, but came out on the losing end, 7.31-199.91 to 7.98-197.36.
I think this scene best sums up the 47th Annual March Meet; the Famoso crew working countless, and sometimes, fruitless hours trying to ready an old and cranky track.
SEE YOU AT POMONA!
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