NHRA
"CARQUEST" Northwest Nationals 2005
Pacific Raceway,
Seattle, WA
"Cackle in Seattle"
GOOD WEATHER, GOOD RACING, GOOD CACKLES AT NHRA'S CARQUEST NORTHWEST NATIONALS
by Russ Griffith
Last year's record 100 deg. heat at Pacific Raceways was not repeated,
much to everyone's relief. Conditions were good enough to see a number of track records set, Larry Dixon's 4.49 - 331 MPH blast being the high-light. This was the first 4.4 and 330 number to come up on the Pacific Raceways scoreboard's and the first 4.4 in NHRA National Event competition in months.
A great push-down "Cackle" was held just before the '05 NHRA CARQUEST Northwest Nationals Final Round, high-lighted by the debut of Bucky Austin's re-novation of Jerry Ruth's last front-motored Top Fueler.
Bucky was hoping to fire up Saturday night, but ran out of time, while Jerry Ruth enjoyed his first fire-up in a long time the next morning. Joining "the King" was Herm "Northwest Terror" Pedersen, Wayne "the Peregrine" King in the "Doss, Clayton & King" Fueler and veteran Ray Hadford in the Green-Crooke "Assassin". More dang fun!
From left, Russell Stevenson, Herm Pedersen, Jerry Ruth and organizer, Steve Gibbs pose for one last shot before the signal to fire up the Final Round of the '05 NHRA CARQUEST Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, Wa. Russell, who is the manager of the track, was in an advisory role, as he is recovering from pneumonia. Russ Griffith dragfoto
Wayne King awaits the move to head down track and ready for the push-down prior to the Final Round of the NHRA CARQUEST Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, Wa. The four old Cacklers, Wayne's "Doss, Clayton & King" '63 car, the Green & Crooke "Assassin" with veteran Ray Hadford in the seat, Herm Petersen in his newly-done "Petersen & Fitz" "Northwest Terror" and the "King" himself, in Bucky Austin's beautiful re-do of the"Kink's" '69 Top Fueler. Russ Griffith dragfoto
A pretty good crowd
gathered whenever these old dinosaurs lit up, including a good many of the
participants of the Northwest Nationals
Russ Griffith dragfoto
Wayne King and "Fast
Jack" Beckman discuss the virtues of having the motor behind you or in front of
you.
Russ Griffith dragfoto
Jack Beckman, driver of
the "Menards" T/F car, says, just like Dave Wallace, Jr., "Hey, the motor is on
the wrong end!"
Russ Griffith dragfoto
Dick LaHaie moseyed over from the Miller Lite camp to chech out Herm Petersen's nicely restored Fueler, while Mike Kuhl, who Herm flew in for some advice, gave the 'ol eyeball to the 392. Friday at the CARQUEST Northwest Nat'ls. at Washington's Pacific Raceways. Russ Griffith dragfoto
The Miller Lite crew-chief, Dick Lahaie, comes over to discuss "old iron" with Herman Petersen at Pacific Raceways, Wa. during the NHRA Natiional Event. Herm was one of four Top Fuel "Cacklers" to entertain the crowd before the Final Round. Russ Griffith dragfoto
"Bozo" Ruth says, "Hey, I still fit in the car!" Russ Griffith dragfoto
Jerry Ruth tries out the cockpit of his old digger while Bucky hooks up fuel lines. Russ Griffith dragfoto
Wayne King pushes out of the pits, with his old-time pusher-driver, Jake, driving Bob Smith's very nice '68 Corvette. Bob, of Sequim, Wa. came to Wayne's rescue, supplying the 427 powered split window for the NHRA CARQUEST Northwest Nationals Cackle-fest. As usual, Steve Gibbs put together a good showing for the Cacklers. Lack of space in the Pacific pits caused each of the four old diggers to be pitted seperately, they stuck 'em wherever they could squeeze them in. As Steve was trying to organize the push-down cackle, he remarked that "it was like herding cats to get it pulled together", but he did it in great style. Russ Griffith dragfoto
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