NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Benjamin got to meet some of his favorite race car drivers this past weekend at the 'Big Go' at Maple Grove Raceway:

Erica Enders (the First Lady of Jr Dragster racers) was super nice, and asked Benjamin about his Jr racing

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/100_2278.jpg

Ashley Force was also super nice

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/100_2279.jpg

John Force always makes time for the kids - even when he's leaving 'work' for the day, briefcase in hand, wife waiting in the SUV

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/100_2281.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/100_2268.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/100_2273.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h6...p/100_2264.jpg



Benjamin was thrilled, and looks forward to racing against Erica and Ashley some day - soon! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

WOW thats cool as heck. Sounds like you guys had a great time.

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Benjamin musta charmed the ladies with those blue eyes. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

That Erica's cuter'n a junebug. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Glad he (and you) had a good time. Lynn and Holly are ready to go to LV in a week or two!

Erica is such a sweetheart. We talked to her for a while here in Phx...

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Yea, it was a really great day! Drag Racing is still one of those sports where you get within close proximity to the pit action, and the drivers and crew are quite accomodating.

We had a crew guy from Del Worsham's team run us down and ask if Benjamin wanted to meet Del. Of course! So, under the ropes we went, past the crew tearing into the funny car, up into the big rig trailer - squeezed past a few crew guys downloading the run and up into the 'office'. Del was impressed with Benjamin running Jr's, and inquired if he liked racing, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

We had another crew guy from another TF team come over and ask Benjamin if he wanted to pick out a blown up piston. Of course! Amazing what damage gets done on Nitro!

The best time to be at the track is on Saturday afternoon, after the last round of qualifying. The pressure is off the teams, they aren't packing up (like Sunday), and the crowds have really thinned out. I know that going around the pits with your son (who's wearing a shirt with the mfg'r of his Jr Dragster on it) obviously gets special attention from the teams. They really gravitate towards the kids. So, between the whole Jr Dragster 'feeder' series, and the attention from the professionals, the future of Drag Racing looks brighter than it did ~20 years ago.

Also, saw Jerry McNeish run his '67 Z - car was really hauling the mail! My buddy Stan Germanski (original owner of a CS Deuce) was running his '68 SS Camaro in F/SA, he's got the record - at the moment. Love watching the Stockers run, bring on the Dutch Classic!

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Keep that kid in circulation M. He maybe a prospect for Ashley when she takes over John Force Racing. Yes, Jerry is dialed in. If the air is good at the Dutch look for some 40's out of that little 02. Keep up the good work with your jr. dragster team.

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

That's a great event. I' ve been to it once. McNeish sent me some photos from that race of his car. Check out the wheel stands.........I would not drive that car!

http://autoimagery.com/store/cgi-bin/ima...tm_medium=email

Told me that S. Germanski was going to set the record at the Dutch but he was thrown out at the Atco race this past weekend for excessive braking on the top end. And NHRA told him not to come back next week. Just talked with him last night. He and Stan are good friends. Was told a Super gas racer was killed there two weeks ago and they are cracking down. McNeish finished in the top 10 this season. Congrats to him.

Bob

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Excessive braking? What is that all about? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Excessive braking? What is that all about? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] </div></div>

That's sort of like when Judy Lilly blew out two front tires while on the brakes and sliding through the lights trying to keep from breaking out years ago. That kind of action used to be a rather common occurance in Super Stock.

Re: NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway
 

Just made a phone call. Division director was at the finish line watching all of the eliminations. Anyone skidding brakes thru the finish line was DQ'ed. Two people were thrown out.

Bob