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The name of veteran drag racing photo-journalist Roger Gorringe will be known to most readers. Roger makes frequent trips to the USA taking in as many of the major meetings as he can. It is filthy work standing trackside with endless Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars thundering past you but someone has to do it. Fortunately Roger has very kindly offered to share his experiences with us in his illustrated meeting reports.
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Excitement was in high evidence in the chilly, sometimes bright sunshine of the opening round of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with expectations and predictions of some great contests and huge numbers. Few would have admitted disappointment as ETs, speeds and big surprises came thick and fast over the whole weekend in front of a near capacity crowd. The California drought had a brief reprieve on Thursday as a deluge of rain stopped some of the Sportsman qualifying and the trademark backdrop of the snowy mountains was hidden for the best part of the weekend by low cloud. Dubai citizen and now Los Angeles resident Khalid alBalooshi driving the Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel machine made it to number seven in qualifying with a 3.774/324 pass then went on to take out some big names in eliminations. Tony Schumacher was the first to go, a 3.847/321 beaten by a catch up 3.760/324. Teammate and 2013 Champion Shawn Langdon did not fare well as his loose and close to the wall 3.768/322 was just pipped to the post by a 3.739/323 then a 3.783/318 beat the 3.804/323 try from Steve Torrence. The final had money on Doug Kalitta with his big speeds but after a holeshot leave Kalitta went up in smoke at around three hundred feet out handing the trophy to alBalooshi with a 3.974/324 to a 5.368/143. Doug Kalitta dominated the Top Fuel last qualifying session with some stunning numbers from the Mac Tools car, a 3.713 at 327mph stood at number one with bigger speeds to follow. Kalitta met Brazil’s Sidnei Frigo in round one where the Brazilian blew the motor and lost a slick safely stopping after a 4.035/243 as the 3.725/329 winning numbers lit up in the other lane. Rookie Aussie driver Richie Crampton sitting in for Mogan Lucas was next to fall to Kalitta, a 3.764/324 came second to a 3.729/330. In the quarter finals Spencer Massey felt the sting of Kalitta’s big numbers, a 3.790/322 was beaten by a 3.758/327. The final saw Kalitta go up in smoke losing to Khalid alBalooshi.
John Force, the 2013 Funny Car Champion, driving the final year for Castrol and Ford left off where he finished last year – in the lead. A track record 3.983 at 317mph got him to pole position, then, a Friday evening pass stunned everyone, a 3.966 with a 324.12mph speed held the top spot all weekend. A solo got Force through round one as Paul Lee suffered bodywork problems before the line. Round two, Force took out a returning to the cockpit, Tommy Johnson Jr., a 4.020/321 beat the game 4.021/322. Bob Tasca III suffered a tyre hazing then an engine fire as his 5.007/195 was no match for the 4.025/322 from Force. The final pitted John Force against the 2011 Champ, Matt Hagan, unfortunately Hagan lit the slicks up at sixty feet out and slowed to a losing 6.613/117 as Force zoomed to a great 3.963/323 win. Matt Hagan driving the Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger held tenth spot in the final qualifying with a 4.077/316. In round one, a 4.036/322 beat the close 4.083/320 from Courtney Force but Hagan ended up in the sand trap making extra work prepping for round two. Another John Force Racing machine was Hagan’s next casualty as Robert Hight lost by inches with a 4.033/316 to a close 4.035/322, won on a slight start line leave. A near equal leave saw Hagan get the better of Del Worsham as the lights in the win lane showed 4.030/318 to a 4.055/321, won by around half a cars length. The Mopar Dodge went into almost instant smoke in the final giving the win to Force.
Jason Line driving the Summit Racing Equipment ’13 Camaro Pro Stocker managed to get a 6.514/212 for third spot in qualifying with Vincent Nobile leading the pack on a 6.510/212. Line managed a catch up 6.548/21 win to the great holeshot from Matt Hartford’s 6.615/209 in round one, round two had him run a 6.536/212 to beat Dave Connolly’s 6.544/212, then a 6.527/212 beat the 6.541/211 from Shane Gray. In the final Jason Line leapt out a fraction ahead of V Gaines and hung on to record a 6.526/212 win for the money as Gaines followed with a close 6.533/212 for runner up. V Gaines sat behind Line in the last session of qualifying with a 6.515/212 clocking in his Kendall Oil ’13 Avenger. First to fall to Gaines was Greg Stanfield, a 6.531/211 saw off the 6.560/210. Round two saw Erica Enders-Stevens lose with a 6.544/211 as Gaines took the light with a 6.527/212. Top qualifier Vincent Nobile failed to catch the holeshot leave by Gaines and a 6.543.212 beat the 6.541/212 try. The final was close but V Gaines was runner up to Line.
Sweden’s Jimmy Ålund has been honoured to sit in for Greg Anderson whilst he recovers from surgery. Ålund, the current European Pro Stock Champion, ran a 6.546/211 to qualify the other Summit Racing Equipment Camaro but fell foul to a red light in round one of eliminations citing he was not used to the American lights on the tree.
Chris Demke managed to qualify in pole position then went on to take the Top Alcohol Dragster win when his 5.251/275 from his Peen-Rite/OSI/Boost Performance machine beat the 5.328/276 from Canadian Don St. Arnaud. Demke had earlier had a first round bye then seen off the likes of Megan McKernan in round two and Casey Grisel in the semi. Don St. Arnaud hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ran his unpainted A&J Construction TAD to third place in qualifying then put away Bill Litton, Duane Shields and Larry Miersch to face Demke in the final and become runner up, he also carded top speed of the event, a 278.58mph.
Brian Hough in his Olympus Trailers Mustang sat in tenth qualifying place but went on to take the Top Alcohol Funny Car win with wins over Greg Hunter then John Lombardo Jr. and Sweden's Ulf Leanders who could not repair in time for the semi final bout. The final was against Sean Bellemeur, Hough overcame the holeshot and notched up the 5.571/257 win to the 5.646/257 lose. Sean Bellemeur driving the Mastercam/Fireice TAFC Camaro qualified fifth then went on to beat Bret Williamson, Nick Januik and Clint Thompson to face Hough for the money run and ending up in runner up spot. Ulf Leanders from Viksjotors, Sweden driving the Billetcase.com ’10 Monte Carlo managed to qualify number fourteen of fifteen runners in TAFC and in round one took out fellow Swede Jonnie Lindberg, 5.857/258 to a losing 5.952/257 then beat a shaking, crossed up Steve Gasparrelli but suffered a banged blower that ruled the team out of the semis. Leanders also scored Top Speed of the event with a 263.20mph. Jonnie Lindberg in the other Swedish TAFC backed by Pålplinter/Debonaire managed to score number three in qualifying but unfortunately was taken down in round one by fellow countryman Ulf Leanders.
Mike DePalma driving the Eaton Ent./Elite Motorsports ’00 Chevy Truck to the win in Competition Eliminator, an 8.062/166 got him the trophy. Alan Ellis became runner-up in Competition Eliminator in his ’23 T a chasing 6.572/205 showed on the score boards.
Don Meziere took the Super Comp win with an 8.921/158. Steve Casner got the runner-up trophy in Super Comp with his 8.922/185.
Val Torres took his ’63 Corvette to Super Gas honours when his 9.905/163 beat the breakout time of Thomas Bayer. Thomas Bayer went a little too quick in the Super Gas final with his 9.899/151 from his ’53 Corvette.
Don Keen drove his ’65 Mustang to take the Super Stock win with a 10.355/127 ticket. Dave Bridgewater managed to get the runner-up trophy in Super Stock with a 9.506/139.
Paul Cannan took his ’69 Camaro to get the Stock win with a 10.099/129 victory. Michael Iacono became runner-up in Stock with a ’69 Camaro running a 10.972/119 timing.
Mike Boyd took the Winged Express on a couple of demo passes, all wheels up and at one time crossing lanes to awe the crowds.
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