|
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.
|
|
|
|
Fancy a sedate little trip on a calm, mirror like stretch of water on a warm sunny day? Well, don’t expect to get one on the liquid quarter-mile at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, near Phoenix, Arizona, especially when it’s the culmination of a nine event national tour – the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Finals. How about a 9000bhp supercharged 500 cubic inch nitro burning beast? A drag boat that can cover the 1000 foot liquid track in under 3.5 seconds at over 260mph! These are Top Fuel Hydro boats, the equivalent of a Top Fuel Dragster and together with all the other classes are stunningly beautiful machines with great colours and names and provide some remarkably entertaining visions of sheer power on the water.
Top Fuel Hydro win was wrapped up by the MAV TV Spirit of Texas piloted by Scott Lumbert who defeated Tommy Rice and met Jarrett Silvey in the Speed Sport Special who had a bye in round one as Kyle Brawley had broken then dispatched Bryan Sanders in round two. The final saw Silvey red light to a 3.622/246 as Lumbert powered to the 3.653/246 win.
Top Alcohol Hydro was taken by Bob Pizza in the What A Tomato boat, he got the better of Joe Blatter and a couple of byes before Rick Allen in the semis. Dale Riggs made the final by seeing off Andy Reynolds then two byes. Pizza took the win with a 4.426/201 as Riggs failed to go.
Top Alcohol Flat was clinched by Randy Ball who beat Bill Diez then a bye to the final to meet Don Bausher who had a bye in round one then won the bout with Ronny Hays. A 5.332/147 from Ball beat Bausher’s 5.343/153.
Pro Mod was a huge class that saw Jimmy Booher driving the Fist Full Of Dollars entry, a 7.021/170 took the trophy over the 7.000/172 from Shawn Reed’s Top Secret boat.
Pro Outlaw was another large class which was ruled by Travis Tutle in the Short Fuse boat, a 5.389/169 beat the 5.438/170 from Robert Leas' Desperado machine.
Pro Eliminator saw Tom Roberts win over Jeff Hills. Quick Eliminator had victory go to Todd Ebert over Kjell Adams. Top Eliminator was won by Garrett Breistig over Jeff Vail. Modified Eliminator had Joe Mclemore win, beating Rich Saindon. Stock Eliminator win went to Jim Bernard over Paul Hodges. River Racer class was in the hands of Don Blayney over Glendon Boehme. Personal Watercraft 1 went to Brian Marble beating Mike Adams. Personal Watercraft 2 win was taken by Dylan Crownover who beat Dakota Sternadel.
|
|
All material on this site is copyright and |
|
|
|
_took_Pro_Mod_against_Shawn_Reed.jpg)
_took_Pro_Outlaw_against_Robert_Leas.jpg)
_pops_the_'chute.jpg)
