Roger Gorringe Reporting

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.

Just after the NHRA Toyota Nationals event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the neon luminescent city of Las Vegas, Nevada, there fits in nicely the vast motor industry gatherings of the SEMA Show and the AAPEX Show, both a major world-wide draw for anything automotive. From fasteners to new models, from wheels and tyres to virtually every type of race vehicle was is in attendance. Both shows seem to expand every year with the SEMA event spilling out even further onto parking lots and assembly points. Both exhibition venues are leg and feet wearying and shoe sole diminishing mile upon mile marathons for all attendees and despite that both were again huge successes.

The NHRA Breakfast early on the Wednesday morning is always a big hit, with this year’s theme being Women of NHRA. On stage were Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett, (currently looking for sponsorship) Funny Car pilots Alexis DeJoria and Courtney Force and Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens along with legend Shirley Muldowney, all hosted by the ever quick witted and funny Bob Frey. Many racing experiences and some good old tales were told to an appreciative audience. Drag racing vehicles on various stands were in evidence but again, there were unfortunately not that many.

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway just before the opening of the SEMA & AAPEX Shows held a one day test session with many teams taking the chance to solve any problems before the NHRA Auto Club Finals two weeks hence. Several of the European teams chose to take advantage and among those was Team Erbacher from Switzerland with Urs' daughter Jindia testing and improving her skills in the David Sheetz injected nitro Top Alcohol Dragster.

Jindia Urbacher and Dad Urs testing at Las Vegas