I feel lucky to be friends with the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, Tony Schumacher. We get a much different experience than the everyday fan when he comes to the Nationals race in Houston Tx. After picking him up from the airport we enjoyed food and drinks on the Kema Boardwalk and an after dinner Cuban cigar at the hotel afterwards.Tonight was a great beginning to a weekend full of nitro car madness...More pics to come of the weekend ahead.

P.S. If things go well today I may get the ultimate fan experience, short of drivingthe car down the track I'm keeping my fingers crossed...now, if I can just find that mask

 

Thats just to cool Steve!

 

Yes I agree.....Waay Kool!!

 

Yes very Cool

 

Very cool

 

So...I got to do what I thought I might get to do.

I sat in for Tony while they did a timing check...ie, I SAT IN THE COCKPIT WITH 10,000 HP STRAPPED TO MY BACK! It was so cool! ESPN Cameras were there and everything...don't know if it made it on tv...who cares?

 

 

Did you get his Boys to do a few tricks to the olds fleet while you were at it??

 

This is great Steve! Next time you need to invite and share....

 

How close is close?


...well, I'd say I'm a lucky fan. If you've ever been to one of these races, you know how loud these cars are from the stands. Now multiply that by 10 and have your breath taken away simultaneously and that's what you feel when you're this close to a 10,000 hp rocket. Fun Fun Fun!

 

Man you are SO lucky , I have yet to see and hear top fuel and funny cars. Thats awesome.

 

Way cool Steve.

 

OMG Steve it sux to be you.

 

I hate me too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a treat! I get goosebumps when I get around top fueler cars.

 

Very cool...........

 

You can tell a true car guy when his kids are the only ones with their picture taken with beautiful women.

 

Spoke with Tom Turkel today...cool guy. Also met with Mick (can't remember his last name) he's the blower guy on the Matco team. Die hard Olds guy...said he met you and Nick up at Byron but that he hasn't been in a few years. Anyway, very fun time.

We'll be headed to Englishtown on May 30th...friend of mine is stationed in Jersey so we'll stay with him and hang out...again

 

Try getting in one...I had an erec....nvm, we'll not go there on this site. It was exciting!

 

Those cars are amazing and what the crew can do in between rounds is magical. I'm a loooooooooooooong time drag racer and the way those car has evolved is crazy---compare one to an old sling-shot!

 

I went to my first NHRA nitro event last year in Norwalk, OH. For those who haven't gone, make sure it's on your your list of things to do before you die. The sound and feel of being near these cars is unbelievable. On my list again this year, but hope the weather is better, as 105 degrees in the stands. Felt bad for the drivers and track workers, but guess it's a living. Hear it got 140 degrees on the track, and time numbers were showing it.

 

Great story, great thread !
DSR is a helluva operation.

Words cannot describe the sensation when these guys launch (or even during the burnouts )

I got to stand in starting island for some TF qualifications prior to the US Nats in Indy back in 2003. Un-frickin-believable.

MitchKing_zps3f18ffab.jpg
(I'm the guy in the light gray t-shirt holding a camera between the rear wing uprights)

"If you have the means, I highly recommend it !"

 

It is a nostalgia thing, I helped Don Gartlits push his dragster on to the engine driven start rollers at the 68' Indy Nationals. Took my wife an positioned her near the zoom headers when he fired it up. Gezzzes was she pissed.

 

I have been to almost all us nationals since 1998 it is amazing how close they let you get buddy. I truly do not believe it it almost looks like it is 2 different pictures.

 

I've been going to sonoma (sears point) since 1999 do the 3 day camp out,missed a few years,anyway its awesome,you need to be there to feel it.ah64pilot way too cool.