What's New What's Old What's New - May 31, 1999 What's New - May 30, 1999 What's New - May 29, 1999 What's New - May 28, 1999 What's New - May 27, 1999 What's New - May 26, 1999 What's New - May 25, 1999 What's New - May 24, 1999 What's New - May 22, 1999 What's New - May 21, 1999 What's New - May 20, 1999 What's New - May 19, 1999 What's New - May 18, 1999 What's New - May 17, 1999 What's New - May 16, 1999 What's New - May 15, 1999 What's New - May 14, 1999 What's New - May 13, 1999 What's New - May 12, 1999 What's New - May 11, 1999 What's New - May 10, 1999 What's New - May 9, 1999 What's New - May 8, 1999 What's New - May 7, 1999 What's New - May 6, 1999 What's New - May 5, 1999 What's New - May 4, 1999 What's New - May 3, 1999 What's New - May 2, 1999 What's New - May 1, 1999 E-MAIL to NORTHERN THUNDER Home Page  
WHAT'S NEW

in the world of drag racing

Black Bar

The latest update as of May 23, 1999

Another day... another rainy day. So what else is new, eh? It's getting to the point where the forecasts on the TV are referring to it as "Canadian" weather. (Better start keeping a lower profile and keep my mouth closed more -- our accents are a dead giveaway -- even though the majority of people we meet assume we're a couple of Yanks).

Since it's Sunday, Ken opens the shop a little later than normal so there's no hurry to get going early. Arriving just past 9:00 am, I'm surprised to see Ken's assistant, Dave arrive shortly after me and ready to start work. Amazing, as Dave got in from a friend's party shortly before sunrise this morning.

We slowly ease into working gear, standing around Dave's personal project, his dragster chassis. Up on the jig, it's taking shape as a car again -- purchased as a two-piece unit (cut up for shipping) and now being grafted together again. The body panels that came with it look vaguely familiar, then I notice the extreme lay-down position of the seat. Suddenly it's trivia time as my brain kicks into gear.

Question: Who was low qualifier in Top Fuel at the 1982 NHRA Winternationals and who's car was he driving?

Answer: Australia's Jim Read in R.J. Trotter's Don Long chassis dragster. And here the car sits on Ken's jig, ready to rejoin the drag wars as Dave's Modified Eliminator car. Really and truly a small world we live in, eh? I'm not sure of the full history of the car, but do know that Rocky Epperly drove it at one time, among others, before it was exported to Australia.

All too soon, it's time to quit bench racing and get down to the serious business of the day; updating the website, adding to the already ten-page long "To Do" list, planning tomorrow's agenda and spending more time setting up the Racepak data system. Until tomorrow, or until we have more late-breaking news to report, that's all from Northern Thunder Downunder. And the countdown continues....

Black Bar
More news as it happens, and if you wish to provide us with any news or information to upgrade or correct any errors at this site:

E-MAIL to NORTHERN THUNDER