(An A/Fuel Dragster burnout during round two of qualifying)
By Chris Graves
October 2nd, 2002 – 8:10 P.M.
Today was the first day on the road with the team. I was privileged enough to spend the trip to Troy Green’s hometown of Purcell, Oklahoma with one of the greatest drag racing figures in the sports history, Olin Davis. Olin picked me up in Carrollton, TX and gave me a ride up to Purcell and we hit the road to Bakersfield. In the three hours I spent with Olin up to Oklahoma I heard stories from Olin about the first NHRA race in Great Bend, Kansas in 1955. I also heard about Dallas International Motor Speedway and the friendships he has with other great drag racers. He really got me in the mood for a full weekend of nitro. The Troy Green Racing Team just bought a new Freightliner tow rig and we are very excited about the road trip in the new rig. We aren’t even to Amarillo yet, and we are already talking race strategy. I know I will enjoy some of the conversations I am going to hear in the almost twenty-four hour road trip that is ahead of me. Olin put it best when he said, “You ain’t seen nothing yet kid.”
October 3rd, 2002 – 8:45 A.M.
We got some bad news last night, after crewmember Randy Sweeney cooked us some fantastic chicken for the road; it was discovered that our microwave was broken in the truck. It was a long night of interesting stories out of Olin. He told the story about the time at the old Caddo Mills drag strip when he flag started four dragsters at the same time and the stories about the famous happenings at the water truck at Green Valley Raceway, those who were there know what I mean. Sleeping on the road was difficult for everyone. “It’s like sleeping on the Texas Giant,” said Chad Green, Troy’s brother and crewmember. By now everyone except Chad and Troy are awake and we are enjoying the Flagstaff, Arizona sunrise. We will stop within the hour for breakfast and plan to be in Bakersfield around 3 P.M. this afternoon.
October 4th, 2002 – 9:30 A.M.
We just unloaded the dragster and the weather this morning is fantastic. We pulled into Famoso Raceway yesterday afternoon and got parked. Last night we went to the In-N-Out burger restaurant and that was the first time I had ever been there. Let me tell you, the burgers are as good as everyone says they are. Nothing compares to a “double double with fries.” I have been strolling around in the pits a few times this morning and I have seen cars I thought I would only see in magazines. Cars like Pure Hell, the Magicar, and the Freight Train are all on display and I’m sure most will be a part of the Cacklefest on Saturday. I slept last night in the truck and it was the first time in my life to wake up, step outside, and already be at the drag strip. It was a great feeling so I made plans to sleep in the truck the whole weekend. Today I am going to buy my Ring of Fire ticket and experience the Reunion atmosphere before the crowds get too big. I am also very anxious to shoot a few rolls up on the starting line.
October 4th, 2002 – 12:05 P.M.
By now everyone who is anyone has unloaded and made a trip through the pit area. I went to the starting line and instantly got the feeling of the old days of drag racing. Tons and tons of front engine dragsters were making passes down this historic drag strip. I saw old friends and personal role models like Dawn and Mark Hovsepian. The first round of Jr. Fuel qualifying is scheduled to begin in two hours, I cannot wait.
October 4th, 2002 – 7:35 P.M.
First round of qualifying for Jr. Fuel, A/Gas, A/Fuel, and Nostalgia Eliminator is now complete. I’ve shot around sixty photos so far. The Magicar fired up in the midway this afternoon and you could see huge header flames even in the California sunlight. Speaking of sunlight, I think California has to be the brightest place I have ever been. I think the track will handle just about anything the cars can throw at it.
Today the only accident was in A/Gas when a ’56 Chevy bodied car ended up in the other lane at the top end and tagging the guardrail with a little bit of flame coming from under the hood. I think most of the people are heading to the Double Tree Hotel tonight. I’m going to stay at the track with the boys again tonight. Top Fuel round one of qualifying is set for twelve tomorrow.
October 5th, 2002 - 7:00 A.M.
I just finished breakfast with the crew and we were telling the others about what happened last night. I was sitting with Gorman Green, Randy Sweeney, and Tom Poole when I saw a ten-foot tall vehicle come around the corner. “What in the world is that?” I asked. Everyone hoped up and headed towards this very bizarre contraption. It was the Professor Fate car from the movie “The Great Race.” The only response we had was, “Well, we are in California,” said Randy Sweeney. Chad Green reported this morning that Don Prudhomme, Gary Densham, Ron Capps, Chris Karamesines, and Linda Vaughn were all at the Double Tree last night. The plan for the team today is be first out of the box and set a pace for the others.
October 5th, 2002 – 3:00 P.M.
I just finished lunch in the Troy Green pits and all around me nitro cars are firing up in preparation for round two of qualifying. During first round, my boys from Oklahoma ran a 6.12 at 227 mph in the first pair down the track, one hundredth of a second off Troy’s career best. He is in fourth after round one. Denver Schutz did a huge wheelstand and brought the car down to earth safely, but did break the front axle and returned to competition.
I’m amazed at the turnout of cars. I have never seen so many front engine dragsters in my life. I have shot around two hundred and fifty photos so far. The Cacklefest, Ring of Fire, and live concert are still to come tonight. Troy plans to run a 6.0 elapsed time in round two of qualifying, we will see.
October 6th, 2002 – 7:45 A.M.
It’s Sunday morning and breakfast in the Troy Green pits is over. We are paired up with Lee Jennings in round one of Top Fuel “B.” Troy ran a 6.14 in round two of qualifying, but many other cars stepped up and Troy was bumped from fourth to eleventh place putting him in the “B” field. The crew was up late last night working on the car and everyone is very optimistic heading into round one.
Last night hosted the most memorable events I’ve ever experienced in my life of drag racing. The Cacklefest was amazing, but the Ring of Fire is what I really enjoyed. Nostalgia funny cars, vintage Top Fuelers, and nitro pumping Fuel Altereds in a ring puking huge nitro flames all at the same time, where else but the Reunion. The grandstands were still packed and 1,320 people were inside the ring, including me. The Famoso Raceway lights were turned off and the engines were fired. The noise and cackle was so loud I couldn’t think and the adrenaline was intense. I started my “route” around the ring taking photos of each car that was cackling the header flames we all craved. I made my way past the funny cars and saw the fuel altereds were just around the corner. I literally ran, with tripod and camera in hand, towards the header flames because that’s all you could see. I almost seriously injured myself when I was running because I ran directly into the guardrail which I couldn’t see in the pitch dark, but I wasn’t about to let pain stop me from getting a shot. As I stood in front of the Winged Express I entered another world filled with nitro fumes and cackling pipes. I got the shot and moved between the Rat Trap and Winged Express and I was truly in Fuel Altered heaven. I took a few seconds from shooting, to experience the Ring of Fire while most of the cars were still running. The sky was filled with header flames all around me; it was a feeling that cannot be put into words. After the altereds, I remember seeing the Vagabond and slowly the cackle got softer and cars were shutting off. Then the screams and cheers from the fans began and the fireworks went off at the top end of the track.
With Troy solidly in the field, getting to see my first Cacklefest, and participating in the Inaugural Ring of Fire, last night was a night I will always remember. First round of top fuel is in three hours.
October 6th 2002 – 4:45 P.M.
Well the reunion is over now. Troy won round one vs. Jennings on a wholeshot. Troy ran a 6.18 at 220 to Jennings’ quicker 6.12 at 216, but with Troy’s .413 reaction time he was able to hold off Jennings. There were a few high five second runs and the first 250 mph run ever at the reunion by Jack Harris. I shot first round on the line and second round at the top end getting parachute shots. Troy faced Bill Dunlap in round two. Troy cut another amazing reaction time, .497, but got out of shape and was forced to lift around half track giving Dunlap the win. Troy’s day was over, but the team had nothing to hold their heads down about. Out of twenty eight top fuel cars, we were in the middle of the quickest sixteen car top fuel field ever at any race in history. We proved we could run with the big dogs of vintage top fuel racing, especially on their turf. Dunlap went on to defeat Denver Schutz in the “B” final and Jack Harris defeated Glenn Hutchison in top fuel “A.” In Jr. Fuel Dean Carter defeated Kelly Craig with a unbelievable 7.11 at 188 mph to Craig’s 7.12 at 185 mph. The weekend was filled with nice weather, tons of ecstatic fans, and plenty of nitro for everyone. People had so many things to see and do at the Reunion that made this event the most fun and entertaining drag race I have ever been to. The famous faces and beautifully restored vintage dragsters have no comparison. To anyone who has not been to the California Hot Rod Reunion I highly recommend it. I had a blast with the Troy Green Top Fuel team and shot around four hundred and fifty photos. Now it is time to hit the road back to Carrollton, TX. I hope to do it all over again next year.