FRIDAY
- TEST SESSION
Leading off testing
were a pair of bad ass 200 mph nitro TF bikes. This is Sam Wills from Tulsa who is a IDBA 3
time Top Fuel Champion. In 1984 Sam was the last Top Fuel motorcycle
rider to win a NHRA US Nationals, the last year they were contested.
He was just 20 years old when he won his first Top Fuel Bike
race at Fremont Dragway, CA in 1975.
Mitch Brown hails
from Kansas. He owns Monster Race Products. They build motorcycle
engine cases, cylinder blocks and heads.
Both bikes run
the Mancup Motorcycle Drag Racing Series. Both of these bikes
are based on a Suzuki, both have frames built by Sam Willis in
his Tulsa shop. Bikes use a B&J 2 speed transmission. Brown
is carrying the number 1 plate indicative of his Championship
last season.
The first NTF car to test the
track was Jim Murphy who was one of three drivers that were still
in the window to win the 2021 Heritage NTF champion title. Also,
Murphy's WW2 Racing fueler was one of four teams that made the
trek from California.
If there is a lap available,
Bobby and Tyler Hilton will make the call. Still trying to sort
things out after their massive explosion and fire at Bowling
Green, Bob needs all the data he can get.
Throughout the weekend fans paid
for a back seat ride in these 8 second dragsters. The two seater
was $250 and the three seater was just $150.
Adam Sorokin at the hit.
Eventual A/F winner Ken
"Doc" Bates.
Garry
Wheeler in the Grand Prix Auto Sports Center A/FD.
TOP
FUEL Q1 FRIDAY NIGHT
Waiting until after 9 pm to run
the first qualifying session makes for a long day at the track
but sure makes for cooler conditions. The first pair out was
Dan Horan Jr. from Sylmar, CA and Tim Cullinan out of Franklin
Park, Il.
Horan ripped off a stout 5.601
at 263 serving notice he was here to race. Cullinan clicked it early to a 6.115 at 203.98.
Next out were a pair of California
cars. Brendan Murry in his "Running Wild Racing" entry
and Adam Sorokin in the Champion Speed Shop small block car.
Sorokin went immediately
into tire smoke while Murry was away clean.
Not giving up, Adam was
on and off the throttle trying to get hooked up.
Sorokin salvaged what he could
to card a 7.339 at 210 while Murry shut off early to a 8.929
at just 94.59.
Out for a single was local boy
Garry Wheeler in the ever improving Grand Prix Auto fueler. As
a side note, this car was once fielded by the late Brian Van
Dyke under the RB Entertainment Enterprises banner with Adam
Sorokin driving.
Wheeler was off the throttle
early coasting to 9.387 at 101.91.
Q1
FUNNY CAR
With only 4 cars contesting the
Funny Car trophy, there wasn't a lot of urgency to make the show.
All four cars opted to make a single in the right lane. First
out was Jeff Gregory out of Elk Grove, CA in his "Madness"
entry.
Gregory hung the front
end and eased it to a 7.95.
Then it was Kamaka Pocock
in the potent "California Hustler" Trans Am.
After some good early
numbers Pocock clicked it to a 6.47.
The Austin & O'Brien team
made the haul to Tulsa with every intent of locking up the championship
before the CHRR in October. With Bobby Cottrell in the seat it
served notice that the mission was at hand.
Never one to pussy-foot around
with his tune-ups, Bucky came out of the box with a 5.658.
The fourth car was Nancy Matter.
Her story was very short. Kicked the rods out on the burnout.
Load up, go home. Not the outing they were looking for.
PITS
N PEOPLE
Team Horan servicing their late model hemi after Q1.
Jon Brook overseeing the mountainous
on his two cars, the Grand Prix Auto Top Fuel and A/Fuel dragsters.
Never a shortage of bodies
in the Bucky Austin pit.
The legendary Alison Lee has
never outgrown her role as a Top Fuel crew tuner. She's a regular
member of her Tyler Hilton crew and is hands on. Just a super
lady.
Jim Murphy's weekend got off to an ominous
start when he killed a crankshaft on his afternoon test run.
That led to a complete engine swap that went on into the night.
It also caused him to miss the first qualifying session.
Top Fuel Test & Qualifying - Session
1
- Page 1
Q2 and Eliminations - Page 2
Nostalgia Race Coverage like
this and more importantly the drag racing history on WDIFL will
cease sooner than later if racers and fans don't start supporting
WDFIL again. Thanks, Don
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