January 12/09
Well folks, its 2009 and I feel pretty good about life. No, I’m not going soft on you. I’ll continue to criticize and highlight the flaws of others for our entertainment, but now we need to face the current pain of readjusting our economy. The markets were out of control and now we can make things right. Too bad the “average Joe” took the financial hit. A lot of so called professionals should be behind bars for the frauds they committed along with politicians who allowed them to do it. It is difficult not to be cynical. We recently witnessed some shameful self-centered politics here in Canada, and in the U.S., partisan Republicans are already trying to undermine the economic recovery plan that Obama is putting into place. Too bad our politicians will not embrace the ‘philosophy of success’ that leaders like Joe Gibbs or Don Schumacher incorporate into their motorsport teams.

Anyhow, Gloria and I are fortunate not to have taken a financial hit and for that I thank one of my old CA’s for his wisdom. From what I have seen the National Hot Rod Association should be ok for ’09. They have stability in their system that includes good race tracks, solid event scheduling and long term primary sponsors. The International Hot Rod Association seems to be in the exact opposite position. They have dropped three tracks in major market areas, have no primary sponsors and event scheduling is suspect. The IHRA magazine, Drag Review, is short on details since new ownership was announced in the fall. Actually, the magazine is short on content...period! IHRA President Aaron Polburn is publicly upset with the rampant rumor mill, particularly on the internet. I will not contribute to the rumors but I will say that from what I have heard there is reason for concern. Aaron and IHRA owner Feld Motorsports need to be forthcoming and honest and they need to do it now! There are a lot of stakeholders whose future is being jeopardized. The IHRA has a place in motorsports. They brought professional drag racing back to Canada with some of the tours most successful events. Unfortunately, the legacy of the IHRA has always been that of uncertainty and it looks to remain that way. I hope I’m proven wrong on this one. Many pro teams are feeling the pinch of sponsorship money decreasing or drying up all together. This will open the door for others and the fields should be full.

And finally this. Congratulations to Cayuga, Ontario’s FJ (Fred) Smith on the announcement of his upcoming induction into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Fred has many times been honoured internationally for his innovation and professional standards in building Super Stock and Modified Production drag race cars. Fred’s wife Betsy has co-managed their production facility and been an active volunteer in both racing and community events. Their company pretty much laid the blueprints and standards for the new-era Super Stockers that are the front wheel to rear wheel drive conversions. I’ll tell you, there is nothing prettier than an FJ built Pontiac Sunfire with 800 horsepower under the hood leaving the line with the front end 3 feet in the air, running a full second or more under the national index. There are ‘bragging rights’ to owning an FJ built Super Stocker. Fred’s quality of workmanship has rewarded his clients with considerable wins and records and he has maintained this standard for 30 years. Fred’s done some stuff for me over the years, most notably a stainless steel air intake screen-cone for the General Electric J-85 engine in my Jet Funny Car. When completed it was the most sophisticated and geometrically perfect one on the entire jet car circuit. I doubt that you will see a picture of my jet car blasting out fireballs on the wall of Fred’s ‘door slammer’ shop, but he did that job with the same pride in workmanship that he does with everything. That will be Fred’s legacy and I won’t be proven wrong on that one.