In what can be deemed the smoothest "hey get me on!"/access thread in Golf Club Atlas history, I just wanted to let the Northwest contingent know I'll be in Kent on April 26th-29 for the Bucky's Fire, Smoke & Thunder Drag Race at Pacific Raceway.

 About 37 years ago, (I was 11 years old) one day I walked down the street past a neighbor's house and they asked me to help them push their race car on to a trailer. That push became a shove which, I would end up getting involved into an obsession that pretty much dominated my teenage and young adult years until my other obsession took root, and that of course was golf.

During that time, I became friends with a lot of name people in the sport of drag racing, one of them one of my very great lifelong friends, famed funny car chassis builder, Steve Plueger. So, despite my best warnings of a past where I tried to juggle the two obsessions at once.

Just when I thought I was out, they dragged me back in.....literally!

So, along with the driver, the famed Northwest Hitter, Bucky Austin, owner of Bucky's Complete Auto Repair, a very successful chain of 17 stores in the Pugent Sound area, we'll be running Bucky's sponsored race a week from Friday through Sunday.

I'll probably be pulling into town with the race car in tow on Thursday and if there is any chance of golf--very minimal--it will be sometime Thursday--IF--there aren't any problems on the way up there. (a lot can happen with a 44' fifth wheel trailer loaded to the hilt!)(I'm still trying to figure out how I can hide my golf clubs!)

Here's the car:

It's a 1977 Plymouth Arrow Fiberglass replica and the class we run is a relatively new one called Nostalgia Funny Car, consisting of Funny Cars from Drag Racings Golden Age (of sorts) The 1970's. In these images, the motor isn't in the car, but it's a nitromethane-fueled monster which should run 5.80 seconds @ 245 MPH in the quarter mile. (hopefully more)

For all the times Tommy has had fun with me on here, I think it's high time for someone to do a little photoshop work to add to this thread...

Tommy, in drag.....

Joe

You could have me racing Eric Idle and Dan Ackroyd! (from an old SNL skit)

Drag racing?  I thought it was an attempt to speed up play for those days when its cart paths only.

Tommy,

You got my numbers.  
Call me.
Hey, is Bucky related to Pat Austin?
I've known Pat since High School.
I'm recovering from surgery so I won't be able to golf, but I'll do my best to make sure we connect.
You have fun in Kent, a place where NASCAR meets the hood.  

Jesse, Bucky is Pat's uncle, and as you probably know, Pat's dad is Walt, who also owns his own radiator and repair shops.
I'll be calling you!

I didn't know the Dodgers were pulling out of Vero. They live for the Dodgers down there.

Thanks for the warning, I'll get my ear plugs out while your in town.  

Next time ou're in town we'll get you a tour of the two new courses in Tacoma.

Tommy,
A drag race near Seattle. In April? Do dragsters have rain tires? Are you trying to tempt the weather gods? 10 day forecast already says showers. You will probably have plenty of time to visit with the locals.

The same thing just occured to me as I checked my local forecast.  I would guess dragsters and rain don't mix very well.

Yes, but how many of you have actually voted for Big Daddy?

His museum is far from Vero -- better bet is to take in Ted Williams' museum, a shrine to baseball, fishing, and real-estate shilling but, sadly, not cryogenics.

And nowwww....


THURSDAY THURSDAY THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!
One day only!!!!!!!!!
Tommy Nock and his NITRO BURNING funny car!!!!!!!!!
Down. And. [size=8]DIRTY!!!![/size] dirty!!! [size=0.5]dirtyyyyyyy.........[/size]

Mark, Steve Evans, who was the one that started those types of radio ads was an old acquaintance. In fact, I was recently emailing with his son telling him how much his Dad meant to the sport. Both he and another old name, Bill Donor were legendary icons in the days of old Orange County International Raceway and Irwindale Drag Strips. They both managed and ran those tracks, as well as Pacific Raceway, then known as Seattle International Raceway, where we'll hopefully be running next weekend!

Peter, I hope to bring the sun with me!

Bill Cosgrove, Make sure you I.M. me your phone number in case we get a break in the action.

Kalen, No they don't! Especially when you equate the costs to  get there. Especially with the cost of diesel fuel to get the tow rig there.

Tommy: Can you say SUUUUUNNDAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still go to classic car auctions and the muscle cars are nuts - they're all in such pristine condition and we all know that we beat the crap out of them and blew the engines when they were new and somehow they claim that they still have the original motors.

Great to hear we have a GCA'er at the helm at Chambers Bay.
 

Actutally that is two GCA'ers since both Jay and Nyk are GCAers.