Thunder in the Pipes

December 19, 2012 Part 3: Not enough Funny Cars?

Tommy Ivo with his Rod Shop-sponsored Funny Car arrived at PIR with this glass-sided trailer that he was famous for. He was always the showman.

The race fans at Portland International Raceway had been buying tickets for about eight hours since the gates had opened early in the morning that day.

October 22, 2012 Part 2: Let's see, how many Funny Cars?

The traditional fire-up always took place just before the first round of racing. The cars were lined up on both sides of the raceway with the crowd chanting a countdown, which was a customary salute to the annual 32 Funny Car show at PIR.

Bill Doner has always been a huge risk taker, willing to let it all happen, to do something bigger and better than before. As a former sports writer for a Southern California newspaper, you would think that he could juggle a lot of things, even though they were very complicated.

October 09, 2012 Part 1: 32 Funny Cars or double money back

Bill Doner relaxes on a trip to Rome. Doner received the Founder's Award into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Bill Doner has always been famous for his outlandish, one-of-a-kind promotions. As President of International Raceway Parks Inc., in the 1970s, his corporation produced events at seven different race tracks throughout the west.

August 30, 2012 Thunder in the Pipes: The perfect presentation

The photo was presented to Don Prudhomme and his friends. (From left, Artist Kenny Youngblood, Competition Specialties owner Steve Woomer, Prudhomme, the author and Hall of Famer Bill Doner.

The stage was set for the Last Strike Tour to arrive at the NHRA national event as Don Prudhomme hangs up his driving career in 1994. Kenny Youngblood had arrived in Seattle with the gorgeous painting of that rare photo of Prudhomme in his early Funny Car days.

July 30, 2012 Thunder in the Pipes: Snake and the rare photo

Rather than a blown-up of the original photo it was a perfect plan to have Kenny Youngblood produce a painting of this important moment in the Snake's life.

What in the world do you get as a retirement gift for Don Prudhomme?

July 03, 2012 Thunder in the pipes: Snake and the rare photo

It's hard to imagine that this young boy could take such a perfect shot of the Snake at SIR. All four wheels were completely off the ground.

In the winter of 1993, I attended the annual NHRA Track Operators' Meetings, which are akin to the Winter Meetings for major-league baseball.

June 21, 2012 Part 6: 64 Funny Cars - Force comes through

Making deals with the professional racers often was a little tough to do for 64 Funny Cars.

April 07, 2012 Part 5: 64 Funny Cars - Massive crowd only part of problem

The ticket-selling started at 6 p.m. Friday evening for the 1979 edition of 64 Funny Cars. Race fans would buy their tickets and then camp out in a huge parking area, waiting for dawn to then enter the race track.