Pat McDermott Update

The Phoenix Bugorama has come and gone and one "BIG" name was missing from the Pro Mod lineup, Pat McDermott. He is currently working his butt off to finish his Fiat and hopefully make the PRA season finale in Las Vegas. Pat says, "Doesn't really look it, but stuff is getting done." The fuel cell which held the gas that created the large fireball over Fontana last November is getting a protective cage of its own. Almost everything on the car has to be hand fabricated so it understandably takes some time. "Still a lot of road ahead but I'll just keep plugging away", said Pat. For now enjoy some pictures of the progress.

Virgina Sport Compact Nationals

After the first round of qualifying at the NHRA XPLOD Sport Compact Drag Racing Series being held at Virginia Motorsports Park, Larry Kelley and the Cal-Look Express are currently qualified 3rd. Only three drivers are currently qualified and Larry could only manage a 15.236 ET at 54.05 MPH the first time down the track. Jerry Lewis driving a '68 Bug is currently qualified 2nd with a 11.033 ET at 126.33 MPH. We will post the updates as we get them.

UPDATE #2 - Qualifying
Larry didn't make a run in the second round of qualifying and remained in the #3 spot. He did improve his ET and MPH during the 3rd round of elminations with an 11.574 ET at 122.70 but move into the #2 spot. Brian Ballard ('07 Cobalt) qualified #1 with a 10.060 ET at 117.78 MPH, Jerry Lewis ('68 Beetle) is #2 with an 11.033 ET at 126.33. Eliminations start at 1:30 AM EST on Sunday, April 22nd.

UPDATE #3 - Eliminations
A VW is in the final for the Quick 16, it is not Larry Kelley but Jerry Lewis. Kelley was a little late off the line with a 0.492 RT and clicked off a 12.410 on a 11.57 dial-in but wasn't good enough to beat Jerry in his '68 VW who ran an 11.333 ET on an 11.03 dial-in. Jerry will face Brian Ballard in his '07 Cobalt in the Quick 16 finals.

UPDATE #4 - Final Round
Jerry Lewis in his '68 VW took out Brian Ballard in a '07 Cobalt in the final round of the Quick 16 category. Jerry had a huge advantage off the line with a 0.033 RT to Brian's 0.248 and ran a 10.483 to a 9.367.

Check out a few pictures provided by Curtis Fisk.

ACDRM.com Wallpaper

Three new wallpapers (Doug Gonzalez, Dino Bakolas and Jon Schweers) have been added to the ACDRM.com Wallpaper section from the BUGORAMA in Phoenix last week.

CLICK HERE to view all past and present wallpapers.

2007 Point Standings Update

The Pro Racing Association (PRA) held their first event of the year last weekend and their points are updated in our Point Standings page.

Congrats again to the winners, Hector Urias (Pro Mod sponsored by G. Serrano VW Parts and Service), Greg Tims (Super Street sponsored by Heads Up Performance), "Muffler Mike" Sheldon (Super Comp sponsored by Bugformance of Sacramento), Cory Sacchette (Super Gas sponsored by VWTurboKits.com), Richard Laitinen (Super Modifed sponsored by Clyde Berg Heads and Motors) and Ernie Crowley (Pro Eliminator sponsored by DPR MAchine Shop Pro).

Texas Volks Blast - May 6th, 2007

In a little over two weeks the inaugural Texas Volks Blast will be taking place at Temple Raceway which is located 9 miles south of Temple, Texas on Hwy 95 near Little River. "Dyno Don" Chamberlain will be calling all the drag racing action which includes the Hot Rod Performance Automotive Pro Stock Class ($2500.00 payout with a minimum 12 car field), CB Performance Bracket Class ($2,000.00 payout guaranteed) and the Oak Hill Automotive Street Class ($100.00 payout to winner, $50.00 payout to runner-up with a minimum 6 car field) . In addition to these classes anybody can take a run down the 1/8 mile drag strip and Lo' Cash Racing will be awarding $100.00 cash awards to the "cosmetically challenged" entry with the lowest elapsed time in the Street or Time Trials classes. During the day prizes/items will be given away from generous companies such as Air Head Parts, Mid America Motorworks, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Meguiars. Drag racing isn't the only think taking place, there will be a car show, inflatable "Firehouse Dog" bounce house/slide running all day, as well as three candy-filled pinatas for the kids to whack around. Eric Ellis has provided us a preview of the awards that will be handed out for the car show winners. For more information on the Texas Volks Blast visit the event website at www.texasvolksblast.com.

2007 Point Standings

We have added a Point Standings section back to the site, similar to what we had in '06. As of today we have the current standings for the NASA Pro-VW Drag Racing Series, Texas Volkswagen Drag Racing Association and Volkswagen Drag Racing Club. Check back often as we will be updating the points throughout the '07 season.

BUGORAMA In Phoenix

ARTICLE BY JASON CULLEY
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN WATTS
With a thin layer of sand covering portions of the track from winds swirling around Firebird Raceway for most of the day, it was a slippery and nervous day for many racers.

Read The Rest Of The Story >>

Tywon Mitchell's New Look

Pro Racing Association (PRA) driver Tywon Mitchell will debut his new look Pro Mod in May at Bugorama #59 presented by Niello Volkswagen at Sacramento Raceway Park. Tywon sported a flat black paint job on his "Still Fatal" '66 VW Sedan in 2006 powered by a 2332cc engine. Along with the new paint Tywon has a few other tricks up his sleeve but you will have to wait until Sacramento for that. So check out Tywon and the Underpressure Racing Team next month and if you get a chance try and get some of their BBQ, I heard it is the best in the pits!

Kelley Places Third In Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

Former VW drag racer and current NHRA Sony XplodSport Compact Racing Series All Motor competitor Scott Kelley finished 3rd in the professional category and 7th overall in the 2007 Toyota Pro Celebrity Race held in Long Beach, California. In the professional category Scott finished behind NASCAR Crafstman Truck Series driver Mike Skinner and X-Games Champion Bucky Lasek to take 3rd place in the professional category.

You can check out the story by clicking HERE.

"Blow It Up!"

On May 1st and 2nd Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, IL will be hosting the filming of the new show called "Blow It Up". "Blow It Up!" is one part of a new series titled "Launch Hour" on the Speed Channel in association with Rich Christensen Presents. The premise of the show is that competitors/speedshops from around the United States will run the 1/8th mile, hot lapping until one competitor/speedshop breaks, cannot make it back to the line or "Blows It Up!". NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican will be the host of the show and Ray Iddings of Volkscast Radio will be on hand calling all the races.

Air cooled power will be represented when Art Thraen of Air Cooled Engineering (www.aircooledengineering.com) faces off against Jake Raby of Raby's Aircooled Techology (www.aircooledtechnology.com). Art will be bringing Type I power while Jake will be bringing none other then the Type IV power. Jake has secured the driving skills of Pro Racing Association's "Muffler" Mike Sheldon while Art will be handling the driving on his own.

If you are in the Cordova area check out "Blow It Up!" for FREE!. For more information on "Blow It Up!" and other shows from the new series of "Launch Hour" check out www.launchhour.tv.

BUGORAMA In Phoenix - Update #2

Just got off the phone with Brian Watts who is in windy Arizona. He reported that Super Comp racer Esther Hollister (E-Girl) crashed in eliminations. She is okay, although it took her awhile to get out of the car. She spun twice and then went decklid first into the retaining wall. Not sure if the car is salvagable, he did say there was quite a bit of damage. Hopefully we will know some more in the next couple of days.

Look for a full race recap and photographs in the next day or so.

BUGORAMA In Phoenix - Update

Brian Watts has checked in from the BUGORAMA in Phoenix and provided a quick update for us. According to Brian the winds are horrible and there has been some talk of stopping the race early as many cars have been within door handles of striking the walls. Oil downs have also stopped the action on a few occasions. Here is the Pro Mod breakdown:

Eric Madson qualified #1 with a 8.85 ET and will have a bye in the first round. Hector Urias qualified #2 with a 9.29 ET and will face #5 qualifier Frank Estrada in round one. The 2006 PRA Pro Mod Champion Eric Calabrese qualified in the #3 spot with a 9.63 ET and will face #4 qualifier John Redding who ran a 9.68 ET.

Hopefully we can get some more updates soon but if not please check back on Monday/Tuesday for a race recap and some great photos from Brian Watts.

Picture of the Week

ACDRM.com staff member Brian Watts (Photography916) is opening his extensive vault of aircooled drag racing photos for display. Each week we will bring you a differant photo and are starting out with a photo of Mike Smith at Sacramento Raceway in the early '80s. To view the Picture of the Week - CLICK HERE. Enjoy.

Wayne Axford, ACDRM.com Trading Card #20

Wayne Axford is the latest addition to our Air Cooled Drag Racing Monthly Virtual Trading Card collection. Starting with Wayne's card I am using a new design, closer to the style we are going to get printed up in the real near future.

You can view the back of his card and the rest of the collection by CLICKING HERE.

To get your own ACDRM.com Trading Card send an email to jculley@acdrm.com.

Easter Thunderball . . . VWDRC Event #1

STORY BY CHRIS BRAY
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICH GRANT

The 2007 VWDRC Committee would like to congratulate its winners and runners up from the Easter Thunderball at the weekend.

Massive congratulations to VW Sportsman's winner Pauly Herbert and runner-up Graham Fairhead, VW Pro's winner Dude Ellis and runner-up Glynn Morgan and VW Alternate Engine's winner Mark Skeen and runner-up Ian Huggan.

All the VW Classes where very close fought and we seem to have lost a few gearboxes over the weekend! It looks like club sponsor Bears Motorsports Transmissions (0121 742 2200) is going to be busy before the clubs next round at Big Bang (http://www.big-bang.co.uk), marking the long awaited return of VW vs V8 racing when the VWDRC play host to the Outlaw Anglia's!

For more news and information about UK's the largest and longest running VW drag racing club go to http://www.vwdrc.com.

PRA Rulebook Online

For the first time ever you can download the Pro Racing Association (PRA) rulebook directly from their website. If you visit www.racepra.com and look for the green button near the top, it is only a click away. The PRA begins its 2007 campaign this coming weekend at the Bugorama in Phoenix at Firebird Raceway. Look for the full report and pictures from Brian Watts after the event.

Air Cooled Drag Racer Tribulations w/Michael Meyer

MOTIVATED BY TARZAN?

It’s really difficult to get motivated when I’m motor-less and knowing that I probably won’t make the PRA opener in Arizona. There really isn’t anyone to blame for not making the first race. I guess I could blame myself. It has to do with spreading myself too thin. My kid’s junior drag racing and little league baseball seem to take up a bunch of time. “(fill in the next excuses here)” I know, excuses are like a—holes, everyone has one . . .

Read The Rest Of The Story >>

"Buster John" Looking Good!

Pro Racing Association (PRA) Super Gas driver "BusterJohn" Varela got tired of his '66 VW Bug being one the ugliest at the track (his words not mine!). So this spring John decided it was time to get the car painted so he could compete in the looks department as well on the drag srtip. He will debut the new look on April 15 at the Bugorama in Phoenix being held at Firebird Raceway.

The Cal Look Express, Stop #1

Larry Kelley and his '56 VW Cal Look Express made its first stop of the season at the Palm Beach Sport Compact Nationals at Moroso Motorsports Park in Jupiter, FL this weekend. He is running in the Quick 16 class until his new motor is ready that will allow him to compete in the Honda Tuning All Motor class against of all people his son, Scott Kelley.

Larry qualified in the #15 position of the Quick 16 class with a 10.746 ET at 124.94 MPH. In the first round he faced Chris Gore in a '96 Supra but lost on a red light (-.009).

The Cal Look Express and Larry Kelley were a big hit this weekend at the track and were interviewed by the Palm Beach Post. To read the interview you can click HERE.

Cory Mac Tracker

During the 2007 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) season ACDRM.com is going to report about the happenings of former air cooled drag racer Corey McClenathan.

Cory enters the 20th Annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston, TX sitting in the 10th spot in the 2007 NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He has 118 points, 153 points behind the leader Rod Fuller.

Cory qualified in the #16 spot with a 4.689 ET at 276.86 MPH and will face the #1 qualifier, Whit Bazemore. Only two rounds of qualifying were completed due to rainy conditions.

ROUND 1 ELIMINATIONS
Cory spun the tires, peddled and dropped a few cylinders, Whit Bazemore ran a 4.559 ET at 320.05 MPH. Whit will face Joe Hartley in the second round of elimintaions.