Kalitta - Toyota

[fuelfan]

How is the Toyota body working out for Kalitta?

I know what his on-track performance has been but do they see potential for it?

I was under the impression that Toyota had several veterans in funny car that would be using their shell next year.

[anotheridiot]

They see tons of potential again, and judging by Scotties better performance at the nationals, the downforce really seemed to help the tuneup the have been using. Eventually they smoked the tires trying to push it too hard, but it is definitely a beauty.

As far as the rest of the drivers out there, I think it is up in the air.

For whatever reason, Toyota runs everything past Alan Johnson. Apparantly the money Toyota has to offer challenges the money he is making as dons crew chief. When he had the toyota body before he struggled to get the car to perform. So whenever I hear toyota's name, it is quickly followed by Alan Johnson. Eventually Alan is gonna have to run the Toyota team or Toyota might just get the body to as many drivers as carbon fiber is availiable. Its been all Ford and Dodge, the chevy has really fallen off. If Toyota can get more bodies out there I am sure a bunch of guys would turn in their chevys.

[512 T/F]

A Funny Car to me is the essence of American drag racing, so a Toyota body is hard to accept for me, still I like the body and it seems like its going to work,

[marks599]

I totaly see what your saying but with force having the sole deal with ford, shoe dosent have total rights but most of the money with mopar, i hope toyota does come on strong. Also heard rumor that indie jeff the surfer diehl might run a toyota in ihra next year!

[gary4205]

That new Toyota is a slick deal. It works so much better than the older body. Having Toyota more involved in the sport can only help. Some of you may be too young to remember, but Gary Densham and John Collins ran Datsun bodied Funny Cars in the late 70s early 80s.

It wouldn't be a bad deal if NHRA allowed Toyota to try and build a Pro Stocker. It could only focus more attention on the sport!

[CrewGuy]

That new Toyota is a slick deal. It works so much better than the older body. Having Toyota more involved in the sport can only help. Some of you may be too young to remember, but Gary Densham and John Collins ran Datsun bodied Funny Cars in the late 70s early 80s.
http://www.crewguysplace.com/Kalitta_Foose_2.jpg

[dragnut888]

:) I can't wait to see if Alan Johnson will head up a Toyota deal next season. I have been a Alan Johnson since his Alcahol days with Blain. I remember the imports in the old days not being very competitive but things have come a long way. I'm still an all American guy but it will help the sport in general if Toyota becomes more involved. There are a lot of Toyota fans in the world. If Alan dumps DSR and goes out on his own with Toyota, I'll be right there still a huge fan. Do you suppose Kalitta and Johnson would team up?? They do have the first body and will be ready for next year.:confused:

[fuelfan]

Wouldn't that be cool, Conrad with 4 Toyota funny cars and Alan Johnson as the overall crew cheif???

[Nitro1102]

Diehl had one of Toliver's old Toyota Schick cars running IHRA already this year; already cracked his body at the IHRA event in Martin.

[damnyankee]

i'd love to see an rx8 funny car

[fuelfan]

Too bad Doug Kalitta is in the points chase in NHRA TF, he could take Scott's FC to IHRA and compete for the championship over there.

[speedPhreak]

Some of you may be too young to remember, but Gary Densham and John Collins ran Datsun bodied Funny Cars in the late 70s early 80s.
even a couple of the nhra "pace cars" back in that time were datsuns as well.

http://zhome.com/zcarfilesJPEG/NHRA.jpg

[gary4205]

even a couple of the nhra "pace cars" back in that time were datsuns as well.

http://zhome.com/zcarfilesJPEG/NHRA.jpg


Man, I'm gettin' old! Got a picture of me at Green Valley next to a Datsun wagon "pace car"! Thanks for jogging those memories from the cobwebs!

[Billy W]

Don't be suprised if a Toyota or some other so called import company doesn't try and step into PS...lots of strange things have been seen in High Point near the toyota camps office for their cup deal.....

i realy like the funny car toyotas that is... pretty trick...

Billy W

[fuelfan]

I am sure pro stock isn't far off for the Toyota's

[RWSharp]

A Funny Car to me is the essence of American drag racing, so a Toyota body is hard to accept for me, still I like the body and it seems like its going to work,

The Toyota Solara is built by American workers in Georgetown, Kentucky USA. :)

[fuelfan]

Now it looks like there will be a Toyota Solara in Pro Mod as well!

Written by CompetitionPlus
Saturday, 23 September 2006


Shannon Jenkins and Mike Castellana were going to build late model cars for the 2007 season. Jenkins was banking on a GTO and Castellana was going to have a Mustang GT. After the IHRA made their adjustment banning Pro Stock legal bodies, the duo planned to run a pair of 1963 Corvettes. Apparently that plan has changed and now Jenkins is reportedly planning to field a brand new Toyota Solara. Even though this car is a late-model, it is legal because the rule stipulates the bodies cannot be legal for Pro Stock. Pro Stock rules mandate that all bodies must be domestic.

[speedPhreak]

Pro Stock rules mandate that all bodies must be domestic.i know your post wasn't about pro stock, but thanks for posting that piece. i was totally unaware that they had to be domestic bodies.

[Nater99]

On the topic of pro mod here. Is the reason that late model domestics are illegal an aerodynamics type of thing?

[anotheridiot]

I thought Coughlin has a new promod beast that is newer cobalt?

And please dont tell me about the American workers assembling Toyota or any imports in the united states. The only reason it is done is so the consumer doesnt have to pay the tariffs like on a porsche or mercedes for a complete car to be brought into the country. Toyota ships parts that us idiots can assemble like legos to keep the price of the car down. Nobody would buy a $60,000 camry.

[enraeh]

Nobody would buy a $60,000 camry.

Is that for the carbon fiber option?

[anotheridiot]

Is that for the carbon fiber option?

No, I'm just saying if the camry was imported complete like a porsche or mercedes the same car would cost 60k with the tariffs. The trade of parts arent charged like a complete car would be.

[speedPhreak]

No, I'm just saying if the camry was imported complete like a porsche or mercedes the same car would cost 60k with the tariffs. The trade of parts arent charged like a complete car would be.
****! so all this time i've been thinking that i spent a little extra cash on a sports car because it hauls a$$, you're telling me i was really paying to have the heap shipped over here from germany in one piece? :D ;) :p

[anotheridiot]

If its a true imported sports car then yes, you paid for it to haul ass and to have it hauled here.

Its the only way these kia, toyota dawoo pieces of **** are so affordable. It all started when the buy american mottos were started.

See, we allow companies to buy from outside the country. China is a good example. Companies were buying steel from china. the us said they were gonna start start charging tariffs on the steel so companies would get the steel industries going back here. As soon as they heard about it, they stopped all shipments of coke that we import from china to run our antique furnaces to make steel. it was a matter of days that the tariffs were lifted. It hasnt worked as well with the buy american car deals since clinton let them import all these parts for free.

[fuelfan]

How do you explain being able to buy a Toyota 4runner for under $30k and it's made in Japan?

I believe the reason Toyota's are made in Kentucky and soon in Texas as well is to meet the demands of the consumer. Toyota is poised to become the largest car maker in the world in the next few years.

Face it, Detroit car makers have been losing their shorts for years, most of the stuff they turn out is junk too.

I know I'll get flamed, sad but true...

Your name might fit...

[enraeh]

No, I'm just saying if the camry was imported complete like a porsche or mercedes the same car would cost 60k with the tariffs. The trade of parts arent charged like a complete car would be.

I figured since carbon fiber FC bodies are 150K and up for domestic body styles, someone might be able to get an import sedan for considerably less

[gary4205]

I thought Coughlin has a new promod beast that is newer cobalt?

And please dont tell me about the American workers assembling Toyota or any imports in the united states. The only reason it is done is so the consumer doesnt have to pay the tariffs like on a porsche or mercedes for a complete car to be brought into the country. Toyota ships parts that us idiots can assemble like legos to keep the price of the car down. Nobody would buy a $60,000 camry.

Hate to tell you but Chrysler has sent parts to Canada and Mexico for years only to come back as complete cars and trucks. And YES this was WAY before the "merger of equals" with Diamler-Benz!

GM has imported cars for years from Opel, Diahatsu, and Kia, just to name a few.

I'm a die hard Mopar guy. But this is a world economy, that will never change. Toyota builds great cars. If they want to build 'em here and employ Americans, that's good. People think history started yesterday! Ford and GM and to a lesser extent Chrysler have had overseas operations for decades. ( Ever heard of an Anglia?) Ford also owns Jag, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Volvo, and Mazda.

The big deal is that for many years the quality of American cars were in the crapper. The Japanese saw an inroad and took it. I think all of the major companies make good products now. It's all about preferance.

Harley Davidson had the same problems. Poor build quality and poor styling allowed Honda, Kawasaki and others to just kill 'em. H-D's quality is pretty good now and everyone is trying to copy them.

Again, it is a world market, go to H-D's website and see if they don't have operations world wide.

Sorry to get so far out , just wanted to put some reality out there!:rolleyes:

[anotheridiot]

The canada to mexico stuff is all NAFTA. I know our economy is all screwed up with nafta. I am an industrial painter,powdercoater and anodizer. All the huge companies that were all over the suburbs of chicago all moved down to texas. The fabricate the parts, have them painted or plated, drive a truck over the border to Mexico and have the stuff assembled for the equivalent of 2.00 an hour, no benefits, no OT, people live in boxes all week and go home on weekends. That is NAFTA, basically a way to move parts to get them assembled cheaper somewhere else without paying taxes. Chevy does alot of assembly in canada and mexico, nafta allows them to keep pricing down. China is completely different. Raw materials and parts are not subject to tariffs. Its a way to get them to hire american workers to put the legos together, but it also saves them billions a year, billions that would be passed along to the consumer, prices would go up.

We are being used, plain and simple. Are we allowed to do the same in china? Ummmm no. They dont demand our junk. Us americans demand their product here so it is all demand. But if china pulled their money out of our economy the stock market would fall overnight. So we gotta kiss their asses and make it sound like they are helping us to buy their products. GM goes to mexico and canada to be able to keep prices down so they can still compete with the toyotas without paying the mega benefits that the unions have for the us auto workers that are making the parts.

I know its easy to bash what you dont understand, but we are turning into a country of importers. Why is Menards cheaper than Home Depot? because the parts are all imported from Menards. But 3/4" pipe at menards for 8.00 a length for made in china pipe or 10.00 at home depot for american pipe.

[speedPhreak]

If its a true imported sports car then yes, you paid for it to haul ass and to have it hauled here.
i just had to have a new engine put in my boxster in june. and i know one thing, for what they charge for one, you'd think it had been imported over here via first-class seat on the concord or something. :D
even though i was no longer covered by my warranty, i was very lucky because porsche stepped up and OFFERED to pay for 75% of the total bill. i was stoked because a lot of companies will do everything humanly possible to deny fault and get out of having to repair/replace a product that's still covered under warranty. not many are gonna even consider it if the warranty is already expired. and i'd have to guess that of those that would go that far, very few will make the offer without you having to hassle them and nag them to death, threaten lawsuits, whatever else people do. so porsche gets major kudos from me on that one. but if i would have had to pay the total bill which was for a new engine and three new radiators, i was seriously considering buying a new vehicle, albeit not a porsche, because it would have been about the same amount of money.

[Bob Korreck]

Did you guys know our military buys from China? And Mexico?

Almost all of our wiring harnesses for military aircraft and ships are made in Mexico. Ditto for automotive wiring.

Aircraft components such as wings are made in China, shipped over here and assembled to the aircraft.

You guys think our govt. is looking out for us? Think again?

[techrat_77]

This is how it will stay unless companies start to be content with paying good money for an honest day's work, covering expenses, pouring money back into the company to keep it up to date, and then making a couple bucks after all that is done. Today's companies are run by the accounting departments who look at the bottom line numbers and don't use common sense. That's how a $5 switch that will last a year is chosen over a $5.25 switch that lasts 10 years. That's the kind of thinking that has made Detroit what it is today. (Not to mention most other manufacturing companies) It's all about the $$$$ and keeping the stock owners happy. Quality isn't mentioned until no one buys the crappy product.

[anotheridiot]

I know I might have taken this off track, but it is a reason I still love drag racing. Its all American, american machine shops making pistons, rods, blocks, heads, valves, fuel pumps, tires, rims, brakes, etc, etc. It is the last true supplied by american sport. (not sure about the msd chips so I didnt mention them). If a team wants a part that nobody has, they dont call china like they are buying a space shuttle part, they use American ingenuity and make the ****ed thing so nobody else can have it. I think this is a point that alot of us old time or long time racer keep with us.

Are there race tracks in china? Do they run nitro cars? Its our sport. I dont like the fwd import class, but I also dont agree with pro stock not running fuel injection that has been stock for over 20 years now. If they are gonna run our country, oh well, not much we can do about it now, but dont mess with our drag racing. If there is such a rule to keep imports out of pro stock classes, I applaud it. But they are writing a big check to get a funny car body in the class, pumped loads of money into the import class, and eventually will end up with a prostock car.

I just wonder what 500 cubic inch motor they will want to put in the car.

[anotheridiot]

.

Harley Davidson had the same problems. Poor build quality and poor styling allowed Honda, Kawasaki and others to just kill 'em. H-D's quality is pretty good now and everyone is trying to copy them.



I can agree on most of the points, except Harley. what other company had a waiting list to get anything made. Harley didnt go the mass production route like kawasaki and honda. They have been copied by the rest of them from the beginning. Their stand was that people were gonna buy an american product, at their price, with complete american craftsmanship because it was the best bike out there. But the waiting lists were still full and people still pay 2-3 times the price to wait for their Harley. The others started mass producing plastic rice burner bikes that all look exactally the same. When they get a new model like that shadow, it was to try to get harley customers. Honda made their huge models with the plastic saddle bags to try to compete with harley.

Was it a great corporate move by harley to keep up and be the biggest and most profitable bike maker in the world? No, that would have meant bringing in parts from china to keep up and they would not give in.

Just still having a company like Harley around gives people like me some hope.

[gary4205]

I can agree on most of the points, except Harley. what other company had a waiting list to get anything made. Harley didnt go the mass production route like kawasaki and honda. They have been copied by the rest of them from the beginning. Their stand was that people were gonna buy an american product, at their price, with complete american craftsmanship because it was the best bike out there. But the waiting lists were still full and people still pay 2-3 times the price to wait for their Harley. The others started mass producing plastic rice burner bikes that all look exactally the same. When they get a new model like that shadow, it was to try to get harley customers. Honda made their huge models with the plastic saddle bags to try to compete with harley.

Was it a great corporate move by harley to keep up and be the biggest and most profitable bike maker in the world? No, that would have meant bringing in parts from china to keep up and they would not give in.

Just still having a company like Harley around gives people like me some hope.


Man, I started riding 35 years ago. Harleys were junk! I started out on Hondas. They were well built and pretty reliable. When I started drag racing it was with a Honda. I won a bunch, but they would break. I then got a big Kawasaki. I ran that ****ed thing three or four times a week! I raced it until the cylinders were oval. Then rebuilt it. It was bullit proof!

Harley does make a good bike NOW. But that was not always the case. Can you say AMF? And yes the Japanese companies are copying them. As a matter of fact, it's hard to find a good old fashioned bike any more. They are all either "cruisers" or "cafe racers". I can tell you though, that is was and is quality that keeps the Japanese bikes in business.

BTW, Honda and Kawasaki build bikes in America.

Also, does anyone remember the absolutely awful Itallian two-stroke bikes that H-D used to import? Harleys, by the way, have a fair amount of jap parts on them now. Again, it's the world economy.

It's not just NAFTA, it a lot of the environmental and safety laws. It's unions. There are just so many factors. But you are also correct that it is about money. If a company doesn't make money they will go out of business and not be able to keep their employees working. So yeah, they have to answer to share holders.

The bottom line though is that all of the companies mentioned make good products. I'm actually looking at a Harley. (If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?) The V-Rod Street Rod is one of the few "sit-up" bikes out there.

NHRA should allow import bodies in Pro Stock. (as long as they don't change any rules) Why not? If it brings more fans and more press to the sport, I'm for it. Toyota has been running the NASCAR truck series with some success and will run the Cup series next year. A lot of people hate it, but a lot of people drive Toyotas and it most certainly will brings some more fans in.

Oh well.......just my three cents.

[anotheridiot]

I never rode nor am interested in bikes. I just know alot of people that ride, basically will not ride anything except a harley. One of their kids started to ride and she bought him a honda and will let him learn on something that wont break down until he can afford his own harley. I always thought it was a made in america thing so I used it as a bad example.

Regarding prostock, how big is that truck engine?

the entry list for the next race

1 PS Greg Anderson Concord NC '06 GTO GM 499 SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT
2 PS Kurt Johnson Sugar Hill GA '06 Cobalt GM 499 A C DELCO/CHEVROLET
3 PS Jason Line Terrell NC '06 GTO GM 500 SUMMIT RACING
4 PS Warren Johnson Sugar Hill GA '06 GTO GM 499 GM PERFORMANCE PARTS/PONTIAC
5 PS Dave Connolly Elyria OH '06 Cobalt GM 499 SKULL GEAR
7 PS Greg Stanfield Bossier City LA '06 GTO Chev 500 PIRANAZ RACING
8 PS Richie Stevens Jr Metairie LA '05 Stratus Dodg 500 MOPAR/VALSPAR DODGE STRATUS
9 PS Ron Krisher Warren OH '04 Cavalier GM 499 VALVOLINE
10 PS Jim Yates Occoquan VA '06 GTO GM 500 PONTIAC
30 PS Steve Schmidt Indianapolis IN '06 Cobalt GM 499 STEVE SCHMIDT COMPETITION EN
44 PS Mike Edwards Coweta OK '06 GTO GM 499 YOUNG LIFE/ART
55 PS V Gaines Lakewood CO '04 Stratus Hemi 500 KENDALL OIL STRATUS
93 PS Allen Johnson Greeneville TN '04 Stratus Dodg 500 J & J RACING
103 PS Max Naylor New Buffalo PA '05 Stratus Dodg 500 NAYLOR RACING INC.
107 PS Kenny Koretsky Richboro PA '05 Stratus MOPR 500 NITRO FISH WEAR
109 PS Jim Cunningham Crownsville MD '05 Escort Ford 500 CUNNINGHAM MOTORSPORTS
186 PS Tom Martino Farmingdale NJ '05 Stratus MOPR 500 DART CAVALIER
203 PS Tommy Lee Statesville NC '06 Colbalt GM 499 SLAMMERS ULTIMATE MILK
295 PS Barry Grant Dahlonega GA '04 Cavalier GM 498 BARRY GRANT
345 PS Jose Maldonado Chicago IL '06 GTX Pont 500 MALDONADO RACING
357 PS Larry Morgan Newark OH '05 Stratus Dodg 500 LARRY MORGAN RACING, INC
387 PS Mark Pawuk Akron OH '06 GTO GM 499 MARKPAWUK RACING PONTIAC GTO
430 PS Erica Enders Houston TX '05 Cobalt Chev 500 MOPAR DODGE STRATUS
701 PS Ben Watson Concord CA '06 GTO GM 499 WATSON RACING
772 PS Tony Rizzo Tuscon AZ '06 Coburn GM 499 TONY RIZZO RACING
1186 PS Dave Northrop Perkasie PA '04 Stratus Dodg 499 NITROFISH/ISC RACER'S TAPE
3351 PS Dave Howard Braidwood IL '05 Cobalt GM 499 INDICOM ELECTRIC COMPANY

well it didnt paste right, but gm's run gm engines and dodges are running dodge engine. Is that a rule? I would suppose that toyota would need to have an engine approved by nhra before they can get a car entered. So do they build one big enough? Would it be approved? will someone go through the trouble build an intake that a carburetor can be put on it? Would nhra allow a toyota car to run a dodge or gm engine or more importantly would toyota allow their car to run a dodge or gm engine. I know the limit is 500 cubic inches, naturally aspirated.

[Bob Korreck]

I never rode nor am interested in bikes. I just know alot of people that ride, basically will not ride anything except a harley. One of their kids started to ride and she bought him a honda and will let him learn on something that wont break down until he can afford his own harley. I always thought it was a made in america thing so I used it as a bad example.

Regarding prostock, how big is that truck engine?

the entry list for the next race

1 PS Greg Anderson Concord NC '06 GTO GM 499 SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT
2 PS Kurt Johnson Sugar Hill GA '06 Cobalt GM 499 A C DELCO/CHEVROLET
3 PS Jason Line Terrell NC '06 GTO GM 500 SUMMIT RACING
4 PS Warren Johnson Sugar Hill GA '06 GTO GM 499 GM PERFORMANCE PARTS/PONTIAC
5 PS Dave Connolly Elyria OH '06 Cobalt GM 499 SKULL GEAR
7 PS Greg Stanfield Bossier City LA '06 GTO Chev 500 PIRANAZ RACING
8 PS Richie Stevens Jr Metairie LA '05 Stratus Dodg 500 MOPAR/VALSPAR DODGE STRATUS
9 PS Ron Krisher Warren OH '04 Cavalier GM 499 VALVOLINE
10 PS Jim Yates Occoquan VA '06 GTO GM 500 PONTIAC
30 PS Steve Schmidt Indianapolis IN '06 Cobalt GM 499 STEVE SCHMIDT COMPETITION EN
44 PS Mike Edwards Coweta OK '06 GTO GM 499 YOUNG LIFE/ART
55 PS V Gaines Lakewood CO '04 Stratus Hemi 500 KENDALL OIL STRATUS
93 PS Allen Johnson Greeneville TN '04 Stratus Dodg 500 J & J RACING
103 PS Max Naylor New Buffalo PA '05 Stratus Dodg 500 NAYLOR RACING INC.
107 PS Kenny Koretsky Richboro PA '05 Stratus MOPR 500 NITRO FISH WEAR
109 PS Jim Cunningham Crownsville MD '05 Escort Ford 500 CUNNINGHAM MOTORSPORTS
186 PS Tom Martino Farmingdale NJ '05 Stratus MOPR 500 DART CAVALIER
203 PS Tommy Lee Statesville NC '06 Colbalt GM 499 SLAMMERS ULTIMATE MILK
295 PS Barry Grant Dahlonega GA '04 Cavalier GM 498 BARRY GRANT
345 PS Jose Maldonado Chicago IL '06 GTX Pont 500 MALDONADO RACING
357 PS Larry Morgan Newark OH '05 Stratus Dodg 500 LARRY MORGAN RACING, INC
387 PS Mark Pawuk Akron OH '06 GTO GM 499 MARKPAWUK RACING PONTIAC GTO
430 PS Erica Enders Houston TX '05 Cobalt Chev 500 MOPAR DODGE STRATUS
701 PS Ben Watson Concord CA '06 GTO GM 499 WATSON RACING
772 PS Tony Rizzo Tuscon AZ '06 Coburn GM 499 TONY RIZZO RACING
1186 PS Dave Northrop Perkasie PA '04 Stratus Dodg 499 NITROFISH/ISC RACER'S TAPE
3351 PS Dave Howard Braidwood IL '05 Cobalt GM 499 INDICOM ELECTRIC COMPANY

well it didnt paste right, but gm's run gm engines and dodges are running dodge engine. Is that a rule? I would suppose that toyota would need to have an engine approved by nhra before they can get a car entered. So do they build one big enough? Would it be approved? will someone go through the trouble build an intake that a carburetor can be put on it? Would nhra allow a toyota car to run a dodge or gm engine or more importantly would toyota allow their car to run a dodge or gm engine. I know the limit is 500 cubic inches, naturally aspirated.

They're limited to 500 CI but I don't think a Ford has to run a Ford engine. I don't have my rule book with me in Fl but somebody should be able to look it up.

[fuelfan]

Didn't allen Johnson used to run his Amoco Dodge with a GM powerplant?

And since this thread is about the Toyota Flopper, I have heard no conclusive plans for Toyota to enter pro stock.

Toyota's current V8 is a
4.7-liter DOHC 32-valve EFI
V8 with VVT-i
271 hp @ 5400 rpm;
313 lb.-ft. @ 3400 rpm

[gary4205]

Honestly don't know the size of the NASCAR truck engines. I would think they are comperable to Cup.

NHRA tightened up the rules. After the Wayne County fiasco, the Dodge team was running a GM block.

My guess is Toyota could build a 500 incher if needed. As for a manifold, the Pro Stock teams use sheet metal intakes that they fabricate. That wouldn't be a big deal. Whether Toyota would think they could benefit from running Pro Stock is the question. They are in the NCT series because they are trying to sell trucks.

Like I said, I'm a Mopar guy(now owned by Germans!) But it never hurts if a major manufacturer gets involved in the sport. As long as they meet the rules and the rules aren't changed to meet them.

Which IS, by the way, how Harley got competitve in PSB. Before they got big weight breaks, bigger engines than the rest, and different fuel, they were a joke! Now I am glad H-D is in PSB. It has caused controversy, but it has also caused new interest in the class. And that's a great thing.

And I guess that's the real point. As long as NHRA doesn't cater to a certain manufacturer to get them in or keep them in, it should be open to anyone who can pony up the bucks!

Heck, I wish Ford was back in Pro Stock. That Ford vs Chevrolet aspect used to get the natives really restless! I would think an import vs domestic deal would do the same. :cool:

[Billy W]

Nitro in the land of the rising sun....

http://www.vpracecars.com/userimages/Akira%2002%20Firebird.jpg

Suzuka i believe is where they run at.....

Billy

[gary4205]

Nitro in the land of the rising sun....

http://www.vpracecars.com/userimages/Akira%2002%20Firebird.jpg

Suzuka i believe is where they run at.....

Billy

Cool Pics! Remember when (and I know I'm gonna mispell his name) Kenji Okasaki drove the Mooneyes car for Big Jim Dunn? He was a fairly good driver from Japan.

[Bob Korreck]

I can agree on most of the points, except Harley. what other company had a waiting list to get anything made. Harley didnt go the mass production route like kawasaki and honda. They have been copied by the rest of them from the beginning. Their stand was that people were gonna buy an american product, at their price, with complete american craftsmanship because it was the best bike out there. But the waiting lists were still full and people still pay 2-3 times the price to wait for their Harley. The others started mass producing plastic rice burner bikes that all look exactally the same. When they get a new model like that shadow, it was to try to get harley customers. Honda made their huge models with the plastic saddle bags to try to compete with harley.

Was it a great corporate move by harley to keep up and be the biggest and most profitable bike maker in the world? No, that would have meant bringing in parts from china to keep up and they would not give in.

Just still having a company like Harley around gives people like me some hope.

You must be much younger than myself and Gary. In '75 I bought a full dress Kawasaki. Prior to buying it though I tried out a Harley. It had a 4 speed trans, a stroke as long as your arm and a loud exhaust. Made me think I was driving a truck. It was a brand new pile of junk. I couldn't imagine why anyone would ride one of those. In fact they spent more time fixing them than riding.

If I were to buy today it would be a Gold Wing or a Harley cruiser. Yep, today I would buy one but it hasn't been too many years that they have been making a decent product. No one is gonna sell me junk, I don't care if it is made in America. Junk is Junk. And these auto makers better wake up.

[speedPhreak]

i'm thinking this would be pretty cool for next year...conrad hires alan johnson as crew chief for scotty and a second toyota flopper driven by toliver. :D

[Billy W]

Wasn't that long ago that Winston sent Force and a few others over to Suzuka to do some exibition runs... (buddy reminded me of it....) Seems that several still have events in Japan....maybe the interest is big enough over there to give the locals someone or something to root for.....

Billy

[speedPhreak]

ok. michael c., strut your stuff, babe! let's see what you guys are made of this weekend. i wanna see that toyota go some rounds!!!;)

[fuelfan]

Scott and the Toyota didn't look that great in Reading, off to VMP!

[fuelfan]

The Toyota looked much more respectable this weekend and it will be cool to see what Tolivers Solara will look like...

[fuelfan]

Anyone know of other Toyota teams to race next year?