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Proud Member

Dear ND,

I am a crewmember on the Geronimo nitro Funny Car team. During the third round of qualifying at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals in Phoenix, we had what some people described as the worst engine explosion they had ever seen. The NHRA Safety Safari was on the spot immediately and helped get our driver out of the car and the fire under control. The car body was burned and a lot of wiring and air lines were burned. Most people didn't think we'd make it back, but the crew pulled together and got the job done. NHRA sent three motorcycle escorts to help us get to the staging lanes in time for our final run. Without NHRA's help, we wouldn't have made it.

I am so proud to be an NHRA member and to experience first-- hand NHRA's dedication to safety and to helping its racers. NHRA was under no obligation to provide us with an escort, but it did. I have been an NHRA member for almost 40 years and have seen a lot of changes, and I firmly believe we are headed in the right direction and will continue to grow and provide support to fans and racers.

Dan Randall

via e-mail

Student Discount

Dear ND,

When I read that students attending the [Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals] would receive discounted tickets, it made me very happy. I believe that [giving student discounts] is the best thing that NHRA can do to spread its popularity. Most people at my high school in Federal Way, Wash., don't go to the national event in Seattle because they don't want to spend the money. I go because my uncle races and gets me in and because NHRA drag racing is my life.

Some people at my school have gone to the High School drags, but they have no idea what nitromethane smells like or how the ground shakes when a Top Fuel dragster roars down the track. Please, if there is any way for every track that holds a national event to give student discounts, make it happen.

James Roach

via e-mail

NHRA offered discounted tickets to students for the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals on a trial basis. Such discounts are not being offered for other events, but that may change. If the Gatornationals trial is a success, NHRA likely will offer similar discounts to students in other markets. See Bits, page 9, for other youth-oriented discounts offered in 2003 at select events. - Ed.

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