The SEMA Show held in November 2018 in Las Vegas, NV is packed with must see activities. One of my highlights is one that is free, open to all show goers and actually is held on Wednesday before the actual show opens up for that day. I'm talking about the annual NHRA breakfast.
Each year the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) rounds up a group of NHRA drivers and personnel to discuss and reminisce. While the caffeine is kicking in and the muffins are being consumed, the public gets to hear some pretty funny stories and inside stuff with barbs slung playfully, I hope, at each other.
Last year in honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Gator Nationals (being held in March 2019) they herded some legends up onto the stage and let them rip. The story tellers consisted of Don Prudhomme, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein and the perennial crowd favorite John Force. As long as Force has a microphone nearby, you know you will have a good time.
In case you don’t follow the sport and its past, here is a quick recap of these legends.
Don "The Snake" Prudhomme - Raced dragsters for 32 years and match raced Tom McEwen with the Mattel Hot Wheel's sponsorship. He had 49 NHRA victories in both funny car and top fuel categories before becoming a successful car owner for a few years.
Joe Amato - Won five championships and 52 races. He placed in the top ten every year of racing from 1982 until retiring due to eye issues after 2000.
Kenny Bernstein - He became the "King of Speed" when he broke the 300 mph barrier for dragsters. He took home six NHRA championships before handing the keys over to his son.
John Force - He has won an unheard of sixteen NHRA championships and 149 races. Two of his daughters have joined him on the race track, along with his son-in-law. His grandchildren are actually starting to race in the junior races while he still pilots his funny car.
It is a shame that NHRA doesn't broadcast or YouTube this event as it is always a great hour (or more) of fun and frolic. The stories start out fast and thick so it can be hard to provide a complete commentary, but I hope these quotes give you a flavor of the show and these true legends of drag racing.
John Force (JF)- "I'm honored to be here. These guys are the reason I got into this sport. They got off this train (meaning they retired). I'm too stupid."
Kenny Bernstein (KB) - "You can run quick and fast at the Gator National. I loved Gainesville from the git go…It's a special place"
Don Prudhomme (DP) - "You were p…ed off if you didn’t beat 'em (at Gainesville)."
Joe Amato (JA) - "He's a legend in his own mind. But I give him a lot of respect and credit." (Speaking about John Force)
JF - "I used to be a champ. Now I'm Courtney's dad."
KB - "I knew it was a special thing we accomplished; Don Garlits wouldn't talk to me for two- three years." (Speaking about breaking 300 MPH for the first time.)
JF - "Austin Coil was an innovator. Amazing to see him work. Always honest. Told me once, when you hit the pedal, hit the fire bottle. That is why you live. I really love it. I love racing a funny car. It's a moving billboard at 300 mph. I do it to be with my kids."
KB - I sponsored a (Indy) car for the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 where the pole (fastest speed) was at 233 MPH.
DP - "That makes me sick. We were running dragsters at 293-295 mph!"
JF - They once had a sponsor with Frankenstein on the car. "Al Hoffman told me, Hey Force your face is on the car."
DP - "He makes this s… up."
And so it goes. It is fun to see the racers open up and talk about their sport and lives with their fans. It allows their human side to open up and give you a glance of their personality away from race day. Too bad more fans can't partake of this special morning.
© 2019 Mark C. Bach