NHRA Northwest Nationals 1999 by crewchief OK, I'll admit it. I'm a novice. The reason I made this website is because I know I love cars- the way they look, the way they smell, the way it feels when I go fast through a turn- but since I didn't grow up learning about them inside and out I figured I would never be able to catch up. I felt overwhelmed and threw my hands up at the whole thing. Just like I used to feel about computers. But something happened, I got over my fear, and I jumped into computers three years ago. Now I earn my living from them. I figured I could do the same thing with cars- I'd just start a site about cars and motorsports in general and everyone would help out and I'd learn while I webmastered - through osmosis. I never thought the bug would hit me. The racing bug that is. Sunday August 1st I attended the National Hot Rod Association Northwest Nationals. Nothing could have prepared me for the feeling in my body when I witnessed the first run of the day. It was top fuel dragsters and now I know why they call them top fuel. I'd been in the pit earlier in the morning and was shocked at how noxious the fumes were when they fired up the engines- it was like mace. My eyes were burning and tearing up- like most people I had to leave quickly. They smoked the tires and it looked great. I thought it was loud but no louder than monster trucks in the Kingdome- I could take it. Heck, my tube amp goes louder than that! Then the Christmas tree lights hit green and it felt like the engines were roaring in my lungs- in the very center of my being. They were so strong. It was quite unsettling, thrilling, disturbing and powerful. I bought earplugs. I must say that as much as I dig speed, it's the classic cars that really turn my cranks. That's why my favorite race of the day had to be the Super Stock race when Jimmy DeFrank won in my all time favorite car, a good ol' Camaro. And what was even better was that the Camaro was pitted against a yellow '57 Corvette in the finals but former Pro Stock racer Terry Sherrill broke his sweet Corvette in winning his semifinal battle. Too bad. At least I got to see the Camaro race once again. And it was red too. However, the real excitement of the day for me as a Greasergrrl came when Melanie Troxel made it all the way to the finals in Federal-Mogul Dragster. Melanie scored her first career victory in her beast of a machine sponsored by In-N-Out Burger. Melanie's father, Mike, was one of the top Blown Alcohol Dragster drivers in the nation so it's not surprising that she caught the racing bug early. Her parents even let her put her college money toward her first race car with the condition that she still go to college and pay for it herself. The practice paid off as Melanie became the 27th woman to ever win in her class. It sure was great to see her being interviewed by NHRA announcer Dave McClelland in the Winner's Circle. It was also a pleasure to run into Greasergrrl Hall of Famer Cristen Powell in the pit area. You may remember that Cristen became the second youngest driver to ever win an NHRA Professional national event title when she claimed the Top Fuel title at the Mopar Parts Nationals less than two months after her 18th birthday. She is one of only six women to win a NHRA national event. Cristen wasn't competing today but said she was looking forward to racing in Sonoma, CA. next weekend at the Autolite Nationals. Good luck! Bleary from the heat (it did actually get sunny) and fumes I staggard back to the car. Waiting an hour to get out of the parking lot gridlock was bearable with all the entertaining images replaying in my head. Once I got on the highway however, the images came to life and I couldn't help but speed ;-) I'm tellin' you, it was loud! Listen: Top Fuel wav Super Stock wav If you want a "real" account of the day, visit the NHRA site