Mike & Me

By “Doctor” Chris Diggles PhD, B.S…

Nostalgia Drags Announcer

First, let me start by saying a very big warm, friendly hello to all NITRO! Magazine Nostalgia fans out there in magazine-readers world. It’s my very first column in my very first magazine, and I’m very very excited about Nostalgia drag racing, as are the many thousands of fans around the country aswell. And when head-honcho Johnny “Boss Dog” said “Hey Diggs, how about you write about our drag meets”. I said “alright, but I might ramble on a bit”, (as you tend to do when you’re on the microphone for over 6 hours straight!). He said, “Do whatever you want”. So I will. Right from this first page, I want to encourage positive, happy and open expression of all things to do with life around the things we obsess the most about……..CARS Hey also stop me using the words “I”, “Me”,and “My” too much, as I have noticed that they get used a lot in columns. In MY experience, I talk too much about “Me”…just ask Mrs Diggles!!!

Cars are an obsession in all shapes and forms, and when you get the job of talking about some of the most beautiful cars ever built (by both manufacturers and individuals), a dream job it is. Drag Racing is an obsession, born out of watching my uncles Jeff, Allan and Lawrie Watson race at Surfers Paradise in the 70’s and 80’s. I’ve lost count of how many memories I had, chasing Uncle Jeff down the track in the tow vehicle in front of a carefree, car-loving crowd, picking him up and towing back to the pits, where all sorts of automotive machinery was a wonder to my young eyes, ears, and nose. Yep…. Nitro in the 70’s And even now in 2008, 30 years on, the feeling of arriving at the dragstrip, knowing you’re going to see some amazing sights that involve motorised vehicles, is as fresh as ever. I feel like I’m watching something different every time I go to the drags, because everywhere we go with Nostalgia Drag Racing…I am. The amount of cars that people are building and racing is a clear example that there are a lot of folks living out their dreams from their

fondest memories. And it’s an absolute pleasure to be on the microphone when they come to the line. To me, they are the stars of today in cars from yesterday. And the end results are inspiring. Anyways..let’s move on.

LATEST MEET

BALLARAT:

We’re just been to Ballarat, and let me tell you…. this place was FULL. Hats-off to the Ballarat Drag Racing Club for getting their 1/8th mile primed for the Nostalgia roadshow. These people love their drag racing, and ran the show as well as their ¼ mile big brothers do. Probably a few more points to the BDRC for country-town hospitality, respect and cooperation than most too, but hey, I was biased. The Ballarat Aero Club also needs a mention, as their main hangar was used for scrutineering, and their clubroom used as a beer garden. And we had an air-show thrown in as well!!! David from Autobarn Ballarat also needs a thanks, as he was a sponsor, and a great help in getting delivered a manifold I bought down from Bendigo. Ballarat’s biggest pass was one where Allan “Burgo” Burgess came unstuck at about 330ft. His healthy model A hazed the tyres on the shift, and off he went into the grass. Instead of a slide, those chassis rails dug in and flipped him endover at least 4 times, landing on his side. Burgo was a little beat up, but his car was as tough as he is. We’re all glad that he’s OK. Steve Costa’s new 57 Vintage Gasser was a huge hit, and once the signwriting goes on, will provide those who haven’t seen it with a “Blast”. The Ford brothers had “Bad News” shaking the locals with Junior pedalling like a pro, and Rod Hadfield (who’s just celebrated his 17th birthday..again!) showed that Hambsters can bite their opponents when cornered in tight fields. All in all, with 120-plus entries and thousands in attendance, Ballarat has proven that Nostalgia is a hit in the places that really count. And they were rewarded with amazing sights and sounds.

NAME DROPPING

GARY MYERS

This man is a legend in the Street Machining community, and is now fast making himself a name (the same name…) in Nostalgia Drag Racing. His amazing XA Hardtop ran Aussie Muscle at WSID with great lights and consistency (11.52 and 11.53), and he was at Ballarat with both the Ol’ Faithful Mustang and the “XAcuter”. Gary and Deb have been fans of the Nostalgia Drags since the start, and have now decided to step into a little racing. Predictions from the commentary box are that it won’t be too long before he starts to win trophies for drag racing as well. When you wake up before dawn, drive to a track you’ve never been before and see cars you’ve never seen before, then you’re in for a treat. Because when the sun rises, you’ll see others just like you who are living a lifestyle that forgets about now, and concentrates on re-living a day where we wish we could have been at a dragstrip, watching all sorts of automotive machinery race for the very first time. So we’re off and racing with “Me and Mike”. Love to hear what’s stoking the fire in your Nostalgia Belly, and hope to see more cars that we can make stars. Remember... Man made his first wheel in the Stone Age. A few weeks later, his hot-rodder mate made the first set of fatties!! And now we’re here living in the past.

See you at WSID for “Unfinished Business” meet

or email me at dragnoyz@gmail.com for column

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