Getting Away with Speeding: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

HOUSTON – It’s usually a bad idea to stomp on the gas when you’re driving next to a cop.

But there is one exception. Some police officers will actually encourage you to drive, say, 120 miles per hour right in front of them. Or, better yet, just behind them.

“If you see my lights in front of you, you lost. If you see my lights behind you, you’ve won,” explains Sgt. Lary Porter with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Porter is among half a dozen local law officers who showed up at Baytown’s Royal Purple Raceway, Friday night, to race against all comers.

These officers are associated with Beat The Heat, Inc., a non-profit organization that encourages teenagers and young adults to race their fast cars at the track, not in the streets.

“Have you ever tried to outrun the police before?” asked FOX 26 News as Bryan Day revved his engine, moments before taking on Sgt. Porter.

“I’ve tried, and it hasn’t
Read more: www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/120228-getting-away-with-speeding?CMP=201202_emailshare#ixzz1nnfzb0IQ

Brady Kalivoda and the Mike and Chris Dakin-run Warrior Racing Top Fuel team will be a regular fixture on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour this year, committing to run 15 of the 23 events, beginning with the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NAPAFilters.com in Gainesville. The team also plans on competing at both Charlotte events, Atlanta, Topeka, Englishtown, Bristol, Chicago, Norwalk, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Reading, Las Vegas (fall event), and Pomona.

“I’m pumped and jacked up to be doing this and not just to be doing it but to be doing it with the people I’m with, Mike and Chris and Bob [Peck, crew chief] and all these guys. It’s really just a cool vibe and environment,” said Kalivoda. “I’m also excited to be able to share this with my partner, Althea, and my son, Brooks. Being a dad has been the greatest privilege of my life so far. It hasn’t taken away the drive to do this at all. It’s quite the opposite. I just look at everything different, and I think I’m actually able to appreciate this more than I was 10 years ago because it’s given me a balance in life that I don’t think I had before.”

Kalivoda and his team will be funded by Warrior Racing, a Tipp City, Ohio-based speed shop owned by Chris, and Mutual Tool and Indian Creek Fabricators, both owned by Mike, but as is the case with all teams, the group is actively seeking additional marketing partners for this year and beyond.

“Although they didn’t ask me to bring funding to the table as a condition of my driving their race car, I’m extremely motivated to do so,” said Kalivoda. “I’m just so grateful for the opportunity that I want try my absolute best to contribute. I take that very seriously. I don’t see how I’d ever be able to truly repay them for giving me the chance to continue living my dream, but……

READ MORE: www.nhra.com/story/2012/2/29/kalivoda-2012/

One of the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) longest running partners is returning with greatly increased support for the highly-anticipated 2012 season.

The world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Friday that Summit Racing Equipment will retain its status as the Official High Performance Source of the ADRL for the 2012 ADRL Tour.

The high-performance automotive supplier will also be heavily involved in a number of other areas regarding the 2012 ADRL season.

Summit Racing Equipment returns as the title sponsor for the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags VI presented by Mickey Thompson, which takes place on Sept. 28-29 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk.

Additionally, as a further show of support for the talented competitors in the ADRL, Summit Racing will pay out contingency to each eligible winner and runner-up in each ADRL professional class (Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Modified and Top Sportsman).

“The 2012 season is shaping up to be a very exciting year for the ADRL. Summit Racing is proud to once again be the Official High Performance Source of the ADRL along with our sponsorship of the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags VI at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk Ohio on Sept. 28-29,” Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager Jim Greenleaf said.
“The ADRL puts on an amazing show and, with several new classes, it will be a great atmosphere at each race. We can’t wait to get the season started in Houston and we’re excited about the direction of the ADRL.”

In addition to offering contingency, Summit Racing Equipment will be as involved as ever with ADRL drivers, sponsoring a number of top competitors in a variety of classes.

“We have an exciting line up of drivers flying the Summit Racing colors in the ADRL in 2012, including Extreme Pro Stock driver Pete Berner, Pro Nitrous driver Rickie Jones, Pro Modified driver Kenny Lang and Marco Abruzzi in Top Sportsman,” Greenleaf said.
“Along with our support of these drivers, we will also be paying out contingency in all classes. There’s so many amazing classes in the ADRL and the contingency program is a great way to show the ADRL racers additional support.”

The 2012 ADRL Tour begins March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

It is the first of 10 stops at several of the nation’s most prestigious tracks.

“Partners like Summit Racing Equipment are crucial in making the ADRL successful, and we are thrilled to have them involved so prominently in 2012,” ADRL Executive Vice President Jeff Fortune said.

“They have tremendous knowledge in marketing to our fans and they have repeatedly shown impressive support and generosity to our fans and drivers. We are fortunate to have them as a partner and we hope for it to be a fruitful relationship for years to come.”

The ADRL and Summit Racing Equipment will also announce a number of important news items regarding the Top Sportsman class in the coming weeks.

Rickie Jones

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

READ MORE: www.adrl.us/2012/02/summit-racing-equipment-steps-up-adrl-sponsorship-commitments-for-2012/

NHRA officials have announced details of the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout in Top Fuel and Funny Car, a program first identified last month with the announcement of Traxxas as the Official Radio Controlled Performance Products of the NHRA.

The NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts, which are races within a race, will be conducted at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, with Top Fuel showcased on Saturday, Sept. 1, and Funny Car featured on Sunday, Sept. 2.

“The NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts redefine what a race within a race is all about,” said Mike Jenkins, owner and president of Traxxas. “We worked with NHRA to craft a program that rewards the winners of NHRA Full Throttle events and the leaders in the points standings while at the same time provides an opportunity for fans to vote for their favorite drivers.”

There will be three ways for Top Fuel and Funny Car teams to qualify for the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts.

First, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points leaders in Top Fuel and Funny Car after the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Aug. 16-19, will automatically qualify as…

READ MORE: www.nhra.com/story/2012/2/7/traxxas-nitro-shootout/

Lucas Oil Products has signed a historic extension of its long-running relationship with NHRA, a relationship that has grown to become one of the most important and all-encompassing sponsor relationships in NHRA.

The multifaceted contract extension includes title rights of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, a continued designation as the official oil of NHRA, naming rights at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and, most importantly, series sponsorship of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

“Lucas Oil is an integral part of NHRA,” said NHRA president Tom Compton. “Forrest, Charlotte, and the entire company have become much more than a sponsor but true friends to the entire NHRA racing community and everyone here at NHRA. Everyone in the sport owes a debt of gratitude to Lucas Oil.”

The extension was officially signed at NHRA’s corporate headquarters in Glendora, Calif., with NHRA’s employees in the audience.

The centerpiece of the extension is the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Through the end of the new agreement, Lucas Oil will celebrate 14 years as sponsor of one of the most important and vital series at NHRA. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series features eight classes, encompasses 24 regional and 19 divisional events around the country, and showcases the skills and talents of tens of thousands of racers. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is also conducted at all 23 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events with 16 showcasing the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories. These NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events are featured in 16 one-hour programs, produced in high definition and broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. The Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories are where many of today’s NHRA…..

READ MORE: www.nhra.com/story/2012/2/8/lucas-oil-extends/

Below I have the slideshow that was being played at the services. Claudette went through and picked out the pictures she wanted along with the music, and then Peg put it together for her. Please keep Claudette and the rest of the family in your prayers.

Furthermore, both drivers insist they have no hard feelings at all about Langdon’s move to Al-Anabi Racing. And Don Schumacher Racing driver Spencer Massey issued a friendly warning: he’s determined to beat the Al-Anabi team and everyone else this year.

“A lot of people speculated last year…

READ MORE: www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/20063-lucas-wishes-langdon-well-in-his-new-al-anabi-venture

As you can see above, this Pro Extreme car is something else. It belongs to Randy Bryan, who expects to debut the ’70 Chevelle at the ADRL season-opening race on March 30-31 at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

It comes from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, which always does an amazing job, but this car goes a stretch beyond unique.
In addition to the body style, the car will also be a turbo-powered car, and will be getting the twin-turbo treatment shortly.

From what your agent gathered, Bryan hopes to test the car before Dragpalooza VIII in Houston. It’s going to be a car to watch – for a number of reasons – that is for sure.

READ MORE: www.adrl.us/2012/01/randy-bryans-new-pro-extreme-turbo-70-chevelle-from-jbrc/

“I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone. I guess I just miss my friend.”

To the letter, that is exactly how I felt the moment I got the news.  I rejoiced for Stan in my heart because I knew that he was no longer in pain, no longer suffering with various medical conditions, no longer having to worry about taking his pills, and I know he is in a better place.  Yet at the same time it was as if the world lost one of the really good guys, in a time when we need as many of them as we can have.  His passing leaves this world that much more drab and empty.

In 1989 I turned 16 and started racing at Little River.  Stan had already been “the man” for quite some time when this little punk first pulled up to the starting line.  I actually remember being quite intimidated by him the first few times I raced.  He just looked mean to me for some reason.  I laugh about it now, but that was my first impression of the man.  When we moved up and started running Super Pro, my dad and I didn’t have a clue about what we were doing. We were a complete and total disaster.  A perpetual embarrassment of epic proportions.  It seemed like every weekend equaled spilled oil from somewhere on my car, followed by a cleanup.  Some cleanups were quick, some were longer.  In all honesty, he should have banned us, but he didn’t.  Don’t get me wrong, Stan could get frustrated, but it really took a lot to make him angry.  After one particularly nasty spill I rode up to the starting line just to apologize, and felt nervous about the words that may be coming my way from Stan.  However, he never made me feel like the fool I knew I was, and he never berated me or my dad about it.  He made me feel welcomed.  He let me know he was looking out for my safety more than anything else.  He was just encouraging.  He kept telling me not to worry about it.  He told me that’s just racing, and how else are we going to learn.  And that was Stanley in a nutshell…slow to anger, understanding, and tolerant of people like myself.  He suddenly was not as intimidating as I had always viewed him up until that point.  He was instantly my friend.

That friendship grew over the years, forged stronger through many weekends of racing at Little River and it eventually became unbreakable in the couple of years we ran the track ourselves.  One thing I can say about Stan is he was an eternal optimist.  To me personally he ALWAYS conveyed a feeling of hope, at times when I felt nothing but despair.  He was always encouraging.  He was always motivating.  He was always looking forward, never dwelling on could have’s or should have’s.  He was full of many good ideas.  That man was always laughing about something or telling some fantastic story about his past experiences.  I spent many hours talking with Stan. Sometimes about business, sometimes about racing, sometimes it was just me venting, sometimes it was about nothing really important at all. But it never failed that after we talked, I always felt better about everything.

He was an expert at his job and has proved it on many occasions.  I don’t care what anyone says, Stan was one of the best track preppers this sport will ever know.  He loved his job, and he proved it by standing outside all day long in 100+ degree weather, even when he wasn’t feeling well, hardly ever missing a weekend of racing for anything.  I don’t know how he did it, because I know I couldn’t.  I don’t care how much I liked racing.

I think one thing Stan probably wished he would have done more of later on is just going to races and not necessarily working them.  I know a few years ago he went with David Pedigo and some others to Prairie Hill on a night they were open, and I swear he talked about that for 3 months after.  He talked about how much fun it was, and how he wanted to take some time out to do that more.  I didn’t go racing around much anywhere but Little River, but he always said he wanted to go with me the next time I went when it was an off weekend.  Now I wish I had.

I guess that’s what I reflect on more at this time.  I just think of the things I should have done when he was here, and I know he wouldn’t approve of that attitude.  But I can’t help but feel that way.  I should have told him how much he meant to my family and I.  I should have told him how much I appreciated his words of encouragement when I needed them the most.  He was a great man, and I thank God for blessing my life with that friendship.

Here lately Stan had called on me to help him with a few business things.  Mainly just questions, and how to get certain things done that he needed.  He was excited about some prospects he had, and I was excited for him.  It’s one thing to work for someone else, but there’s a whole other level of satisfaction when you work for yourself.  As I said earlier, Stan was an optimist and he was always looking forward.  To Peg and I Stan had never looked better, he’d never sounded better, and his optimistic outlook towards his new endeavor seem to put an added spring in his step.  That is what makes this loss so difficult.

Owen back up and running and giving a thumbs up as he speeds by.

As my son Owen and I were finishing up a rebuild of his go-kart that he crashed a few weeks ago, the excitement was building. Finally we took it down off the stand, got it started up, and I sent him on his way. Just after Christmas he’d hit a dip flew in the air, came crashing down and flipped it 4 times.  It bent almost every bar on the thing, including the rear axle.  Stan had just helped me swap the wheel bearings over to the new axle before he went into the hospital, and he was excited to get Owen back up and running. He wouldn’t allow me to even think of paying for his work, and Peg made him promise we could take him out to lunch instead and he was thrilled with that.

So this evening as Owen enjoyed his resurrected ride, a thought crossed my mind…one of the last things this great man, this great friend, did in his life was help me do something for my son.  The instant the thought hit me, it was as if I could sense him standing next to me, big grin, shaking his head affirmatively, and letting out a chuckle as Owen zipped around with the sun setting just over the trees.  For a moment I let go of the sadness. There’s no doubt I’m going to miss my friend for many years to come, and I hope he remembers Peg and I still owe him lunch when we meet him on the other side.

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Services for Stanley Haynes

Wake :
February 3, 2012 – Friday
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Christ Gospel Church
1700 N. 15th St.
Temple, TX. 76501

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donation to :
Stanley Haynes Benefit Account
First State Bank Central Texas
1150 Canyon Creek
Temple, TX. 76502
Account #1831015777

The two met in 2007 during a rainout at the 20th annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway when Haddock allowed Reich to sit in his Funny Car.  The couple became friends over the years, as Reich’s parents were…..

READ MORE: www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/20053-a-high-horsepower-engagement-literally