Greetings from the foothills of the Tennessee Smokey Mountains.  It’s gone from brisk here to flat-out cold.  Somebody told me the other day that this weird form of condensation on my truck in the early mornings is actually frost…or frozen water.  Well, when I let my oh-so spoiled dogs out for bathroom & breakfast, they walk gingerly across it, then usually stop, turn around and glare at me like they’re being punished.  Oh well, I can’t do anything about the weather, cold paws, (or the air conditioner that’s still running in my office) and in spite of it all, we’ve managed to get things pretty heated up here in the Performance division of Coker Tire.

Next week I’ll be taking off for the warmer climate of Daytona Beach, FL with my friend Ricky to work the annual Turkey Trot Rod Run.  Hopefully we’ll sell enough tires to make it all worth while, and who knows, maybe between slinging white walls to guys in Hawaiian shirts, we’ll get to enjoy some good ole turkey chow-mein/turkey taco’s or the equivalent from one of the local eateries on the beach.  Ricky and I always seem to make the best of it, and have a good time.  A couple of months ago we went up to a show in Indianapolis and instantly became inspired by the brickyard, which is the racing capital of the world.  Therefore we decided to try our hand at the local miniature golf/arcade/go-cart track.  Although it was open wheel racing (not exactly what a couple of NASCAR and NHRA inspired Southerners were looking for) we decided that it’s still better than no racing at all so we’d give it a shot.  Ricky got put in the wall early on by an 11 year old with a bad attitude and corn dog grease on his fingers.  Enraged by my fallen teammates misfortune and fighting back the tears, I put it on kill and managed to badly wear out a dozen or so pre-pubescent teens, lapping the field at 25 mph and taking the checkers.  Nothing speaks the truth like victory, and that’s what I spoke in Indy.  ‘nuff said.

If you get a chance, tune in to ESPN Radio Channel 1370, Monday November 24th at 6 p.m.  Shaun Whitfield of Whitfield Oil Co has invited me onto the Valvoline Racing Radio talk show to discuss my plans for the rest of this year and next…which among other things, includes the opportunity to try for my NHRA Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car Exhibition license in Houston, TX towards the end of December.  Every once in a great while, something comes across your path that stops you dead in your tracks.  It’s as if at that particular moment in time, your whole life has been preparing you for what lies directly ahead.  Having been propositioned with the ultra-rare, once in a lifetime opportunity to strap myself into a 4,000 hp nitro fuel altered and try for my license is just such an occasion.

Henry Guitterez owner of Texas Jungle Racing Team based out of San Antonio, TX and also owner of the world renowned “Jungle Jim” Funny car, along with the help of Mitch King Motorsports, has graciously offered to provide this opportunity.  Although a lot of resources, people and weather, must come together to pull this off, Henry assures me it’s the real guacamole and that I had better not have any second thoughts and a very clear mind when it’s go time.

I met Henry over the phone this past Summer as I was working with Casey Coker (the bosses daughter) on getting him some Phoenix Drag slicks for his “show” version of the Jungle Jim 1972 Nitro Camaro, which was to be displayed at the Coker Tire/Honest Charley exhibit at the historic NHRA Museum in Pomona, CA.  The legendary Jungle Jim Camaro is highly relevant to Honest Charley’s heritage as the car was primarily sponsored by Honest during the ’72-’73 racing seasons.  Henry got the tires, Casey put together an AMAZING display featuring Jungle Jim and a host of other memorabilia, and we all became friends in the process.

The original Jungle Jim Lieberman boils the bolognas

Fire in the Jungle!

Fast forward a couple of months and Henry began talking very seriously about putting together a two Funny Car team and campaigning the red-hot NHRA Nostalgia series, Hot Rod Reunions, and various match races around the country.  If anyone has the talent and resources to pull it off, it’s Henry…just ask Spencer Massey, who as a rookie and sponsored by Henry’s company Bexar Waste, and Mitch King Motorsports just won the IHRA Top Fuel World Title for 2008!

Upon Henry first mentioning the idea, I asked him if the car had an engine diaper (if the motor explodes this keeps debris and oil off the track), he said yes.  I then told him that he might want to consider going ahead and getting another diaper installed in the driver’s seat!  Mechanical and biomechanical issues aside, this is an amazing opportunity for Coker Tire and me to fully participate in nostalgia racing all the while building a formidable race tire business.  Along with Phoenix, we also distribute M&H (the first drag tire, founded in 1954, and wildly popular with period correct drag racers), and are partners with Honest Charley Speed Shop.  Look for a 1,2,3 sales and marketing plan that will maximize all of this history and relationships for 2009.

Henry and the 2008 Texas Jungle Team

Also on the immediate horizon, December 3rd  Officer Joe Warren of Beat the Heat and I will be giving our biggest talk yet to a group of over 300+ high school kids.  That same night I’ll be giving my testimony to a local group of people involved with alcohol and drug recovery.  The following week it’s back on the road again to Orlando, FL for the Performance Racing Industry trade show December 11th-13th.  Then finally, if the stars align, I’ll be headed to Texas the following weekend for the chance of a lifetime.  If anyone would have come up to me exactly one year ago, and told me that this is what I’d be doing in 2008, I would have told them that I was all stocked up on crazy…so try selling it somewhere else.  Unbelievable.

Well that’s about it for now…all we’ve got left to do is everything.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your family and friends and let the good times roll.  I’ll check back in a couple of weeks with an update.

Best,

EG

Well it’s my first Fall season in the South and what a magical time of year it is. Change is in the air; the mornings are crisp, afternoons are sunny and warm, college football is the talk of the town and for the most part, the drag racing season is winding down. However, it seems like things are just getting wound up on this end…although it’s been the Summer of discontent with almost every conceivable mechanical/scheduling difficulty you could think of for racing a car…I’ve managed to make huge strides in the past couple of weeks. Recent test sessions have netted several consistent ET’s in the 6.02-6.05 range…which is right where we need to be for the last non-sanctioned, Outlaw 6.0 “heads-up” race of the year scheduled for November 1st-2nd at the Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip in Ringgold, GA.

There’s nothing like the feeling of getting things together just in time for it to be over (not to mention the fact that all of the other local racers have their “A” game on by now)…so it’s kind of like the feeling of showing up for the dance right as all of the pretty girls are leaving. Oh well, as the trite but true saying goes - “better late than never.” I’m just stoked to have the chance to get out there and compete. Speaking of which, here’s a chance to give credit where it’s due:

I absolutely wouldn’t have the opportunity to be out there if it weren’t for the support of a couple of fast talking former business partners turned friends from NYC, Rene Rofe and his son Elan of International Intimates, Inc. Although I’ve had the new race car blues all year long, and haven’t garnered any results to speak of…these guys have been more than patient, gracious, supportive and understanding. From the bottom of my heart, thanks guys - you rule.

Next on the list are a couple of my old skool So Cal motocross sponsors, who decided to throw me a bone with drag racing. Special thanks go out to Mark Simo of SPY Sunglasses for continuing to keep me in eyewear and to Lawrence Motola of Adidas Motor Sports for the fresh tread and threads throughout the years. Talk about loyalty…awesome.

Now for some Southern fried gratitude and respect served up to Mike Goodman of Honest Charley Speedshop which is located right next door. Mike has helped me out with gas money, after hours encouragement, and access to one of the most valuable rolodex’s in the industry. His cut to the chase attitude, and willingness to help me out, no matter what, have been invaluable.

Finally, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my employer, sponsor and friend, Corky Coker. When you’re running a successful 10 headed monster of a business, politically active, heavily involved in church, community, etc…the demands upon your time, and public persona are great. After hearing my story, how the dark side had built me up…and then tore me down, he went out on a limb and gave me a chance when nobody else would. From the beginning, Corky believed in what God had in store for my life, and I’m grateful to him for recognizing it and keeping me on track (and the race track!). “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Pretty soon I’ll have a year under my belt with his company, and there’s no where else I’d rather be, and no one else I’d rather work/race for. We’re growing like crazy, and the potential for the newly formed Performance Tire Division is wide open…quite a future indeed.

Welp, that’s about it for now…stayed tuned for an update on what the local cops and Beat the Heat race program have been up to, more awesome Phoenix race results, and some exciting off season news on what’s in store for next season…with a little luck, and perhaps a little divine intervention, I might just have an upgraded racing license for 2009. Time will tell.

All the best,

EG

Comp Eliminator Qualifications
September 26th-28th, Memphis, TN, NHRA Mid-South National

Darren Breaud topped the field in Super Stock Competition last weekend in Sonny Stancil’s Phoenix tire equipped Dodge Stratus. Darren had an untimely first round departure after a mechanical issue kept him from getting to the starting line. 14 of the 66 class participants in Super Stock were on Phoenix.

Breaud gets ready to set the pole in qualifying

Glen Self continued his winning ways in Competition Eliminator at Memphis. Glen qualified second and eventually finished in the runner up position. Also of note, Super Stock standout Jimmy DeFrank recently qualified #1 and won the NHRA divisional race in Eagle Point, OR. Hat’s off to each of these gentlemen for their excellent performances using Phoenix race tires!

Stay tuned for more results from this weekend’s Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, October 10-12th.

EG

July 18th-20th Memphis, TN Motorsports Park NHRA South Central Divisional Race-

Comp Eliminator event winner Scott Benham weathered the Memphis heat en route to victory using his tried and true Phoenix slicks. Other notables running Phoenix in the class were Rodger Brogdon who scored a very respectable 5th place finish. Also of note was the fact that 6 qualifiers in the top 15 were on Phoenix tires!

Eventual race winner Scott Benham

5TH Place Finisher Rodger Brogdon

In Super Stock Mike Crutchfield continued to score valuable points towards a divisional championship with a solid 10th place finish.

Mike Crutchfield- 10th Place

August 27th- September 1st NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis IN-

Phoenix tires continued to gain momentum at the highly prestigious US Nationals. Despite a 65 car field that was comprised almost entirely of other tire manufacturers and their highly marketed tires. Phoenix competitors scored 2 of the top 10 qualifying spots in Super Stock.  One of the best kept performance secrets in all of drag racing is quietly having a huge impact on top level sportsman racing. Stay tuned for more results.

EG

Sounds like something that didn’t get eaten at Grandma’s over the holidays.  No we’re not talking about a pork loaf, the other white meat, nature’s perfect food, etc.  This post is about the H.A.M.B. or pre-1965 Drag Nationals held a couple of weeks ago on the Missouri- Kansas border at Mo-Kan Dragway
The executive decision for Coker Tires’ new performance division (featuring Phoenix and M&H) to attend was made at the last minute after a couple of HAMB’ers posted some interest in having us there.  It had been a while since I’d checked out the website…in fact, the last time I was really on it was when I sold my old sled, a 1950 Ford 2dr business coupe,  last Summer (see below).

parting is such sweet sorrow…

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Over the past few months I’ve had the distinct privilege of getting to know a couple of local Chattanooga police officers who support a very noble cause. Officers Joe Warren and Marty (get-r-done) Dunn. Joe was introduced to me early this Spring by mutual sponsor and friend Mike Goodman of Honest Charley Speedshop. Joe represents the local chapter of a national organization called “Beat the Heat” which features police officers who like to drag race all the while promoting a positive message to youths in the community…”keep it on the track and off the streets.” Marty is building a very cool retro/police/race car, and helps turn a wrench every now and then on my own rig. (He also provided my first ride in a cop car without wearing hand cuffs! It’s the little things in life that make it all worthwhile).

Cop Car

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Well KY was a bust…at least as far as drag racing goes. My good friend Chad Pulver and I busted a move on Fri and made the 5+ hour trek over the mountains and through the woods to Owingsville KY only to get washed out of practice in a torrential downpour. Oh well, at least Mom had dinner waiting on us…there’s something about a hug and a helping of chicken pot pie that makes everything better. Saturday was sunny and pleasant, right up until 6 p.m., which was when we unloaded off the trailer. Rain, rain, rain. Man, I’m starting to think that my car would be a potential remedy for any drought stricken region of the world. Just load it on the trailer and send it to the Sudan Desert…the place would become a rain forest in no time. 10+ hours of driving and not a single pass down the strip…at least I have my entrance ticket which is valid for 1 spectator re-entry…just in case I decide to try it again sometime around the year 2018. Sometimes you gotta laugh to keep from crying.
A couple of weeks ago I was at home on a Sunday afternoon after church, paying some bills (car parts and gas card bills to KY no doubt), doing some laundry and mundane household chores when I heard a ring at the front door. Now keep in mind that I’m a bachelor, that means no wife…and currently among other things, no girlfriend, and definitely no kids. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I’m a recent transplant from LA. Therefore I don’t know a lot of people in the area, not even my neighbors or their kids (which, I admit, is a shame). I feared the worst as I approached the door. This must be the hardest of hard core solicitors to disturb a man on his day off…probably a fierce sales pitch that would result in some new aluminum siding or a lawn treatment system. As I opened the door and looked out, I saw to my disbelief about 7 bicycles scattered all over my yard along with their youthful owners ranging in age from about 6-10, and one of them was holding a can of white spray paint! I immediately assumed the worst. They must’ve painted my dogs…or worse yet, my truck…rest assured I was not getting out of this one by purchasing a box of girl scout cookies. Read the rest of this entry »

Gettin ready for some more T-N-T (test ‘n tune)

“Successful racers test. The primary source of knowledge should come from personal experience. Young racers excluded, those late nights in the shop, parts failures in the heat and dumb attacks on the race track all serve the purpose of a maturing racer. Importance should be placed on surviving each lesson until you know what you are doing.” This excerpt was taken from Dave Morgan’s book “Door Slammers: The Chassis book“…which after first glance, at its various formulas and diagrams, appeared to me as having been written by a Chinese mathematician.

So far I’ve tested my survival skills, patience, bank account, relationships and work in a quest for a quick and consistent race car. It all started early last year while I was still living in California. Without doing my homework, and acting like a novice fool, I went out and purchased what I thought was the fastest, nastiest race car I could afford. All the key words were in the add : “low 8 second ¼ mile car at altitude, big block, tunnel ram, 2 carbs, pro shot fogger nitrous system, lenco 4 speed, wheelie bars, parachute…blah, blah, blah” It looked and sounded like it was doing a 160mph just sitting there. That ought to scare the neighbors. Perfect.

Wrong. Instead of going the speed of sound the first time out, the car ended up frying like a crispy piece of bacon with me in it. I ended up learning how to use a fire extinguisher and water house before I ever got to arm the fancy nitrous system. Upon further investigation, the rocket scientist who wired the car didn’t bother to use any fuses, therefore creating a very dangerous electrical fire that started somewhere around the firewall and worked its way back through the car. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey everybody,

For those of you who didn’t already know, Phoenix racing tires is sponsoring the first ever NHRA “Heads Up” series in division 2 which consists of the Southeast. The series started in April and we’ve run two out of the six scheduled events to date. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit the NHRA website

Congratulations go out to series points leader George Bolton in the 6.0 class, and Chuck Aldridge in the 7.0 class. Good job gentlemen…keep it up, you’re on your way to a Walley! Special thanks go out to the good folks Bill Holt, and Heather Hillard, of the NHRA, and track promoters George Howard of Huntsville Dragway in Alabama, as well as Johnny Jordan of Emerald Coast Dragway in Holt, FL for making the first two events a success.

Make your plans now to attend the next race at Music City Raceway in Hendersonville TN, August 9th & 10th. It’s not too late to contend for the historic first ever “Heads Up” title in NHRA division 2. For more information, please check out: http://www.musiccityraceway.com/index.html

Thanks and see you at the races!

EG

Hello and welcome to the first edition of EG’s blog. It’s my distinct pleasure to be part of dragracetires.com, which is a new website intended to provide you with the latest information about Phoenix, M&H and Firestone Nostalgia drag tires. I’m a recent transplant from LA (that’s LA California…not Lower Alabama), I work for Coker Tires’ Performance Division in Chattanooga TN, my full name is Eric Gullett, and my title is Drag Tire Specialist. Whew!

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