– Bowling Green, KY

A couple of weekends ago, I had the privilege of attending the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, KY.  It’s difficult to put into words what an awesome experience I had, and the positive impression that Texas Jungle Racing, the fans, and fellow competitors left upon me.  Take it from a fan of the sport, no story or images can really do it justice…it’s just something that you need to see for yourself.
Thursday morning my buddy Steven and I loaded up the restored, original bodied, Jungle Jim Nitro Funny (from here on out it will be referred to as JJ1) Car that rests peacefully at Honest Charley Speed Shop and Coker Tire HQ in Chattanooga, TN.  The plan was to transport JJ1 to Bowling Green and rendezvous with the Texas Jungle Racing Team which was hauling up the brand new Jungle Jim Car (from here on out it will be referred to as JJ2) from San Antonio.  JJ2 was purpose built under the current rules/specs/guidelines for nostalgia funny car racing, and was completed about a month ago.  Although the car had been fired up and shook down a time or two, this would be its first attempt at the full quarter mile under power.  JJ1 is for show…JJ2 is for go!

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Last Wednesday I had a conversation with a good friend named Dan Reynolds who is a pastor for Oakwood Baptist Church.  During the course of our talk, he told me about a board game that he had played the night before with his family and how towards the end of the game he needed to have a seemingly impossible set of variables go his way in order to win.  He went on to talk about his intuition that somehow, some way, he had this incredible feeling and he just knew that it was going to come together.  Sure enough, the completely impossible happened and he won…much to the disbelief of his family, and dismay of his new son-in-law. (more…)

The man that is credited with being the innovator of  modern day drag tires passed away on June 3, 2009 at the age of 94.  Please see the article below regarding the SEMA Hall of Famer, and the legacy that lives on with the M&H brand that he created.  Humble and hard working, Marvin was always quick to give credit to the racers that helped him test and develop tires through the years.

Godspeed Marvin

See Marvin’s SEMA Hall of Fame Profile

…well, I have a race result, and unfortunately it’s not a very good one.  On Friday, May 22nd my crew chief Steven Farrow, his trusty assistant Lee “Golden Gallon” Hitchcock and I made the journey to Baileyton, Alabama (home of the Tater Hauler) for an outlaw style 6.0 – Modified Class, “Heads Up” race.  The drive took as about 2 ½ hours across some of the most beautiful terrain that the Southeast has to offer. (more…)