In drag racing, there are so many different varieties of collectables. I'm going to focus on one specific branch in this blog. Some people like to collect diecast models of the race cars, I've been known to buy a few, but I really like to collect things that you can't buy. Mostly, because they're free! I'm talking about hero cards and used parts.
Hero cards first started popping up in the mid to late 70's, usually reserved for big-name drivers with sponsors, such as Big Daddy Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen. Now, almost all of the pro teams provide hero cards to fans. Even Pro Mod and Sportsman teams have hero cards. Hero cards are really a win/win for the team and the fans. For the team, the cards help get the name of the team out to fans and potential sponsors, as well as promoting the team's current sponsors. Fans benefit because they get a free souvenir to remember their day at the track by. If the hero card is signed, it's always more valuable to me, but it can also be worth money in the future. Who knows, that driver in the back of the Top Alcohol pits might be a future Top Fuel champion.
I've been collecting hero cards since I went to my first "serious" drag race, the 2006 IHRA World Nationals, the last IHRA race at Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk Raceway Park in it's IHRA days. I now have almost four 3-inch binders full of hero cards, starting with Top Fuel and ending with show cars. There are a wide range of autographed cards in my books, from John Force's to local sportsman driver's. It's always cool to look through the books and see how the cars, sponsors, and drivers have gotten in and out of the sport.
One of my favorite parts of working with an NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team is that I usually get first dibs on burnt up or useless parts. One of my favorites is a set of busted blower belts from the 2010 Norwalk national event. One belt, the "Sportsman Belt" as I call it, has been signed by Frank Manzo, Bill Reichert, the Force sisters, Steve Harker, and Dave Hirata, to name a few. It also has a few Pro drivers on it, like Allen Johnson, Greg Anderson, Jack Beckman, and Kenny Koretsky. The second belt has been signed by so many drag racing personalities, there really aren't any open spots. Paul Page, Bob Bode, Jeff Arend, Morgan Lucas, Tim Wilkerson, and the #NTG favorite, Terry McMillen are some of the fantastic people that are on the belt.
In total of used parts, I have five pistons, two and a half connecting rods, two head gaskets, 4 burst panels, a few assorted Lenco/automatic transmission parts, and a "pop 'chute", the part the pops the parachutes out. One of the pistons came out of Steve Harker's TAFC engine, when he ran 5.50 at 260 mph at the 2010 NHRA Nationals at Norwalk. If you know anything about Top Alcohol Funny Car racing, you'll know that's a pass! Luckily, I didn't have to do much to come across these parts, but if you have enough time when you're at the track, ask a few of the teams if they have any bad parts. Many of the nitro teams, (besides JFR, DSR, Al-Anabi,), will have used pistons or head gaskets that they'll give you. It's instantly a cool collectable, especially if it's signed.
At the 2011 U.S. Nationals in Indy, I had the opportunity to meet one of my idols in automotive drawing and design, Chip Foose. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Chip was at the Mac Tools booth, signing a few tool boxes, then signing some Oakley posters featuring his new line of shoes. I was standing in the area when they formed the line, so I was the first fan after the Mac executives got their items signed. Chip not only signed and personalized an Oakley poster for me, he also did a quick sketch and autograph on one of my NVW Motorsports Promotion hats. Mr. Foose was one of the most humble and kind people that I've met in the industry. It was really one of the highlights of the trip. This is a kind of collectable that will probably never leave my possession, mainly because it will never be as valuable to someone else as it is to me.
Drag racing is one of the very few sports that has such a wide variety of collectables and souvenirs that fans can acquire at the track. I always love finding more collectables and hearing about the great items that other NHRA fans have. If you have some really awesome items, tell me about them in a comment, or maybe you could do a blog about them.
Thanks for reading the latest installment of my random ramblings. I'd like to congratulate fellow #NTG member Nitro John on his appearance on Joe Castello's WFO Radio Nitro Tuesday night. It was a great opportunity to promote the Nitro Twitter Group and he did a great job. I'm not really sure what my next blog will be about, so be prepared for anything!
Thanks again for reading!
Nitro Nate
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