Feedback , Friendly Notes , & Hate Mail

2 0 1 6 P H OTO A N N UA L

Photo Annual dragillustrated . com

Once again , DI delivers with the greatest collection of drag racing photography that I have EVER SEEN in one location . I ’ m not sure how you guys go about doing this deal , but it ’ s over-the-top every year . I ’ ve heard Wes [ Buck , Editor-in- Chief ] talk about how he prefers the issues packed full of long stories , but I have to tell you that I think a whole lot of us racers out here don ’ t mind seeing a bunch of big pictures every once in awhile ! Keep up the good work ! Hats off to all these photographers that contributed !

Darren Geary , via the Internet

Just wanted to pass along my vote for you guys to double the size of the Photo Annual in 2017 . You ’ re always looking for input , right ?

Jon Grenville , via the Internet

After so many issues packed full of a few familiar names , I wanted to make sure that I made the team at DI aware that I did notice there were a lot of new photographers included in the 2016 Photo Annual . I ’ m sure John Fore III , Van Abernethy , Roger Richards , Chris Graves and all your long-term shooters are excited about it , too .

Graham Strickland , via the Internet

That Stevie Jackson , eh ? Looks like he ’ ll do just about anything to get on the cover of Drag Illustrated . Great work with the Photo Annual . I admit I hated to see “ The Shadow ” destroyed like that . That ’ s probably one of my favorite race cars of all time . Tobin Winston , via the Internet

About these flying cars … I understand and completely agree that Stevie Jackson flying through the air in Phil Shuler ’ s supercharged Ford Mustang makes for an amazing photo , but do you have any concern whatsoever as to the fact that we ’ re seeing cars literally taking flight year-after-year at Donald Long ’ s big drag radial races in Valdosta ? Obviously , it has nothing to do with Donald , outside of the fact that everyone goes down there hell-bent on winning or setting a record and

pulls out all the stops to do so , but this whole drag radial scene and their “ no wheelie bars ” deal – is that smart ? I get that it ’ s exciting , but it feels like we ’ re sacrificing a whole lot of safety in the name of a great photo or viral video . I ’ m not saying I don ’ t want to see the craziness – I have to admit the cover of DI 116 got my attention – but it seems like we ’ re not learning from our mistakes . This is like the fourth car to go airborne in South Georgia . Are we actually shooting for a fifth ? A sixth ? Is that really the goal ? Eric P . McMillan , via the Internet

[ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES BUCK REPLIES : Volunteers can ’ t be victims . That ’ s basically my feeling on the matter . I belief keeping the wheelie bars off these cars preserves the human-element in drag radial racing , which is at the bare minimum waning in many categories of drag racing . There ’ s plenty of places to go race with wheelie bars , but I don ’ t think Lights Out or No Mercy is going to be one anytime soon . Of course , I can ’ t speak for Donald Long and Duck X Productions , but that ’ s my opinion . Appreciate the input !]

The Feels

I love the book . I love the photos , stories , ads , commentary , direction and vision . I look forward to getting every issue . I am 100-percent a racer , and this style of coverage just suits me perfectly . Thank

you for the look of the book . You guys are truly Making Drag Racing Great Again !

George Bryce , via the Internet

[ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES BUCK REPLIES : Holy crap , George ! That ’ s some serious praise coming from someone who has accomplished so much in the sport of drag racing ! Thank you so much for the kind words . Can ’ t wait to see you out at the drag strip in 2017 .]

I ’ ve been wanting to send a note along for almost two months now , but haven ’ t gotten it done . I approached Wes [ Buck ] at the Traxxas trailer on the midway during the NHRA national event at Gateway Motorsports Park last September and commended him and the whole team on what an awesome magazine Drag Illustrated is and , in particular , how great the article on Scott Palmer was . I ’ m just writing to reiterate . From the Jeff Verdi interview , to then Leah Pritchett , Rahn Tobler and the aforementioned Scott Palmer story – your magazine is the go-to for me . Great job . Also , after speaking with Wes I was able to actually meet Scott Palmer . Just can ’ t say enough about how the sport needs many more folks like him . We spoke for 10-15 minutes , all the while Scott Compton , driver of the Liquid Voodoo Top Fuel Hydro , and his family chatted with my wife . He mentioned going to Vegas for the second-to-last race of the NHRA season , and I told him that my wife and I had went to the 2009 NHRA event in Vegas on our honeymoon and he said , “ Hey , come on out and hang out with us !” Damn it if I wasn ’ t absolutely floored . Quite the guy . Again , keep up the good work !

Aaron Hager , via the Internet

Not sure who had the idea to start doing these little political cartoon type deals , but I love them ! Please , please , please keep it up ! I used to always thumb to Wes ’ column first thing , but now I ’ ve moved the monthly cartoon to the top of my list . Don ’ t worry , Wes , your column is the very next read .

Terry Rayne , via the Internet

[ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WES BUCK REPLIES : Thank goodness ! I was a little worried when I started reading this ! Seriously , though , glad you like the cartoons . More to come ! Promise !]

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12 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 117