Bad Hot Rod

With about 400 feet to go, Visalian Brad Thompson couldn't see exactly where he was going.

But pholks, when you're going more than 250 miles per hour it doesn't take too darned long to get there.

In fact, it took Brad just 5.898 seconds to pilot the roaring bright orange dragster to the National Hot Rod Association Reunion Championship at Beech Bend Racking Park in Bowling Green, Ky., Father's Day. Thompson's vision was impaired for a split-second when something happened in the 4,000-hp engine causing oil to block his view.

“I couldn't see where I was going,” he said, “I was blind for the last 400 feet. I'm glad I didn't mow the cones over. I had no idea where I was at.”

The NHR national championship at Bowling Green brought car co-owner Larry Bless the third major front engine Top Fuel championship following two other NHR Nostalgia Top Fuel championship trophies won in Bakersfield in 2005 and 2007. The car, referred to by some as “Agent Orange,” is the only one to ever win both the California and National Championships. The 400-cubic-inch nitro methane breathing dragster is the defending national front engine top fuel points champion.

Moments after the race, Thompson telephoned Bless. “I just called Larry and let him know he's going to have book-end trophies.”

The Thompson-Bless Racing top-fuel racer built, pampered, tuned and is also crewed by a group of men who devote dozens of hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings turning wrenches, cleaning and crafting parts, and all those things involved in tearing down, fixing, replacing, polishing and whatever it takes to get the championship car ready for the split-second run down a quarter-mile of pavement.

Those evening sessions at the shop on East Acequia Street near the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters are crucial to the success the Visalia-based national championship dragster has achieved. Thompson, who operates Pro-Auto on Ben Maddox Way, is always quick to credit all those who use their skills and dedication to going faster than anyone else.

Right after the national championships, Thompson said, “I can't do it without my crew. They gave me a bad hot rod. We just got it done this weekend.”

Of course pholks, Brad's use of “bad” means just the opposite and there are lots of other words and terms which can be substituted to get simply really, really fast.

The pace won't get any slower for the Thompson-Bless Racing crew with several more upcoming races, the next one at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, in August as the defending 2007 points champion team attempts to defend the title. Currently, the team is second in points.

Crew members are: Steve Faria, tuner; Scott Miller, top end; John Arnold, engine chief/fabricator; Dave Searcy, clutch; Bob Rehfeld, chutes,/fuel/fabricator; John Sharp, clutch; Chris Fusano (aka Edgy) shop/pit specialist; and Craig Fridlund, bottom end.

So pholks, if you want to see a really “bad” hot rod in action, Brad and Larry's orange monster is the one to watch.

But don't blink.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com