12th ANNUAL JFR HOLIDAY CAR SHOW-Tons-o-toys!
Interview with Austin Coil about drag racing today Click to read it…
12th ANNUAL JFR HOLIDAY CAR SHOW A HUGE SUCCESS
(story starts below)
Press Release from John Force Racing:
12th ANNUAL JFR HOLIDAY CAR SHOW A HUGE SUCCESS
YORBA LINDA, CA (December 6, 2009) — Mother Nature and the people of Southern California cooperated to make the 12th annual John Force Racing Holiday Car Show one of the biggest in the events history. Ominous clouds made brief appearances over the 14-time champion’s shop but a comfortable breeze was the only weather variance all day as thousands of toys were dropped off making a mountain of memories for children this Christmas season. From 10 a.m. until well after 4 p.m. today toys, stuffed animals and games poured into the John Force Racing shop as fans filled the streets. Tens of thousands of people wandered through one of the largest collections of vintage cars, trucks and street rods.
In addition to the hundreds of car club vehicles a number of specialty vehicles were on display including the Force Borthers “Nightstalker,” Funny Car which returned to competition this year in a one-off event at Norwalk, Ohio, plus Jay Leno’s 1955 Buick Roadmaster custom, a $2 million Bugatti Veyron, a collection of “monster rods” built from Peterbilt trucks and an historic Amphicar designed for road or water.
“Today was awesome. It was all about the kids and I think our fans really came through. We are having tough economic times and I know there are a lot of kids out there who might not have a very good Christmas. I hope being able to donate all these toys to the CHiPs Toy Drive will help. I want to thank all our sponsors for stepping up and helping out especially Tom McKernan and the Auto Club,” said John Force.
“I know Craig Hoelzel really worked hard on this as well as all his volunteers. I want to thank everyone who helped out to make this happen from the bottom of my heart. My hand is just about worn out from signing autographs but it is what we do and I love spending time with the fans. We have a lot of really good friends that come out every year so it is good to see everyone. I want to especially thank Tom McEwen, Jack Beckman and Cory McClenathan. Cory Mac flew straight from Germany to be here.”
Fans were treated to music by the M.O. S. Project, Adria Force Hight’s band, as well as a number of other musical acts. In-N-Out burgers were available all afternoon and fans enjoyed the burgers.
Ron Capps’ Top Five Most Influential Funny Cars
June 28, 2009 by Hechtspeed · 4 Comments
Back for 2009 with Don Shumacher Racing, Ron Capps is in his fifth full season with Shoe’s team driving the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T for the 2nd time and of course, his crew chief is long time friend, Ed “Ace” McCulloch.
Born in San Luis Obispo Capps has always been a So-Cal guy and now lives with his wife and their daughter and son in Carlsbad, CA. With a B.S. in Software Engineering from Santa Clara college, Capps joined the NHRA super-team of Don Schumacher Racing, in 2005 to drive the Brut-sponsored Dodge Charger Funny Car. With Schumacher, he’s won eight national events and finshed 2nd in 2005, 3rd in 2006, and 4th in 2007. He’s hoping to turn that trend around for 2009
Capps joined DSR after driving for longtime friend and team owner Don Prudhomme. DSR is only the second Funny Car team for whom he’s driven since entering the nitro classes in 1995.
Since 1995 Capps has collected 25 wins in 54 final rounds, in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. He’s been close, but has never won it all after claiming that crown, finishing as Funny Car runner-up in 1998, 2000 and 2005. He’s hoping his ongoing commitment to Don Schumacher will offer him the best opportunity to achieve his goal. With Nitro running through his veins, here’s Ron Capps Top 5 most influential Funny Cars…
Ron Capps Top 5 Funny Cars
“No. 5 would be the Whipple McCulloch car because it was one of the first cars to have a roof hatch, side windows, and the first Funny Car to have a narrow chassis. Very influential overall and Ed 'Ace' McCulloch is my hero.”
“No. 4 is the Bud King because all of the technology that was derived from when Dale Armstrong was with that Funny Car and how overall influential it was when you look at Funny Cars today.”
“At No, 3 is “Jungle Jim." Because I built the models as a kid and those guys are my heroes. Whenever I was able to build a model of a car, that’s how I followed the sport at a young age. “Jungle Jim” was one of the first multi-car teams that would match race across the country, and had different guys driving different cars for him. When he showed up to match race, and I remember as a real small kid seeing him and Jungle Pam, and it was the biggest show you could see. It's unfortunate, because if he was alive today he would definitely be the biggest name in the sport.”
“No. 2 would definitely be the Army Funny Car of Don Prudhomme. I built the model of that car, and it was one of the few cars that I actually had a bigger model that I saved all my money to build. That car devastated the Funny Car class when he ran it. It ran a lot of races, and it was feared by a lot of drivers.”
“Of course, my No 1 is any car raced by John Force. I’m not even sure which car specifically. You could say the Castrol car because for a lot of years there was no beating him. That just kind of goes without saying. It’s John Force.”
Great Helmet Auction: Let The Bidding Begin!
June 2, 2009 by Hechtspeed · Leave a Comment
Professional Racers Owners Organization’s (PRO) “Great Helmet Auction”
INDIANAPOLIS, In. – On June 6, 2009, PRO’s Great Helmet Auction will go live on eBay! This 10-day auction (ends June 15th) features autographed helmets, most worn during NHRA Drag Racing competition, by stars of the sport including:
Jack Beckman
Brandon Bernstein
Kenny Bernstein
Antron Brown
Ron Capps
V. Gaines
Mike Edwards
Ashley Force-Hood
John Force
Matt Hagan
Robert Hight
Allen Johnson
Warren Johnson
Doug Kalitta
Ron Krisher
Cory McClenathan
Mike Neff
Tony Schumacher
Bob Vandergriff Jr.
Tim Wilkerson
For a full description of these driver’s helmets, including their history, photographs and a link to each helmet on eBay, visit www.GreatHelmetAuction.com.
Mark your calendars now with the following dates:
June 6 – The Great Helmet Auction begins on eBay.
June 15 – Last day to bid and win!
June 16 – Helmet winners announced.
Winning bids benefit PRO, an organization that provides services and other benefits to professional drag racing team owners and drivers, with a portion of proceeds to benefit Racers for Christ (Team RFC), which has serviced NHRA for over 25 years.
Ashley Force Hood Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
May 8, 2009 by Hechtspeed · Leave a Comment
MyRideisMe.com is a big fan of John Force and John Force Racing. Combine that with the idea that we’ll help worthy causes and this is a win-win.
This food drive is Saturday, May 9th, so help out any way you can.
John Force Racing Press Release:
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD ASKS FANS TO JOIN HER AND STAMP OUT HUNGER
YORBA LINDA, CA (May 7, 2009) — NHRA Funny Car superstar and 2007 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future winner Ashley Force Hood would like fans to join her in helping “Stamp Out Hunger.” 
Please join her in the fight to end hunger on Saturday, May 9, 2009, by leaving non-perishable food donations in a bag next to your mailbox for your letter carrier. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Last year, over 73 million pounds of food were donated to food banks.
“I found info about the Stamp Out Hunger event in a magazine a few days ago and jotted it down in my organizer since it’s such a simple thing to do and yet a very important cause. When I got to work I emailed it to a couple of close friends and then realized I should just send it out to every person I’m in contact with so I hit pretty much my whole email list which includes racers, family and friends from all over the country,” said Force Hood. “It’s a small act of kindness but when a lot of people do a small act it makes a big impact on those in need.”
In addition to Saturday’s national program Ashley Force Hood as well as John Force Racing are partnering with the Orange County Food Bank on a monthly basis with their wildly popular Cruise Night Car Show events.
“John Force Racing is also involved with the Orange County Food Bank during our Cruise Night Car Shows at our shop in Yorba Linda. People from all different places and backgrounds come together for some fun and donate to one common cause while they’re at it.”
The first John Force Racing Cruise Night Car Show brought in 550 cans of food for the OC Food Bank. The next event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30th from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. and the goal is to greatly exceed the April events total.
The Stamp Out Hunger event was created by the National Association of Letter Carriers, in conjunction with Feeding America, and is sponsored by Campbell Soup Company and the United States Postal Service.
Learn more at www.HelpStampOutHunger.com . Learn more about John Force Racing Cruise Night Car Shows at www.johnforceracing.com and click on JFR events.
Somebody tell us about the cruise night. Good? Bad? Nice cars? John’s a riot?? Let us know…
John Force Racing’s Charity Cruise Night Schedule
April 17, 2009 by pikesan · 2 Comments
YORBA LINDA, CA (April 2, 2009) — John Force Racing, headquartered in Yorba Linda, Calif., will be expanding its tradition of giving back to the community beginning April 25th when the first of seven John Force Cruise Night Car Shows will be held.
Participants and spectators at the John Force Cruise Night Car Shows are being encouraged to bring a can of food that will be donated to the Orange County Food Bank. For each can donated a raffle ticket will be distributed good for a chance to win a 52″ Sanyo Flat Screen TV. If participants bring one can of food they get one ticket if they bring twenty cans of food they get twenty tickets or chances to win. The raffle will be held on Halloween at the final John Force Cruise Night Car Show of the season.
“In December we have built up a tradition of giving toys to kids in need with the John Force Holiday Car Show that benefits the California Highway Patrol’s “CHiP’s for Kids” program. 
During these tough economic times we felt that we needed to do something for our community right now, and tying in with our fans at the John Force Cruise Night Car Shows just seemed like a perfect fit. Our goal is to collect as many cans of food as we can, and help make an impact on the community.
We are asking everyone to get involved whether they are a participant or a spectator,” said Craig Hoelzel, John Force Racing – Director of Special Promotions & Car Show Manager.
“The Orange County Food Bank is excited to team up with John Force Racing. The needs of the community are growing during these tough times and we really need the food,” said Kristin Kvesic, Orange County Food Bank.
A special award will be presented at each Cruise Night for the “Most Food Given.” Cruise Night Car Shows will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the John Force RaceStation. At each Cruise Night Car Show there will be family fun, food and entertainment for all ages.
2009 John Force Car Show Schedule All John Force Cruise Night Car Shows will be held at:
John Force RaceStation
22722 Old Canal Road
Yorba Linda, CA 92887
For More Info: www.JohnForceRacing.com or (714) 921-1651
Schedule: (All shows are from 4PM to 7PM)
- April 25
- May 30
- June 27
- July 25
- August 29
- September 26
- October 31
