(Words and photos by Brad Klaassen) – Many drag racing fans go to an event and see all the on track excitement and think, man that’s really cool. I want to do that too! Little do they realize there is a tremendous amount of blood, sweat and tears that go into being a member of any successful racing operation. Most have no idea the sacrifices made by team owners wallets nor the dedication and commitment of voluntary crews to burn nitro or any type of racing fuel. Fans in the stands see the smoky burnouts, hear the eardrum splitting sounds of any type of high performance engine and those track blistering runs, but few realize exactly what goes on behind the scenes before they arrive at a track or the time invested at a race shop.

So, I’m going to give you race crazed Bangshifters a small insight into what actually happens on our nostalgia nitro injected team at Grand Prix Racing. Once the car came back home from the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California, October 2016, a complete car teardown was required, which includes refreshing all necessary parts and pieces then sending off all parts requiring SFI recertification as required by rule. Then fast forward to December 2016 when reassembly was completed. Sound like fun? You bet it is if you love nitro. Word of caution though, don’t ever count the man hours required for this labor of love.

Next up, recheck every nut, bolt, part and piece on the car in January 2017 because it’s almost time for the new racing season to begin. In our case final preparations began January 7^th and then we loaded our gal in the box January 8^th for our much awaited trip to Wildhorse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Arizona for the first NHRA Heritage Series race of the 2017 season.

And just like Christmas morning, January 11, 2017, finally arrived and it’s time to hit the road for our first race. So, see race fans, there really isn’t an offseason if you’re going to burn nitro and compete for a Heritage Championship like the team I’m fortunate enough to be a member of for four years now.

And that brings us to Day 1, on the road. Let me also advise you fans considering a venture like this you better love traveling and you better be a road dog. For example, from our race shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma to our first race just outside Phoenix, Arizona is 1,062 miles. That’s approximately 18 hours in a race rig towing a race car. Race fans you don’t have to be crazy to do this, but trust me it helps. So, that’s the beginning of Day 1. Sound exciting? If so, then you might have what it takes to pursue a life like so many others have that came before me and will continue to follow in the sport we love as much as life itself.

Stay tuned, this adventure has just begun. Keep following along as we continue our 2017 Okie Nitro Tour.

See you at the drags, when we get there, someday, maybe, we hope,

-Bad Brad