"vondon302" (vondon302)
08/06/2019 at 11:23 • Filed to: milestones
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"vondon302" (vondon302)
08/06/2019 at 11:23 • Filed to: milestones | 0
| 8 |
At 70 no less. Love him or hate him that’s an achievement that’s going to be hard to duplicate.
Enjoy him while you can. It'll be a sad day for drag racing when he retires.
BeaterGT
> vondon302
08/06/2019 at 11:42 |
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Have seen him rip down Raceway Park countless times. Unfortunately, those days are already over...
jimz
> vondon302
08/06/2019 at 12:28 |
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I’m on the “hate” side. If the guy isn’t in front of a camera or promoting himself some other way, he don’t have time for nobody. Most of the other drivers (including his daughters) are a lot more personable and engaging with fans. He’s like Dave Villwock was in boat racing; treats fans as an annoyance.
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vondon302
> jimz
08/06/2019 at 12:53 |
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Weird I had the exact opposite impression of him from a decade ago at the night of fire event in Norwalk.
At a NHRA event the crowd is usally so huge around him I don't even bother.
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jimz
> vondon302
08/06/2019 at 13:31 |
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I go to Norwalk every year (the Nationals, not Night Under Fire) and I’ve only ever seen John Force if he’s got a camera pointed at him or a microphone in front of him. If you walk the pits you’ll see pretty much all of the drivers at some point signing autographs, taking pictures, etc. I’ve seen Courtney and Brittany Force, Matt Hagan, “Fast Jack” Beckman, Leah Pritchett, Antron Brown, and a bunch others chumming it up with people while the crews are rebuilding engines. Never seen hide nor hair of John Force. Also have heard from acquaintances how he’s just plain blown people off in those situations.
just-a-scratch
> jimz
08/06/2019 at 13:42 |
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He was all over the place last weekend and meeting lots of people. I listened to him speak about the good old days during a race day.
After he got the trophy he ran over to the grandstands in front of me, climbed and fell over the fence, the hung out with fans for a bit.
He’s a tireless promoter, but seemed very approachable.
OmerCarrothers333
> vondon302
08/06/2019 at 20:56 |
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Back when my dad was alive (and racing on the funny car circuit), he knew Force in passing. He was closer to Force’s old chief-mechanic, Austin Coil (this was back when Austin was the wrench on the Chi-Town Hustler).
Dad always wanted Force to win, because of Austin.
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vondon302
> OmerCarrothers333
08/07/2019 at 06:16 |
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We were at Norwalk one year and saw Austin Coil and some crew members at a restaurant on Saturday night. I didn’t want to bother him but the waitress sat us right next to him. I made eye contact when I sat down and nodded. We went on about our meal and when they went to leave I said good luck tomorrow they all smiled and left but then one of the team guys came back and gave me and my wife hats and said thanks for not bothering their meal it was a long day.
I don't remember where they finished that year but I still got that Castrol hat.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> vondon302
08/22/2019 at 14:08 |
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I wonder why he stayed in Funny Cars.