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The TACH Report: McClenathan, Bazemore, Yates Win Big At NHRA Event in Denver; Buzz Calkins Injured In IRL Practice; Have You Driven a Ka Yet?

21 July 1997

Top Fuel at the NHRA Mile High Nationals went to Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, CA, who defeated Tony Shumacher with a 294.59 mph pass and an ET of 4.864. Funny Car title went to Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis at 271.82 and 5.460. Jim Yates took Pro Stock over Curt Johnson with a 184.35 run at 7.430 ET.

IRL driver Buzz Calkins had an engine lunch on him during practice for the August 17 New Hampshire/Pennzoil 200. Unfortunately for Buzz, he was in the middle of a turn when his Aurora mill let go. He ended up in the local sick bay with a broken ankle and head injuries. Next race for the IRL contingent is Charlotte NC 500K on July 26.

Ford has a new model it's thinking about bringing to the states, and it's called the KA. No immediate plans for getting it to the U.S., as sales in Europe are a tad below Fords expectations. The KA is a bit smaller than the Ford Festiva, and is very attractive. Automotive journalist Matt Joseph, Wisconsin Public radio, Madison, WI raved about the KA. We'll wait and see.

Subaru just has a massive recall in Japan as 336,400 Legacy, Impresas and Askas were called in to dealerships to fix crank shaft pulleys and alternators.

FedEx is going big time car racing. The company will have its name/logo on the side pods of the Benneton F-1 race cars.

Last week at Silverstone, England's British Grand Prix, the local airport had a one-day record of take offs and landings at 3,900.

The Indy 500 is sold out for next Memorial day. You heard right the IRL Indy 500 has no more tickets to sell. Go figure.

Motorsports mover and shaker J.C. Agajanian, Jr. ripped into Roger Penske on a local L.A. radio show recently, saying he wears a "teflon shield" and is a "frozen snake" The reason for the tirade was the fact that Aggie and his family had the inside track on building a race facility at the Kaiser Steel plant in Fontana where Penske built California Speedway.

Back to F-1, Frank Williams said he might consider hiring back Damon Hill in 1998.

Gerhard Burger's father was killed in a plane crash in Austria two weeks ago when his single engine plane got lost in fog and hit a mountain.

The BIG story in Formula One is the structuring of a new super race team with lots of bread to go racing first class. Rumored to be involved are BAT (British American Tobacco), Jacques Villenueve as driver, car builder Reynard to furnish the chassis, and Renault V-10 power.

J.D. Power, the automotive research outfit, has done a study on buyer attitudes regarding electric cars. In their sample 23% of the respondents said they would consider an electric, but only when range, price and recharging problems are cleared up.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel