Prostar
Virginia: Johnson's Best Work Yet
By: Jack
Korpela
If you love
motorcycle drag racing as much as I do, you probably
have a collection of home videos from various racers
you've attended. I put a pretty high sentimental value
on the two-wheeled action I've recorded over the years.
What better way is there to remember our sport's past
and cure that spring racing fever that always seems
to sink in around December? I have a home movie from
Atco 1991, where "Spiderman" McBride and Elmer
Trett met in a classic Top Fuel final, that I must have
watched 30 times in the last 12 years. Videos like that
are truly priceless, but the problem is that up until
recently no one was recording these events professionally,
with the use of state-of-the-art equipment. Also our
home movies are not mass produced and readily available
to the public. Ex-Top Fuel racer, Brian Johnson also
noticed this void, and decided before the 2002 season
that he was up for the challenge and purchased some
high-dollar video equipment. Since then Johnson and
his film crew have recorded each AMA/Prostar event and
released the very enjoyable finished product of three
races.
Johnson's latest VHS/DVD from the 2002 AMA/Prostar Spring
Nationals in Richmond, VA, is by far the best of Johnson's
already entertaining series of movies.
This is the
race that produced three of Prostar's most illustrious
and talked-about runs of-all-time;
Along with Top Fuel and
Pro Stock this video features extensive footage from
Funny Bike, Pro Mod (including Ashley Owens' record
blast of 6.71) Street Bike Shootout, and new this volume,
Hot Rod Cruiser, and Formula Superbike (with Jim Carroll
headed towards Prostar's first perfect season.
This was the race where
a long rain delay vacated the grandstands for the ladder
part of the event. If you missed out, now is your chance
to recapture motorcycle drag racing history.
Even if you were in attendance
this video is a must see. I was in the announcer's box
calling the race during most of the spectacular performances.
Johnson's different camera angles gave me a completely
different and quite exciting perspective. On one pass
the camera is mounted on the front wheel of Steve Rice's
200 mph Funny Bike.
On a personal note, when
I think back to all of the unbelievable runs and happenings
that have went down in Prostar's 14-year history with
greats like Elmer Trett, Dave Schultz, John Myers, Jim
McClure, Tony Lang, etc... It is a terrible misfortune
that we have no official video documentation. What Johnson
is embarking on is not just another business venture.
It is a crucial and integral part of growing our sport
to the future, while not letting our rich-history slip
away. How great would it be to have professional footage
of Trett's long-stranding record of 6.06 at Indy, or
Dave Schultz's last Prostar Pro Stock win at the 1998
World Finals?
Johnson spends a tremendous
amount of money not only producing the videos, but also
flying his crew from England for each race. This article
is not intended to be propaganda, nor am I being paid
for this, but I strongly believe that as racers and
motorcycle drag racing fans, it's not unreasonable for
us to make sure it is economically viable for Johnson
to continue doing this. Johnson has stated that this
is a two-year trial, and if he cannot make enough money
to cover his expenses he will be forced to discontinue
production.
Take my word, if you love
motorcycle drag racing these videos are a worthwhile
investment. And if you are actually in the video, particularly
winning in the video, there is no excuse for not buying
one. Even if you have no desire to see yourself on TV,
which is hard to comprehend, what better way to impress
a sponsor or family member that can't make it out to
the track?
Johnson's videos are reasonably
priced and available from Schnitz
Racing
