Hello! Allow me to introduce myself - my name is Jim. I’m a writer currently living outside of Nashville. I’ve published a fair bit over the years, but never fiction. I’m currently working on a fictional story that involves drag boat racing. I find drag boats exciting but don’t know much about them, technically speaking. All I know is what I have gleaned from Don Edwards’ great book, an article in Traditional Rod & Kustom magazine, and lurking / scouring these forums. I’d like to represent the sport adequately and with respect, and to do that, I need to consult with gearheads such as yourselves. I was hoping that, if any of you had the time, you might look over a few paragraphs that deal specifically with the boats. I’d like the descriptions of the boats to be detail-oriented and fact-based, but I couldn’t tell you a flat bottom boat from a hydro, or the difference between full blown gas and nitro. The e.t.’s I write about must be realistic, the engines need to be correct with the corresponding boat, etc. You get the idea.

I can’t offer anything in the way of compensation (like I said, I’m a writer - ha!) but, should this get published, I will certainly acknowledge you by name for helping out, and you can know you’re helping to advance the sport by not allowing some dumbass writer to make implausible claims.

Any interested parties, please PM. Thanks in advance!

Jim

Jim you need to go to a race and interact with the racers. They are a wild and rowdy bunch, all are adreline junkies, but all are also the most helpful and gracious folks I have ever known. Duane probably knows more history of the sport and has the best global viewpoint. The technical apsects will require considerable research, as the community will call you out on errors here. I had/have writing aspirations and would be more than happy to read your passages and maybe I could point you to some people who could help.

Good luck,
John Hancock

Thanks John! That's extremely helpful advice. And I know the community would call me out - as well they should! - which is why I'm being careful. Is there a directory or resource online to find out about local races? In any case, thanks again for the quick and encouraging reply!

Jim, email me at jonhan55@aol.com and I would like to offer some more info/insight for your project.

John

Jim, Sounds like an interesting proposition there...Working many different jobs at different races since 1979 I'd be glad to help....Just remember you get what you pay for....

Hi Jim and welcome to Drag Boat Racing.