90th birthday gift idea

Staging light

NHRA

"When I interviewed at NHRA in May 1982, Wally Parks was 69 years old and had already lived a life fuller than most will ever know. Twenty years later, he continues just as strong. "

In this very special issue of National DRAGSTER, we celebrate the 90th birthday of one of motorsports' greatest figures, NHRA founder Wally Parks. Our pictorial look at one of the continuing great stories in drag racing lore begins on page 45 and includes the first of a series of suitable-for-framing collector posters that National DRAGSTER will offer readers this year.

At a recent company meeting, NHRA President Tom Compton reminded NHRA's employees of the incredible gift that we have: the chance not only to meet but also to interact with our company's founder. Not many 52-year-old companies can say that, and certainly not with a reach that extends well below senior management.

I'll never forget my first meeting with Wally. It was May 1982, and I had come to NHRA headquarters in North Hollywood to apply for a writing position at National DRAGSTER. As a longtime NHRA fan, I knew of Parks' legend, but I didn't expect to be sitting across from him, one-on-one in his office explaining to him why he should hire me and why I would take a huge cut in pay for the chance.

We had just come out of what I thought had been my interview - a roundtable with the editorial and photo staff, consisting of George Phillips, Chris Martin, and Leslie Lovett - during which I was grilled about my knowledge of the sport and my photographic skills, and I was feeling pretty good. Then Wally invited me into his office. Gulp.

I think I mumbled something about being a huge fan of NHRA, about being a team player, and that I was interested in a longterm future with NHRA and in helping NHRA reach new levels of success. We chatted at length about his vision for National DRAGSTER, we shook hands, and I joined the NHRA family.

That was more than 20 years ago, but it only just dawned on me that when I first stood in the shadows of his greatness, Wally was 69 years old, an age where many are long-since retired or otherwise no longer fully engaged in life. He had already lived a life fuller than most of us will ever know, and, 20 years later, he continues just as strong. Though he's no longer a daily presence at NHRA headquarters, his spirit pervades, and his memos - articulately composed, flawlessly written, neatly typed, and delivered via fax ("Okie email" he calls it) - still bring a sense of pride, wonderment, and even shame; depending on their content. For many, they are an NHRA rite of passage.

Wally's background in publishing means that although he turned over the reins of ND to me 17 years ago, it's still "his paper." In all of those years, there wasn't a critical "Wally memo" - and there have been plenty during my years - that didn't shed light on something that needed addressing. He might not have always been right (just kidding, Wally), and my hands sometimes trembled when I raised the page to read, but I always knew where his heart was. Recently, Wally said that the success of National DRAGSTER continues to be one of his proudest accomplishments, and I'm glad to have played a part.

Wally's memory remains razor-sharp. As we huddled with him and wife Barbara to cull from the thousands of Wally images the 40 or so that would make up this feature (the idea for the salute was Barbara's and was supposed to be top-secret; of course, Wally found out about it!) Wally reeled off dates and names with ease, and with almost every photo came a story or anecdote. Why are he and Kenny Bernstein laughing in the photo on page 50? Wally had just cracked up the crowd when he said, "I never thought I'd be introduced by Billy Crystal," a jab at Bernstein's curly locks.

As he and Barbara perused the pictures and helped select their favorites, ND Photo Editor Teresa Long, Art Director Matt Hurd, and Staff Photographer Marc Gewertz sat rapt with attention as Wally spun incredible tales of his and Ray Brock's victorious invasion of NASCAR's Daytona Beach speedfest and joked about the picture at the bottom of page 48. "I call this my Kilroy photo," he said in reference to the famed "Kilroy was here" drawing. It was an incredible time, one of many I'll cherish.

The photo that accompanies this column is one of my favorites because it's how I always think of Wally: notepad in hand, pen at the ready, taking in everything and storing it away for the future. Thanks to Wally, we all have an incredible future, much like the many before of us have enjoyed for more than 50 years.

Happy birthday, Wally, from all of us who love you. Let's do this again in 10 years. - Phil Burgess