There's nothing like drag racing for fans having the opportunity to interact with drivers. Paul Noakes proves it here when he spends 6+ minutes with fans answering an assortment of questions about his career in alcohol funny car, how the InstiGator came to be and his thoughts on 1000 foot nitro racing.

Thanks to the fans for posting this. I'm still looking for some fans with general admission tickets who generated video of interaction with drivers at one of those round track events.

I'll post it if you can find it.

Great job Paul.

By Jim - Posted on August 10, 2008 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

MARTIN, Mich. - For the fourth time in a row Paul Noakes put the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car in the final round. This time at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park during the Northern Nationals. The team fell short of gaining its second win of the season when Noakes uncharacteristically lit the red bulb with an early start.

While four runner-up finishes in seven tries would mark a spectacular season for most, crew chief Les Mellows was a little disappointed. "We haven't taken advantage of our opportunities," he said shortly after the race. "It will take a catastrophic failure of Laurie's team to not win the championship, which isn't likely to happen, they've been that strong."

Noakes was facing Cannister for the third time this season and the second time in the final round. "We made a decision to tighten the air gap," Mellows said. "It was the wrong thing to do to a guy that was 'in a zone'. We have the best driver out there and as a team we want him to compete on the starting line every time he stages. If we have prepared the car properly we will win!"

Continue reading "Fourth final for Noakes overshadowed by Cannister win" »

By Jim - Posted on August 7, 2008 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

ELKHART, Ind. - With just four races remaining in the Nitro Jam drag racing season, the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car, driven by Paul Noakes, finds itself right where it wants to be. This weekend's Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals (August 1-3) at the US 131 Motorsports Park will prove if the Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team car has what it takes to win its first championship.

The InstiGator has made final round appearances in the last 3 races, including the most recent win in Grand Bend. Noakes will also be defending his Northern Nationals title at this weekend's event.

"We're pretty excited about getting to race again," Noakes said. "It was such an emotional lift for our team to defend our 2007 win in Grand Bend. I hope we can make a successful defense in Martin also."

Crew Chief, Les Mellows likes his chances. "I think the stamina of any athlete determines champions," Mellows said as he prepared for the race. "The Kalbones team has it [Laurie Cannister, points leader]. We seem to be hitting our stride right on time."

Continue reading "Noakes and InstiGator pumped about going the distance" »

By Jim - Posted on July 30, 2008 1:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

GRAND BEND, Ont. - For the third race in a row, Paul Noakes found himself in the final round of an IHRA national event. This time the Mopar Canadian Nationals provided a different outcome as the Les Mellows tuned Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny car prevailed, giving Hoosier Thunder Motorsports its first Funny Car victory ever.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of these guys," Terry McMillen, team owner said. "Paul and Les are the best in the business and they proved it again this weekend."

Of the last 18 races that a Paul Noakes driven / Les Mellows tuned car has been entered, 11 have resulted in a final round appearance, five of those with wins, including the successful defense of the Mopar Canadian nationals.

Noakes and Mellows made the transition to McMillen's Amalie Oil InstiGator at the beginning of the season with the goal of competing for a championship. "It took a little longer to get the car suited to Paul than we all had hoped for," Mellows explained. "But now that he is becoming more comfortable with it we can begin to enjoy the results."

Continue reading "Noakes makes third time the charm" »

By Jim - Posted on July 23, 2008 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) |

Grand Bend, Ont. -- Paul Noakes has driven the Amalie Oil InstiGator in back-to-back final rounds in each of the last 2 events. The mid-season charge has been enough to tighten the points chase, but not enough to make up any ground on Laurie Cannister, who beat Noakes in both final round appearances.

"We just want to continue this mid-season push," Noakes said as he greets fans and sponsors at a London media and cancer benefit event. "Laurie is going to be tough to catch if someone in this funny car class can't put the brakes on her. We've had three shots at her this season and have come up empty handed. It's going to be tough, but I don't think anyone has conceded the championship yet. We're not racing for second place yet," he said with a smile.

Les Mellows, crew chief agrees, "We are still running for number one in the championship, but we need to focus on those that stand in our way and compete at a high level every opportunity we have. The points will be tallied in five more races."

Qualifying for the Mopar Canadian Nationals kicks off this Friday, July 18 and continues through the weekend with eliminations and champions crowned on Sunday, July 20. The race has Noakes and tuner Les Mellows a little more focused than usual. The Ontarians live just minutes from the Grand Bend Motorplex and consider this their home event.

Continue reading "Noakes plans to continue mid-season charge" »

By Jim - Posted on July 16, 2008 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. - The Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team car driven by Paul Noakes and tuned by Les Mellows raced the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car to a final round appearance before falling to points leader Laurie Cannister. The effort put the team back into the championship hunt and after four of ten events they sit in the fourth position, just a few rounds from the number two spot.

"It was a great weekend for the car and for this team," Noakes said after the event. "We're one step closer to having the perfect car. I couldn't be happier."

Continue reading "Noakes races Amalie InstiGator into final round appearance" »

By Jim - Posted on June 19, 2008 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |