The weekend I spent down in OK interviewing team members is one I will remember for a very long time. 

It took some coaxing to get them talking but once they got comfortable it is amazing to listen to the accomplishments that these guys have under their belts!  The A Few Dollars More Team is a wealth of Drag Racing knowlege and I was fortunate to catch up with Fred Rice for an interview.

Q: Fred, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions, I really appreciate it.

A: Your welcome, so, what questions do you have for me?

Q: Well, when did you and Tommy first meet?

A: That’s easy, Lake Hudson in 1981.

Q: That is quite a long friendship!  Is that how it is in the Drag Boat racing community – longtime friendships.

A: Absolutely, we are all a big family.

Q: What do you do on the team?

A: I am responsible for getting A Few Dollars More to the races safe and sound and then I also work on the engine.

Q: That is alot of responsiblity!  Do you remember the name of your first boat and how fast did it go?

A: Nancy, I do remember, it was 1983 and I ran a boat by the name of Super Chief that would run about 100 – 110 MPH.  In 1984, I upgraded to the River Racer division and a boat called Flat Nasty.

Q: Now, I hear you are a record holder?

A: Yes, in 1987 I was in the Fist Full of Dollars boat when it was a Blown Gas Flat and am the MPH Record Holder in that boat.  In 1989 I ran a TAF for Mansfield & Rice Racing for the next 2 years.

Q: Wow, what happened in 1991?

A: I began driving the TAH A Few Dollars More and set a MPH record of 221MPH in that boat.  I drove that boat for 3 years and then in 1995 I drove the TAF SHAZAM.

Q: So, you and Scotty have something in common!  How many records and titles do you have?

A:  Let’s see, I have an SDBA MPH Record in 1987, 1991, and 1995 and I was SDBA Hi-Point Champion in 1991 & 1995.

Q: Wow, that is 3 MPH records in three different boats!! Let’s see, Fist Full of Dollars, A Few Dollars More, and SHAZAM.  Your Hi-Point titles were in Few Dollars More and SHAZAM two different boats.  That is really some great accomplishments!  Do you have a memorable race that just stands out?

A: Well, any race that any of us can cross the finish line safely is memorable to me.  We are one big family and we all wish everyone safe passes and that to me is the best type of memories – everyone goes home safe.

Q: Wow, you know Fred, I’ve interviewed several of you and ya’ll have the same answer.  What a great interview – do you have any questions for me?

A  & Q: So, why do they call you Too Tall?

A: LOL, that’s another story for a different day!

Q: Thanks so much for the interview and your time, I know you are very busy!  Don’t forget that you promised me pictures for a later post!

A: Laughing – Your welcome and I won’t forget.

As he walked away I sat back and reviewed my notes, I was in awe at all of Fred’s accomplishments.  I can’t wait to interview him again because I imagine, like Scotty, Dad, and Tommy, he will have alot of stories that need to be told. 

So if you see Fred, tell him you read his interview on Green Country Drag Boat’s website and see if he won’t tell ya a story about Drag Racing!

This entry was posted on December 14, 2010 at 5:00 pm and is filed under A Few Dollars More, Drag Boat Racing, Teams. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.