The following statement is provided on behalf of Sheikh Khalid Al Thani and Al Anabi Racing.  Please direct any questions to Puvanesan Kay, Aequitas Law LLP (U.K. Barrister ) or Chris Rodi ,Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP,  (U.S. legal counsel) at info@aequitaslaw.com.

It has come to my attention that my and Al Anabi Racing’s relationship with Mustafa Atat has recently been the subject of considerable discussion.  The comments centred on Mustafa’s involvement in a race in Detroit, Michigan, in 2001 which resulted in the tragic death of an innocent bystander.  As a driver of the other car in that race, I understand that Mustafa has been charged with several serious crimes in the United States. 

I did not come to know Mustafa until 2007 when he settled with his new family in Qatar.  I do not know exactly what happened in Detroit, and do not fully understand the details of American law.  In particular, I only recently learned that the murder conviction of the other driver in the Detroit race did not preclude Mustafa’s being found guilty of that same crime, an unfamiliar notion in my country.  As such, I do not think it is appropriate for me to attempt to respond to the many allegations that have been made about Mustafa.

There have also been allegations made about the integrity of our team and other members of the Al Thani family in Qatar.  These comments have been categorically untrue and unnecessary.  Some have even bordered on racist.  Luckily, I know that the overwhelming majority of race fans are above these types of ad hominem attacks.  I hope that, in the future, anyone who does not know me, my family or my team personally will attempt to do so before making baseless personal attacks.

Although I do not think my commenting on Mustafa’s situation is appropriate, I also recognize that this situation continues to effect many people.  Mustafa has been a talented and dedicated member of the Al Anabi Racing team.  However, out of respect for all involved in the tragedy in Detroit, including the family of the victim and the others injured, and also out of respect for the United States racing community which has warmly welcomed me and many of my team members, I have asked Mustafa to separate himself from Al Anabi Racing here in Qatar. I expressed my hope that he will take the necessary steps to resolve his personal legal issues.

I wish to express my heartfelt sorrow for the family of the victim and all those involved in the tragic accident in Detroit in 2001.  I hope that the rest of us can respect their privacy and return our focus to racing, where it belongs.

Very truly yours,

Sheikh Khalid Al Thani
Al Anabi Racing

DICKINSON, TX (Feb. 1, 2010)—American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Extreme star Frankie “Mad Man” Taylor (left) recounted today a harrowing tale of a wayward race trailer Friday morning along I-55, near Jackson, MS.

Seems Taylor, with his brother and crew chief, Paul, flew up to Indiana from their Dickinson, TX, home last Wednesday to retrieve their toterhome after having a shop up there add a second rear axle to help alleviate the stress of 40,000 miles or so of anuual towing, as well as install a few extra creature comforts to its interior. Total bill? About $24,000.

Upon departure from snowy Hoosier country, Taylor said they were immediately unimpressed with the seemingly excessive rough ride on their refurbished rig, but just chalked it up to things being different and pressed on to Jeffers Pro Cars in House Springs, MO, where they picked up their race trailer and recently repaired 2005 Corvette that Taylor raced in the ADRL series last year.

They then drove through heavy wind and rain and freezing temperatures until reaching Exit 85 in Mississippi at approximately 10:30 a.m., when a particularly hard bump in the road popped the trailer’s coupler off the truck’s hitch ball, broke the safety chains and sent the trailer on a scary, unguided path across the busy Interstate, bouncing off the center concrete divider and eventually ramming a Chevy pick-up from behind and sending it spinning into a ditch before finally grinding to a nearby halt itself, still upright between the highway and an access ramp. Remarkably, with the trailer empty except for the rolling chassis race car and the wind and rain hampering visibility, the Taylors weren’t immediately aware they’d lost their load until a nearby trucker managed to alert them to turn back.

“Fortunately, the guy was okay; he was shaken up quite a bit, but he walked away,” an obviously relieved Taylor said of the pick-up driver. “It turned out to be just a one-car accident, but it could’ve been a whole lot worse. If we had been just a couple miles farther down the road there would’ve been no middle barrier and I don’t even want to think about what could’ve happened it it had gone into the opposite lanes.”

No charges were laid and the Taylors quickly arranged to rent locally a small, 24-foot car hauler to continue their trip to Baudier Graphix in Jefferson, LA, where the fortunately undamaged Vette is now receiving a new wrap for the 2010 ADRL season.

“Even with that little trailer the truck was riding real rough and we could see it bouncing along back there, but still didn’t know anything was wrong,” Taylor admitted. “But we finally took a good look at it when we were heading back to Jackson to return the trailer and the refrigerator door fell off. I climbed under the back of (the toterhome) in the cold and the rain and I realized there was no air in the (suspension) bags back there. They were totally flat.”

Taylor said he believes that after installing the new axle the Indiana shop rerouted the truck’s air line to the rear bags, but failed to pump them up and even worse, neglected to splice in air service to the original air bags on the front, drive axle. That left very little downward pressure on the drive wheels, which should have about 70 psi in the air bags for that axle, Taylor said, while the free-wheeling rear axle’s bags should carry about 30-40 psi.

“So it was basically riding with no suspension back there and dropped the ball height at least four inches. Even sitting still the trailer was trying to lift itself off the ball. It’s amazing it even lasted 450 miles, but pulling up the way (the front of the trailer) was, it’s no wonder it eventually popped itself off,” he explained. “We were cruising down the road and just thought it was a rough road. We would’ve known a lot sooner if (my wife) Cindy had been with us because she’d have been riding back there and would’ve told us something was wrong, but sitting up front we just thought it was a rough road.”

Now dealing with three major insurance claims and as of noon today, still waiting to hear from the shop in question, Taylor said he really doesn’t need this kind of distraction just as the 2010 ADRL season is about to get underway.

“This really sucks,” he declared. “I mean, you have a professional shop do this kind of work for you, you just don’t expect something like this to happen.”

(ADRL/Richards photos)

BAYTOWN, TX (Jan. 4, 2009)—For the second year in a row, Houston Raceway Park will host the DragRaceHose.com Spring Warm Up presented by Goodridge Hoses and Fittings, March 5-7, offering American Drag Racing League (ADRL) teams a great chance to test their tune-ups just one week before the ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI, Mar. 12-13 at the Baytown, Texas, strip. 

The ADRL has designated the weekend-long Spring Warm-up as its official test session to kick off the 2010 racing season.

“It’s a perfect weekend for all ADRL race teams to come to Houston Raceway Park and test under what should be optimal conditions,” Houston Raceway Park General Manager Seth Angel said. “The track will be prepped to ADRL national-event standards, giving competitors valuable on-track data just one week before Dragpalooza VI.” 

For many ADRL race teams, the Warm Up will be their first time back on the track since the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals at Ennis, Texas, last October.

ADRL Executive Vice President of Competition Bert “Bubba” Corzine (right) also will be on hand, along with other ADRL officials, to answer any questions competitors may have.

“I always love a day at the track, so I’m looking forward to getting back to work and getting our 2010 season started with the ADRL Spring Warm Up at Houston Raceway Park,” Corzine stated, “It’ll be great to see our racers again, but I hope to see a lot of new teams and new faces out there, too. I think this offers a great opportunity for everyone to really get dialed in for the ADRL race just one week later.”  

Houston Raceway Park officials confirmed that 24-hour security will be onsite throughout the week following the test session for race teams wishing to leave their rigs at the track before parking begins at noon on Thursday, Mar. 10, for the Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI. In addition, the ADRL will host a Media Day Mar. 6, in the newly constructed Tower Club beside the Houston Raceway Park control tower.

(ADRL/McHugh/Tocher/Lorenzini file photos)

DragRaceHose.com Spring Warm Up presented by Goodridge Hoses and Fittings

Directions: Houston Raceway Park is located off Interstate 10 in Baytown, Texas. Race teams and fans should take State Highway 99 (exit 799) and proceed south. Exit at FM 565, and turn right. Houston Raceway Park is located a quarter-mile mile down on your right. 

Classes: Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Extreme Motorcycle.

Cost: $150 for teams registering before Feb. 22 or $200 at the gate. This fee includes car and driver plus two crewmen and is valid for entire weekend. For information please contact Seth Angel at 281-383-7223 or e-mail: seth@houstonraceway.com.

Spectators: The event will be open to spectators for $15 per day or a weekend pass for $25.

Schedule (suject to change):

Thursday, Mar. 4: Credential sales and pit parking from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.



Friday, Mar. 5 thru Sunday, Mar. 7: Credential sales and tech inspection begins at 8 a.m.; Professional testing 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

For additional information visit: www.houstonraceway.com.