WHERE’S FRANKIE?
Before the U.S. Nationals a press release appeared in the pages of NHRA.com and DRO touting the return of Frankie Pedregon to the remainder of both the NHRA and IHRA 2006 schedule. Pedregon was to return to NHRA action at the U.S. Nationals with sponsorship from the Evan Knoll Knoll Gas-Torco/Skull products empire. It didn’t happen.
Very reliable sources from California tell the Agent that Pedregon had loaded the team’s best equipment into the transporter and was pulling out of the racer’s Fontana shop when the entire operation was reportedly re-possessed by California law enforcement officers and turned over to its original owner, who is believed to be Bill Blomgren. Blomgren reportedly has the entire operation parked on his property near Aguadulce, CA. [9-6-2006]
IS THE PROJECT ‘TERMINAL’?
According to one of the Agent’s SoCal beach-combing operatives, "Big Willie" Robinson, who ran Brotherhood Raceway Park until it closed in 1995 will reportedly be making another presentation before the Los Angeles Harbor Commission this week. He's trying to revive local government interest in rebuilding a drag strip in LA's Terminal Island area. But, according to the Mayor's press office Robinson's project has not appeared on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa "radar" as a project the City of Los Angeles needs to back. (DRO file photo) [9-6-2006]
HOWARD TO STAGE ‘WORLD WAR IV’
Heads-up, Outlaw and 10.5 racers will be able to participate in what Comp Cams, TCI and George Howard Racing call "World War IV," a two-day shootout to be held over the October 14-15 weekend at Montgomery Motorsports Park in Alabama. Racers in Outlaw 10.5, Outlaw 4.70, Outlaw 5.30, Real Street 10.5 and Limited Street, plus 6.0- and 7.0-indexed classes will go off for big money ($10,000 to the Outlaw 10.5 winner, for example) that goes back to the quarter-finals in all categories.
In addition, the World War IV race will take the quickest 10.5 contestants from the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest and Southwest divisions and pit them against each other for a $5,000 winner-take-all shootout on Saturday night. For more information go to www.georgehowardracing.com or telephone 205-251-7311. [9-6-2006]
GILBERTSON TO RACE ‘JUNGLE JIM’ CAR REMAINDER OF SEASON
For the first time in almost 30 years the "Jungle Jim" Funny Car show will return to New England Dragway for this weekend's IHRA North American Nationals as nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson will be campaigning his wild new Jungle Jim tribute car at the legendary track in Epping, New Hampshire.
Gilbertson debuted the car at the U.S. Nationals last weekend to rave reviews and the response was so great Gilbertson has decided to run the car for the rest of the season so fans all across the country can have a chance to see the car in person.
"Jungle ran a lot at Epping up to the time of his untimely death in 1977 and being that this is the first time in many years that nitro Funny Cars have run there I decided to give the rabid New England fans up there a chance to relive the glory days and remember drag racing's ultimate showman.” Gilbertson added, “Who knows, maybe Jungle will be riding along with me and inspire me to do a killer burnout." (James Drew photo) [9-6-2006]
