CLOSER TO HEAVEN

The Bennett Motorsports team is nearing completion on the Pure Heaven IV Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car. With a little stretching here and there, and a bit of fabrication know how, the 1969 Camaro body is now mounted and has gone into paint.  Talented painter and skilled body man, Rick Prewitt, will be applying the beautiful Kirker Automotive candy colors followed by lettering and detailing at California Designs in Norco, CA.  “Famous Amos” Satterlee is putting the fuel system together as the team now begins assembling the drive-train with machining help from Leon Fitzgerald. 

“We are about a week behind at this stage but are confident that we are taking the time to put together a quality racecar that will be sure to impress,” said Chris Bennett, co-owner and driver.  With only a limited amount of tests dates available, the team is now aiming to make a debut at the May 2-4 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  [3/26/2008]

LISA COIL IN AN ALTERED STATE?

Agent 1320 has been told that JFR tuner Austin Coil’s wife, Lisa, who the Agent believes got her Top Fuel license a few years back, is in training for driving the “Drastic Plastic” AA/FA that barnstorms around the Midwest. Trivia question: Name the first Ms Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Answer: Lisa Coil. [3/26/2008]

AA/FUEL DRAGSTERS HEADLINE 1320 RACE

On Saturday, April 12, Standard 1320, an internet-based Nostalgia drag race group will present its 4th Annual Drag Race and Reunion at Speedworld Dragstrip near Phoenix, AZ. The feature event will be a best of three match race between the front engine nitro Top Fuel dragsters of Rick White & Chuck Neal and the Bill Botelho & Mike Patterson 426-powered dragster (pictured), driven by nitro funny car pilot Mendy Fry. Both Fry and White have been in the 5-second zone and are members of the 250 MPH club.

Flathead and inline dragsters from around the Southwest will join vintage gassers, altereds and funny cars vying for honors. An added feature for the event is a "straight axle" gasser class, and more than a dozen Cacklecars are expected to fire-up. The event will also be open to local street rods along with many racers from the early drag race era and members of the Arizona Drag Race Hall of Fame. For more event information contact Ron Miller RLMiller@cableone.net   (Darr Hawthorne photo) [3/26/2008]