SNAKE'S FEELING NOSTALGIC

DRO photog Zak Hawthorne stopped by the West Coast headquarters of Don Prudhomme's Snake Racing this week and found a gem from drag racing history.

The restoration of his original 1982 Pepsi Challenger Pontiac Firebird is nearing completion under the guidance of longtime employee and shop foreman Willie Wolter.

"I really like the paint scheme on the car," Prudhomme said. "Pontiac helped design that paint scheme; it's very clean and simple. That's the car that ran 5.63 at Indy in 1982. I

ADVERTISEMENT

always liked the car." The famous flopper amazed competitors with its now-historic run at the U.S. Nationals while most of the other fuel coupes were running in the 5.70s.

There are no plans to campaign the Pepsi Challenger in the current Nostalgia Nitro funny car wars, but driver Ron Capps has been prodding the Snake to take a couple of his oldies out for some match races since Capps is fascinated with the current retro-flopper craze. One of the Agent's operatives is helping to get the Skoal Racing pilot a ride in the seat of one of the current crop after the 2004 NHRA POWERade season is finished. [5-20-2004]

FOLLOW-UP ON BERYLLIUM NOTE

We neglected to mention in the 1320 note yesterday concerning the possible use of Beryllium components in Pro Stock or other engines that scientists have recently determined that Beryllium is also a serious carcinogen. All the more reason for banning its use in building racing engines. [5-20-2004]

HAZARDOUS DUTY

Not only do our fearless DRO photographers have to spend all day in the hot sun breathing in nitro fumes and collecting rubber specks stuck to their clothing and faces, but Tracy Waters had to take measures against an attack of killer ants at Atlanta. Ian Tocher shot the photo, but no word on whether he joined in the slaughter. [5-20-2004]