HERE COMES A NEW MUSTANG 10.5
COMPETITOR
Here are a couple of photos of a new '05 Mustang being
built in Jerry Bickel's Missouri shop. Jeff Parker, from
Hueytown, AL, will run the car in ORSCA and Fun Ford events.
This is the first outlaw car from JBRC and is built using
Pro Stock technology. (photos
courtesy Jeff Parker) [10-27-2005]
ANOTHER BRUTON SMITH RUMOR
One of the Agent’s West Coast operatives called
to say she is hearing that Fred Wagenhals, former CEO
of the Action diecast empire, is now the lead man for
Bruton Smith’s efforts to purchase the NHRA. Because
Smith bought a half interest in the diecast company and kept Wagenhals on
as a consultant, and considering Wagenhal's long relationships
with major team owners and drivers in the NHRA, it seems
that this would make a lot of sense. . .if Mr. Smith still
wants to buy NHRA. [10-27-2005]
A FORD FUNNY FOR VANDERGRIFF?
The Agent speculated yesterday that Bob Vandergriff Jr.
might team up with the Forrest Lucas operation to field
a two-car Top Fuel team. The Agent saw today that CompetitionPlus
says perhaps Vandergriff might have a Funny Car. A couple
of calls verify that report might be true. Agent 1320’s
sources also said that Vandergriff may be seeking a Ford
body for the flopper since UPS reportedly has a huge Ford
truck fleet. Could there be a connection between Ford,
the Force camp, UPS and Vandergriff? That’s the
rumor the Agent is going to start anyway, since as far
as the Agent knows John Force has an exclusive on the
Ford Mustang flopper body. [10-27-2005]
MORE NOSTALGIA FUNNY CARS BEING
BUILT
The
Agent recently told you that Virgil Hartman is building
four classic fuel Funny Cars to race with next year, and
that Bob Gilbertson is building a Jungle Jim tribute Monza.
Now comes word that Paul Smith is going to put together
a couple of classic Funny Cars that will salute the famous
“Fireball” Vega and the equally infamous “Entertainer”
car.
If everybody who says they are building these cars actually
does, a '64 Funny Car meet at Byron Dragway can’t
be far away, can it?
And speaking of Paul Smith, the Agent hears that he and
his son “Bodie” will be running Hartman’s
Top Fueler next year. If these guys concentrate on the
IHRA circuit as a couple of other teams have it may signal
the end of the Clay Millican/Mike Kloeber domination of
IHRA Top Fuel. [10-27-2005]
