TORQUE CONVERTERS LEGAL FOR PRO MOD IN 2004!

For the second time in recent history Pro Mod racers have been the recipients of a "December surprise" in the IHRA rule book. The Agent had been hearing for the last couple of months that IHRA was going to make Lenco-glide and Bruno style transmissions that have torque converters instead of clutches legal for use in IHRA Alky Funny Cars and Pro Modified.

A quick look by the Agent in the Pro Modified section of the 2004 IHRA rule book reveals that IHRA eliminated the wording that appeared in the 2003 IHRA rule book specifically banning torque converters -- which in effect legalizes their use. Kind of reminds the Agent of the "surprise" rule change in the IHRA rule book a couple of years ago when they removed the wording from the Pro Mod rules requiring full floating axles.

DRO is working on a tech article concerning the drawbacks and benefits relating to using these type transmissions in Pro Mods. [12-09-2003]

SMITH & MASKIN TEAM UP FOR 2004

Agent 1320 has confirmed with Pro Stock team owner Richard Maskin who is also owner of Dart Machinery that perennial ace Pro Stock driver and clutch wizard "Trickie" Rickie Smith will drive his Pro Stocker for the 2004 NHRA season, replacing Taylor Lastor.

The Agent hears that Smith will also campaign his '63 'Vette Pro Mod at select NHRA events next season if he gets the necessary funding. Maskin and Smith should be a real threat in Pro Stock and, if Maskin gets involved in Smith's Pro Mod, the pair could also dominate there. Maskin is known to make gobs of power with carbs and gas. Add nitrous to his arsenal and he and Rickie could easily give the blower racers at NHRA events serious heartburn.

And speaking of Smith's, the Agent hears that Rickie's wife, Nancy, has her own sports connection. She recently competed in a triathlon that was held in the Cayman Islands. Her group of 28 people raised $104,000 to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is a pediatric oncology nurse at Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. Mrs. Smith swam one mile, biked 25 miles and then ran six miles, finishing near the top of her age group.

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Whew. The Agent would have needed a nitrous bottle for that one.
(Steve Gruenwald photo) [12-09-2003]

HOWARD AND BTE TEAM UP

George Howard told Agent 1320 at the PRI Show that he has signed a sponsor (BTE) for his annual "Million Dollar" bracket race plus backing for a proposed five- or six-race series featuring heads-up door car classes only. DRO will have a complete schedule of the races and more information in the very near future about the new George Howard series. Howard is the owner/operator of Alabama's Huntsville Dragway and was sponsor of Robbie Vandergriff's trick '57 Chevy Pro Mods years ago. [12-09-2003]