ROMINE NOT DONE YET!

While it is a fact that Paul Romine and his long time sponsor CARQUEST have parted company, the rumor floating around that Romine is going to retire appears to be just that -- a rumor. The Agent gave Romine a call and asked if he indeed was going to change his hobby from driving fuel cars to sport fishing in the Florida Keys. Romine laughed and told the Agent, "Hell, no! I was running better than I ever have at the end of this year, thanks to the Carrier brothers and Jimmy Walsh. I finished near the top of the list for driver reaction time. No, I still want to drive fuel cars."

He also went on to explain that the reason the CARQUEST sponsorship went away was that the money they had available just wasn't enough to fund a complete operation. "I had a great stretch with CARQUEST and loved every minute of it. We just couldn't make the funding they had available work for the 2004 season."

Romine also told the Agent that the Carrier Boyz team remains intact, is being prepared for the 2004 season opener and that they are still looking for sponsorship for the 2004. (Jeff Burk photo) [12-11-2003]

BILLES BUYING FROM G-FORCE

Agent 1320 reported earlier that Al Billes has sold his Studebaker. Now comes the news that upstate New York car builders G-Force Race Cars has confirmed that they have started on a '63 split window 'Vette for the Canadian Pro Mod racer that he will run in 2004. [12-11-2003]

EVERYBODY MEET AT GILBERTSON'S
ON THE 19TH

While waiting for his new 25,000 square foot race shop in Blacksburg, SC to be completed, Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has temporarily leased a shop in Concord, NC that 2003 NHRA Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson recently vacated. To celebrate moving into the new shop and the Christmas season, Gilbertson will be hosting an open house on Friday evening, December 19th from 7 pm to 10 pm.

"Everybody and anybody is invited to attend" said Gilbertson. "We want the race fans in the Charlotte area to stop by and check out what it takes to run a Nitro Funny Car on the 23 race NHRA POWERade circuit. They'll also get to see me roll around on the floor as I try to

ADVERTISEMENT

get some of Anderson's luck and karma to rub off on me" Gilbertson joked.

"Admission is free," Gilbertson said, "but we're asking everyone who is coming to bring an unwrapped children's toy that we'll donate to the Marine Corps 'Toy For Tots' campaign. If you bring a toy you'll get an autographed 'Jungle' Jim tribute car poster and will have your name thrown in the hat for some special prizes we'll be giving away."

The shop is located at 443 Pitts School Road in Concord, NC, just minutes from the Lowe's Motor Speedway in the Jerico Racing Transmissions complex. From I-85 take exit 49 (Speedway Blvd.) Turn right if northbound left if southbound on Speedway Blvd. Make a left at the next light (Weddington Road) go 1.7 miles and make a right just before the next traffic light into the marked parking area. [12-11-2003]