REPEAT AFTER ME: WOPPADO AND SCIALPI

The Agent screwed the pooch big time in a recent entry concerning West Coast Pro Mod wiz John Scialpi. He got both his name and his car's name SPELLED wrong. Sorry, John, guess "spell-check" can't fix everything. Scialpi is back tuning Gary Rowe's new '36 Chevy and they are testing in Houston as this is being written. [4-15-2003]

$350,000 WON'T BUY A MOTOR AND OTHER PRO STOCK TIDBITS

Agent 1320 recently had dinner and a few cocktails with a well-respected Pro Stock team owner. During the course of the evening's conversation the owner let it be known that the competition was so close in NHRA Pro Stock racing that he would turn down an offer of $350,000 for his best motor.

"We celebrate when we find ten horsepower or a couple of thousandths. If we sell that

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motor it could cost that much to build another that would make the same horsepower and torque and in the meantime we probably wouldn't be qualifying so we just don't sell or lease-out any of our engines," he said.

Another interesting factoid that he gave up was that a Pro Stock motor has about a 200-rpm window where the engine has to be shifted to get an optimum run. Which is pretty difficult without a timer and pulling levers by a shift light. And lastly, for all you tuners out there, he said that a half-degree of timing can be very critical in the difference between a qualifying 500 inch Pro Stock motor and a 500-inch "boat anchor." [4-15-2003]

MARTINO TEAMING UP WITH BENZA?

The Agent hears that Tom Martino, who lost his ride when the Jesel company was was bought by Comp Cams, will be teaming up with East Coast Pro Stock wars vet Bob Benza. More info when the Agent has it. [4-15-2003]

SCOTT KALITTA COMING BACK

Evidently Scott Kalitta, son of Top Fuel legend Connie Kalitta and cousin of Doug, is tired of running his marina in South Florida and will debut a newly sponsored and painted Kalitta family Top Fuel car at the U.S. Nationals, if not sooner. Two Kalitta cars may be too much for the rest of the Top Fuel teams and may actually force the top teams into a second car. [4-15-2003]

NITRO ROCKS THE KID

Through a promotional arrangement with Action Collectibles, the name Kid Rock appeared on the side of a special Kalitta Motorsports/MAC Tools Top Fuel Dragster at the Las Vegas race. A new diecast model and special apparel is being made available to fans.

However, according to a report whispered to the Agent in Vegas, Kid Rock's tough-guy rock & roll image may be a little tarnished. On Sunday, Kid Rock and his sidekick, "Monster Garage" Jesse James, got a mega-dose of nitro on the warm up of the Kalitta dragster. He was so overwhelmed by the fumes he inhaled that Kid Rock ran to the wall and lost his lunch. His large entourage scurried to his side and managed to cover up any evidence.

Now there's a bit of "star" news you probably won't read -- even in the National Inquirer. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [4-15-2003]

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