SONNY TESTS NEW CHEVY HEMI

Agent 1320 heard through the 'vine that Sonny Leonard, whose 800+ inch mountain motors have been the premier wedge motors in IHRA Pro Stock, is building a completely new motor using a newly designed and manufactured Hemi Chevy head. The Agent

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posted the bit about the head a couple of days back, but since then has talked to the man himself about the new engine.

According to Sonny he not only designed a new Chevy Hemi head, but also a new block specifically designed for that head.

"It's a five-inch bore center design but completely different from my current five inch bore center engine," Leonard said. "The heads will have 22 bolts per side to help keep the gaskets sealed."

The first of the new engines was dyno-tested at Sonny's Lynchburg, Virginia shop on May 28 and in Sonny's words, "It was as good on the first pull as my wedge motors were after five years of R&D." Sonny's current wedge motors make about 1300 ft lbs of peak torque and 1660 hp. The new engine will be track tested at the IHRA national event at VMP June 6-8. The engine will be John Montecalvo's new Cavalier. [5-29-2003]

JANIS COMING BACK TO NHRA?

The Agent hears that Mike Janis may jump ship and attend the NHRA events in Chicago and St. Louis instead of conflicting IHRA races on the same dates in Canada. The former IHRA Pro Mod champ screwed up last year by passing on the NHRA Pro Mod race at E-town to go to a conflicting IHRA race after previously committing to NHRA, which got him in hot water with NHRA and on the non-invite list. The Agent will keep you informed. [5-29-2003]

"TRUE STREET' COMPETITION AT BEECH BEND

For three days in June, the best street car drag racers in the country will descend on the Bluegrass State at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The biggest names in Street Legal Drag Racing will duke it out in the PRO-Edelbrock Fastest Street Car Drag Racing Series June 6-8 . . . names like Musi, Dantoni, Adler, and Greathouse.

In addition to the heads-up drag racing, the PRO Edelbrock Drag Racing Series will hold True Street competition on June 7. Anyone with a street legal domestic car can enter as long as they fit the rules and have a legitimate license, registration, insurance, can make a 30-mile cruise and 3 back to back to back passes! You don't have to be a PRO member to race -- and you get a FREE Bracket Racing Entry on Sunday! (file photo of Pat Musi by Adam Cranmer) [5-29-2003]

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