FISHEL TO RETIRE AFTER 40 YEARS WITH GM

Herb Fishel, executive director of GM Racing, will retire Sept. 1, leaving a legacy in racing spanning 40 years. Fishel will be on special assignment to GM Service and Parts Operations from June 1 until his retirement.

Doug Duchardt, Group Manager for GM Racing's oval track group, will assume Fishel's responsibilities at GM Racing effective June 1. Pat Suhy, Jr., an engineer at GM

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Powertrain, will replace Duchardt.

Fishel, 61, worked with late Zora Arkus-Duntov and Vince Piggins, who initiated GM's rebirth into racing and performance parts with the Corvette and small-block Chevy V8 engine in the 1950s. Fishel has influenced GM's performance programs throughout the second half of the 20th century. In 1991 all of GM's racing programs were combined under his supervision.

In 1997, Fishel was named by Hot Rod magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the first 50 years of hot rodding. He also has been recognized by Racer magazine as one of the dozen most influential people in racing. [5-15-2003]

LOU CAVALIERI DIES

Louis Cavalieri died of an apparent heart attack May 12 in Omaha, Neb. Lou and his brothers, Mike and Jim, formed Cavalieri Brothers Racing, well-known for helping a number of fuel and alcohol racers over the years, as well as running their own cars. They also owned Cavalieri Racing Equipment, which sold used and new race car parts. Cavalieri, 41, leaves a wife, Janet, and three children.

The Agent fondly recalls the fun "Cavalieri experience" at the race track. This one is hard to take. [5-15-2003]

LEEBOY FOUNDER DIES

B.R. Lee, founder of LeeBoy Paving Equipment, sponsor of Quain Stott's Pro Modified Corvette has died.

"The streets of gold in Heaven must need repaving because B.R. Lee was called upon to design the machine," said Stott, who had a special fondness for his sponsor.

"I was on my way out of drag racing. I was broke and I had lost my major sponsor of the time," Stott recalled. "B.R. believed in me and he picked me up off of the proverbial streets and put me back in the racing business and I will be forever grateful."

Stott has dedicated the remainder of the racing season to Lee's memory. [5-15-2003]

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