Columns - Agent 1320

DARK HORSE AA GASSER GALLOPING INTO BAKERSFIELD

Agent 1320 has learned that Johnny Rocca and tuner Darren Mayer will be taking Rocca's Dark Horse '49 Merc to the Hot Rod Reunion in So Cal, which is held each year in October at the NHRA facility in Bakersfield, CA. The retro looking '49 Merc meets the Goodguys rules of a 115-inch wheelbase for AA/GS as well as the pre-1972 body rule. According to Mayer they are going to run the same motor that the team uses in Pro Mod competition but will add weight to the car to meet the 5.5 lbs per cubic inch rule for AA/GS.

DRO's editor Jeff Burk has also committed to make his first trip to Bakersfield for the Hot

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Rod Reunion. Be there or be square. [6-16-2003]

MCGONEGAL AND SMITH INVOLVED IN SWAPPING INCIDENT

Hot Rod magazine editors never die, they just get a lateral transfer. Agent 1320 has learned that long-time editor and staffer at Hot Rod Magazine, Ro McGonegal, has replaced another former Hot Rod Magazine editor Jeff Smith as the editor at Chevy High Performance. Smith will take over as editor of the venerable Car Craft Magazine. This is only important because both guys are serious drag racers and drag racing fans. They'll probably promote drag racing in their new positions and that is a good thing for the sport. [6-16-2003]

NO SPONSOR, NO RACING FOR TOM HAMMONDS

Former pro basketball player/Pro Street racer/Pro Stock racer Tom Hammonds announced recently that basically due to a lack of a major sponsor and his own unwillingness to spend his own money he was retiring from the sport to pursue a career as a GM dealership owner.
The Agent wonder's why NHRA didn't give the likeable and talented Hammonds the same kind of media blitz to help him find a major sponsor that they have done for Angelle Seeling? The fact that an extremely marketable star and personality like Tom Hammonds, or for that matter Angelle Seeling, can't get a sponsor is a sad commentary about the marketability of drag racing's Pro classes.
(Jeff Burk photo) [6-16-2003]

SCOTT KALITTA RETURNS TO TOP FUEL

The rumor that first leaked at Houston about Scott Kalitta's return to Top Fuel has become fact. Scott, who is a two-time Top Fuel World Champ and won 11 races including four straight during a two-year period, has announced he will return at the U.S. Nationals with sponsorship from Mac Tools and "Monster Garage" T.V. personality Jesse James. The Agent is skeptical, to say the least, that Mac Tools and Jesse James have come up with the funds to fully sponsor a Top Fuel team. More likely they're on board for the exposure at Indy and a one-time die-cast deal while the main funding is coming from the Kailtta coffers. The Agent would like to be wrong but... (Jeff Burk photo) [6-16-2003]

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