HASHIM PASSES AWAY

Ernie Hashim passed away September 16 at age 79. Hashim's hot rodding career began in 1939 and spanned a variety of racing venues, including circle track, Bonneville Salt Flats, and Top Fuel drag racing. He is perhaps best known as a West Coast distributor of M&H Tires and a right hand man to M&H's Marv Rifchin. He opened Hashim's Automotive in 1953 and it quickly became the place for racers to hang out during the Bakersfield March Meet.

He is survived by his wife, Leona, and 10 children. Services will be held at noon Sept. 20 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bakersfield, Calif. (James Drew photo) [9-19-2003]

10.5 TEST SESSION

A week before the $20,000-to-win Drag Racing Action 10.5 World Championship at Huntsville Dragway, Outlaw 10.5 standout Steve Kirk Jr. was making eighth-mile test passes in his 2000 Camaro at the PRO race in Atlanta. Up to 100 of the country's best 10.5 racers are expected to converge on the northern Alabama strip for the Sept. 19-21 event. The Agent wouldn't miss it! (Ian Tocher photo) [9-19-2003]

CAN PANELLA'S ADDED HP HELP TUNA FISH?

Scott Geoffrion has made it into two Pro Stock final rounds this season, and finished second both times. Hurley Blakeney's Nitro Fish Ford Escort ZX2 heads into Memphis with more horsepower thanks to a new Ford engine from Bob Panella's Stockton, Calif. Shop, with the team hoping that extra hp may be enough to bump up a spot in the final round.

"Bobby has done a great job finding more horsepower all year and I feel with this latest motor that we are back where we need to

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be," Geoffrion said. "That should put us back among the qualifying leaders."

Geoffrion is driving the only Ford in the top 10, currently in eighth place with 680 points. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [9-19-2003]

"PONTIAC" JACK GETS HIS 300

Bowling alley bartender, part-time Top Fuel legend, and one of the Agent's favorite drivers, Jack Ostrander, who last year became the oldest driver to win a National Event, finally got the "monkey" off his back and got his 300-mph pass last week at the Epping, NH IHRA National Event. It was a 308.11 to be exact. Congrats, Jack, from your friends at Drag Racing Online. [9-15-2003]