Jacono, 70, Comes Out of Retirement To Race "Rollin' Stoned" at Second Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion
POMONA, Calif. - (June 9, 2004) - He raced against the legendary "Jungle
Jim" Liberman in the ''70s, and now, at age 70 himself, Joe Jacono will be
racing at the second annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented
by DuPont Automotive Refinishes.
Jacono's "Rollin Stoned" 1973 Cuda Funny Car was uncovered in
2001 under the yellow paint of Bob Rosetty's R/D Racing. Jacono
authenticated the car last year at the inaugural National Hot Rod Reunion and
actually has the original bill of sale to certify that he bought the car from the
builder, Woody Gilmore, in 1973. At this year's reunion, Jacono will match
race against another legend, Lou Sgro's "Black Magic." But before he could
do that, Jacono had to renew his NHRA racing license.
He last sat in a racing car in 1977, so in March of this year, Jacono
went to Doug Foley's Drag Racing School in Florida. Jacono made
consecutive passes in Gary Trimble's dragster on at 60 feet, 330 feet, half
track, 1,000 foot and a full quarter mile to get his license. He killed the clock
at 8.23 seconds at an average speed of 160 miles per hour.
"Joe is one of the true pioneers of the sport," said Steve Gibbs,
board member and former director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports
Museum in Pomona, Calif., producers of the festive four-day hot rod
extravaganza. "It's going to be great to see him race again. The crowd will
love it"
"I paid my dues a long time ago," said Jacono from his home in
Florida. "It's my turn now." Paid his dues? That's putting it mildly. He
started drag racing in 1955 and campaigned in New Jersey, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois,
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Canada.
He owned and built many of the cars he raced. In 1962, he won the
NASCAR Winternationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., in a Linwood Welding Chassis
Dragster with a supercharged Buick engine. Yes, that's correct, in those
days, NASCAR actually sanctioned drag racing.
He also raced in the American Hot Rod Association and set a record of
8.36 seconds at 180 mph in his 1963 dragster. He also set an NHRA record
for gas dragsters at 8.74 seconds. In 1964, his alcohol dragster was the first
to run in the seven-second bracket with a 7.95 second pass at 192 mph.
Teaming with Bill Winward in the "Brief Encounter" fuel dragster with a
Chrysler engine, he won seven meets in a row and was named the NASCAR
Fuel Champion Driver of the Year.
He continued racing in dragsters and in 1969 was the first driver in the
country to run an elapsed time of 6.59 seconds. He was the runner-up in the
AHRA Nationals, defeating Don "Big Daddy" Garlits in the second round.
By 1973, he owned and drove "Rollin Stoned," an AA Funny Car, winning
the NHRA open in Cecil County, N.J. in 1974. By 1977, he hung up his driving
gloves and left the sport.until now.
"This deal came together last year at the Reunion," said Jacono. "I'm
really happy about getting back behind the wheel." Fans at the Reunion will
be just as happy to see him run.
Produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the Holley
National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, will
include Crane Cams nostalgic drag racing in such classes at Top Fuel,
Supercharged Gassers, classic Funny Cars and Super Stocks, along with a
giant street rod, customs, classics and muscle car SofffSeal "show n' shine,"
swap meet for classic car and racing parts, special stage show and a
separate amusement park with rides and games for all ages adjacent to the
park.
Fashioned after the annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in
Bakersfield, the event also includes the all-time favorite "Cacklefest" under
the stars. The activity involves early-days-style front-engine dragsters being
push-started, then all gathered together on the drag strip starting-line with
engines running.
The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont
Automotive Refinishes, will also cater to car clubs, with special contests and
activities for clubs. Information-including a full activities schedule and entry
forms-is available through the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. To
receive updated information, prospective participants should send a post card
or note to NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, P.O. Box 2345, Pomona, Calif.
91769. Or e-mail your name and address to museum@nhra.com.
Proceeds of the Holley Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont
Automotive Refinishes, will benefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
The museum houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles
spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars
representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track
challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST, with extended hours during NHRA national
events. Current NHRA members are admitted free. Admission for non-members
is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 and older, $3 for juniors six through 15, and
free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for
private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and special group
tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate
1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special
exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit
http://museum.nhra.com.
POMONA, Calif. - (June 9, 2004) - He raced against the legendary "Jungle
Jim" Liberman in the ''70s, and now, at age 70 himself, Joe Jacono will be
racing at the second annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented
by DuPont Automotive Refinishes.
Jacono's "Rollin Stoned" 1973 Cuda Funny Car was uncovered in
2001 under the yellow paint of Bob Rosetty's R/D Racing. Jacono
authenticated the car last year at the inaugural National Hot Rod Reunion and
actually has the original bill of sale to certify that he bought the car from the
builder, Woody Gilmore, in 1973. At this year's reunion, Jacono will match
race against another legend, Lou Sgro's "Black Magic." But before he could
do that, Jacono had to renew his NHRA racing license.
He last sat in a racing car in 1977, so in March of this year, Jacono
went to Doug Foley's Drag Racing School in Florida. Jacono made
consecutive passes in Gary Trimble's dragster on at 60 feet, 330 feet, half
track, 1,000 foot and a full quarter mile to get his license. He killed the clock
at 8.23 seconds at an average speed of 160 miles per hour.
"Joe is one of the true pioneers of the sport," said Steve Gibbs,
board member and former director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports
Museum in Pomona, Calif., producers of the festive four-day hot rod
extravaganza. "It's going to be great to see him race again. The crowd will
love it"
"I paid my dues a long time ago," said Jacono from his home in
Florida. "It's my turn now." Paid his dues? That's putting it mildly. He
started drag racing in 1955 and campaigned in New Jersey, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois,
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Canada.
He owned and built many of the cars he raced. In 1962, he won the
NASCAR Winternationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., in a Linwood Welding Chassis
Dragster with a supercharged Buick engine. Yes, that's correct, in those
days, NASCAR actually sanctioned drag racing.
He also raced in the American Hot Rod Association and set a record of
8.36 seconds at 180 mph in his 1963 dragster. He also set an NHRA record
for gas dragsters at 8.74 seconds. In 1964, his alcohol dragster was the first
to run in the seven-second bracket with a 7.95 second pass at 192 mph.
Teaming with Bill Winward in the "Brief Encounter" fuel dragster with a
Chrysler engine, he won seven meets in a row and was named the NASCAR
Fuel Champion Driver of the Year.
He continued racing in dragsters and in 1969 was the first driver in the
country to run an elapsed time of 6.59 seconds. He was the runner-up in the
AHRA Nationals, defeating Don "Big Daddy" Garlits in the second round.
By 1973, he owned and drove "Rollin Stoned," an AA Funny Car, winning
the NHRA open in Cecil County, N.J. in 1974. By 1977, he hung up his driving
gloves and left the sport.until now.
"This deal came together last year at the Reunion," said Jacono. "I'm
really happy about getting back behind the wheel." Fans at the Reunion will
be just as happy to see him run.
Produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the Holley
National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, will
include Crane Cams nostalgic drag racing in such classes at Top Fuel,
Supercharged Gassers, classic Funny Cars and Super Stocks, along with a
giant street rod, customs, classics and muscle car SofffSeal "show n' shine,"
swap meet for classic car and racing parts, special stage show and a
separate amusement park with rides and games for all ages adjacent to the
park.
Fashioned after the annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in
Bakersfield, the event also includes the all-time favorite "Cacklefest" under
the stars. The activity involves early-days-style front-engine dragsters being
push-started, then all gathered together on the drag strip starting-line with
engines running.
The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont
Automotive Refinishes, will also cater to car clubs, with special contests and
activities for clubs. Information-including a full activities schedule and entry
forms-is available through the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. To
receive updated information, prospective participants should send a post card
or note to NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, P.O. Box 2345, Pomona, Calif.
91769. Or e-mail your name and address to museum@nhra.com.
Proceeds of the Holley Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont
Automotive Refinishes, will benefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
The museum houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles
spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars
representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track
challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST, with extended hours during NHRA national
events. Current NHRA members are admitted free. Admission for non-members
is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 and older, $3 for juniors six through 15, and
free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for
private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and special group
tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate
1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special
exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit
http://museum.nhra.com.
posted by David @ 12:27 AM
<< Home