Street/Strip engine built by Joe Mondello
Parma Heights, Ohio (February 18, 2011) – The Quarter Mile Foundation and drag racing legend Joe Mondello and Joe Mondello Engines, in conjunction with the renown World Products, have announced a joint venture to raffle a street/strip big-block Chevy engine to support the Foundation’s PROJECT 1320 documentary film program.
“Joe proposed the engine raffle following the SEMA Show,” said Traci Hrudka, Foundation chairman. “The members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors welcomed the proposal and we have been working with Joe regarding the engine and the mechanism for the raffle. This will be the first of a series of ‘Save Our Heritage’ engine raffles in conjunction with leading engine builders.”
“As I talked to Traci and some of the Foundation’s board members, I was struck by their dogged determination to make this documentary a reality,” said Mondello. “I felt that I could contribute my name and talents to this important undertaking by providing an engine to raffle, Bill Mitchell Sr. and his son, Bill, Jr. of World Products have really made a significant contribution to the Foundation and this raffle program, providing a great deal of value to this engine.
“Our sport and the industry should have done this job many years ago, and I want to provide whatever support and encouragement I can to this endeavor. I would like to see others in the sport and the industry step up and get behind the Quarter Mile Foundation and PROJECT 1320 with financial support and/or creative means of generating the needed funds to do this.”
Bill Mitchell, Jr. said, “I have grown up in this sport and industry, and although I was not fortunate enough to watch from the very beginning, I have seen many milestones over the years. Racers and fads come and go. Whether it be running around the shop at Motion Performance while Dad was building some of the coolest muscle cars or being at the race track during the days when he competed in Competition Eliminator, the education was invaluable! “When Joe came to me with his proposal for support and hearing the passion in his voice that has obviously helped drive the sport to where it is today, we had to be part of it and felt it would be an honor.
“I have teenagers myself and hate to admit it but the majority of the kids today just are not as interested as they were 20 years ago. I think it is a lot harder today for the kids to get involved. Cars are more expensive and harder to work on.
“I think for all of the reasons above, this is a great and very important cause to help promote the future of the sport.”
The engine, dubbed “Mondello’s Vintage Rat,” is designed to run on pump gas and will be complete (including ignition) from carburetor to the oil pan, from the nose pulley/harmonic damper to the flexplate. It will be a 555 cubic inch Chevrolet (Mk IV version), with a single four-barrel carburetor and designed for use with an automatic transmission. World Products is supplying the core of the engine: a Merlin engine block, heads and the intake manifold. It will deliver an estimated 700-plus horsepower and 650 ft-lb of torque. The valve covers will be engraved with the Mondello Engine and World Products names. Once completed, it will be dynoed, and the dyno sheet will accompany the engine to the raffle winner.
According to Joe Mondello, the engine may be vintage, but will feature cutting edge, premium components from leading industry manufacturers. “I am pleased to say all of the manufacturers are supplying the components without charge,” he said.
The raffle tickets will be available at events where the Quarter Mile Foundation will have a presence, as well as the Foundation’s website (www.PROJECT1320.com), according to Ms. Hrudka. Tickets will be priced at $10.00 (US) each or 6 for $50.00. The raffle tickets will be available beginning at the Race & Performance Show, February 26 & 27 at St. Charles, Ill. The winner will be drawn at the Performance Racing Industry Show on December 3, 2011.
