Sad news, Jim died yesterday afternoon He was a cool guy. Most of you may not know who he was but he piloted the Ramchargers Demon TF/FC in '72 and also ran his own fuel cars ( The Yankee Packrat) in both Dragster Funny car.
Jim was a hell of a match racer ..always enjoyed racing with him Springfield, Illinois' Jim Paoli campaigned this "Yankee Packrat" Vega funny car in the 73ish time frame. Trivia fodder: this was Paoli's second flopper ride. He did a short stint at the wheel of the Ramchargers Demon F/C prior to building this Gilmore chassised, 480" Black powered car. Paoli had been a Division 3 T/F "strongman" in the early 70s, winning the division title in 71 with a Garlits built front engine "Yankee Packrat" car. In 72 he joined the rear engine T/F revolution while doing temporary duty with the Ramchargers, went full time flopper racing with this car in 73. Paoli later sold this car which was campaigned in the mid/late 70s as a BB/FC in the Midwest
No Shit? He wasn't that old. He was tight with Ernie Ball for whom I worked back in the 70s. A heck of nice guy.
Sorry to hear of another loss to the storied history of Drag racing. My Dad and the guys from the old car club that built the drag strip(s) here tell the story of being in the stands at Indy one year and Paoli's clutch blew near the big end, a piece hit a kid right in front of them in the head! One of the guys remembers the kids name and where he was from( they used their blanket or jacket to rest him on), I'll have to ask him. Oh, yeah... the kid lived! R.I.P. Jim.
The guy who took Paoli's clutch to the head was/is David Strawn from(at the time)Athens, Ohio. I heard today what happened, apparently suicide. Damn shame. GODspeed and peace Jim.
Another FC driver gone ...I got a call that Midwest FC driver Ron Correnti died Yesterday from a heart attack. Ron drove Bill Dunlap "Capt. Crazy” AA/FC in the 80's
cool57. I should know you. I hung around Ernie's shop quite a bit in the 70s. I was also good friends with Danny Eggleston, Ernie's crazy neighbor with the 750 Hondas. My family was really good friends with the entire Paoli family, although Jimmy & Ron were quite a bit older than me. Hung out at The Elbo Room with the Paoli & Buecker brothers. Left Illinois in 1980.
The Jalopy Journal
