Okay, so you've seen all the other pics of the Pocono Drag Lodge Reunion this past weekend, and many thanks to gaspumpchas, but here's one pic you may not have seen: Joe Amato, FIVE-TIME NHRA Top-Fuel Champion; probably not short on cash, but instead of hiring a 20-man crew to trailer his car to the track for pictures so he could stand idly by, instead personally driving the same '41 Chevy coupe to the track that he started his career there with in the '60's. Now, that's what real racing legends are made of !!!!!!
Joe's first race car, had it restored for the reunion and was it sweet. I met joe on the street coming in ( he told me that " I was the man for puttin' this on and I said Sheeit, 5 time top fuel champ?? No U DA MAN!! Joe had a ball at the reunion, such a nice guy. When I asked him if he was bringing the car, he said he would either drive it there or not bring it. No trailer queen here. The quintessential hot rodder!!! Charlie
Wow, really cool! A looong time ago, probably '85, I was lucky enough to attend a private party put on by Joe Hrudka (Mr Gasket) at the SEMA show. Joe Amato was there along with Bill Elliott and Kenny Bernstein. I got a chance to talk to Joe Amato for a while, he was/is a really cool guy.
Let's not forget Timmy Richards Joe's long time crew chief. Tim was a PDL regular competing in Super Stock with a series of MoPars. He was a fierce competitor for the weekly $100 prize.
The Jalopy Journal
