New member here Dave from Huntington Beach,I joined today to help out a friend Joe Panek of Roto-Faze Ignitions get a message into the H.A.M.B. world and after 20 years get his race car back out where people could see it again. Setting it up for the LA Roadster show and I'll be posting a message for Joe later on. Thanks
Bought a distributor at the swap meet found out they were still in business took it back to the shop in Torrance to have it rebuilt,saw the race car and talked him into bringing out,it wasn't too hard he is really proud of it! Next is to get it running again!
Killer! Does it still have the front blown, V-12 Caddy in it? There's a dry lakes run video of it on his site. Listen to the sweet sound of it cranking through the run! http://roto-faze.com/
The number on it, 392, has me wondering, is it still powered by the 6-71 front blown V12 Caddy or is it 392 hemi powered now?
back to life ! ... so cool... i dig the way the [glass ?] grill has no indent for the "teeth"... was that to be more areodynamic ? welcome back...
"Roto-Faze" was a product of Kong and Pete Jackson's 'Jackson Engineering Racing Division' ('JERD') back in the day. Please, some details on Joe Panek and his acquisition of the company? NEVER thought I'd be able to get another Roto Faze after giving mine to von Franco...
Joe bought the business from Charles "Kong"Jackson back in 1965 when he shared a small shop with him, he said too many people were making cams and manifolds he felt ball bearing distributors were the way to go. The blown caddie V12 is still in the car and is repairable from a timing chain that let go and a spare block too. I've been asking Joe for his history to nominate him for SEMA hall of fame,Roto-Faze was one of the original companies at the beginning.
I'm no big auto racing history buff, although I know some stuff. How nobody passed on to me the legend of this badass racer before today is just troubling. This might be my new favorite all time drag/lake car. Thanks for posting. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If you ever heard that car pounding down the El Mirage lake bed at around 185, you would never forget it. It is a really great car and it would be good if it ran again. But we aren't getting any younger. Running my car is to much work these days. Joe's car would be lots more work than mine.
The story of Joe's life would be a real interesting to read. The car is nice but I also interested in operating his business over the years.
I've been interviewing Joe,about Roto-faze just sent out a SEMA hall of fame nomination for him and his company. What history,will try to get more out here on the forum.
A incredible piece of history. The car is a mind blower, so well built. Just great to see it in these pictures, thanks for sharing this with all of us on the HAMB.
Will be stopping by to talk to Joe again today,if anyone wants to relay a message let me know here. I'll be showing him this forum and taking more pictures of his pictures to get them out here! Here's a couple of pictures I took last visit.
I just went through all the content on the Roto-Faze website. Wonder what he charges for a A or B Cam blank??? There's a video of Joe running the coupe at El Mirage, and by does it sing, To think that he has this early V8 signing is a tribute to his ingenuity in design and workmanship and know-how. One of the great true pioneers of hot rodding http://www.roto-faze.com/
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