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“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.”
The engine, dubbed “Mondello’s Vintage Rat,” is designed to run on pump gas and will be complete (including ignition) from the carburetor to the oil pan, and from the nose pulley/harmonic damper to the flexplate. It will be a 555ci Chevrolet (MK IV version), with a single four-barrel carburetor, 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+hp and 650 lb.-ft. 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.
“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 mechanism for the raffle. This will be the first of a series of ‘Save Our Heritage’ engine raffles in conjunction with leading engine builders.”
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 Hrudka. Tickets will be priced at $10 (USD) each or six for $50. The winner will be drawn at the Performance Racing Industry Show (PRI) on December 3, 2011.