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Parma Heights, Ohio (December 23, 2011) – Shortly after 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 3, Donald Costic’s phone rang. On the other end of the line was Mary Mondello, wife of the late Joe Mondello, who drew Costic’s name as the winner of the Quarter Mile Foundation’s Mondello “Vintage Rat” Raffle Engine at the World Products booth at the Performance Racing Industry Show.

Costic, of Cleveland, Ohio, is a local drag racer that races a 10-second 1962 Chevy Biscayne on the drag strips of northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania, with his brother Rick.

Costic recalls the day he bought the winning ticket in early June at the “Gasser Reunion” weekend at Thompson (Ohio) Raceway Park. “We had a bad luck day with the race car. We blew the engine, and we were done for the weekend. One of my friends kept pestering me to take a chance, and I am really happy now that I listened to him!

“I was surprised when I got the call from Mrs. Mondello. However, with a one in 3500 chance, I felt I had a reasonable opportunity to win. My brother and I will most likely put the engine in our Biscayne. It appears the engine was built to be a race engine, so that’s probably where it will go.

“It’s a real honor to have this engine from Joe, who is considered such a true legend among racers and engine builders.”

Mary Mondello said, “The raffle drawing was somewhat of a bittersweet moment. It certainly brought all of the emotions rushing back, but we at the Mondello Technical Center who completed the task for Joe, are very pleased to know how much Mr. Costic appreciates this engine.

“I am very pleased we could provide this fund-raising effort for the Quarter Mile Foundation. The real unsung heroes were the companies who supplied the parts and pieces to make the whole deal happen, along with the guys in the shop.

“It was a true labor of love.”

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Parma Heights, Ohio (December 9, 2011) – The Quarter Mile Foundation reached a major milestone with completion of 100 interviews of drag racing and industry figures at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.

“We completed 14 interviews during the PRI Trade Show,” said Traci Hrudka, Foundation chairman. “Those interviews placed us right at a total of 100 interviews. “We are very, very pleased and proud to be capable of reaching this milestone in less than two years. The Foundation began the interview process in October 2010, when we got the interviews of the documentary’s narrators, Jon Lundberg and Dave McClelland. By using the opportunities afforded us in 2011 by the generosity of the SEMA Show, the NHRA (MAC Tools Gatornationals), the Holley-NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, York-U.S. 30 Reunion and the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, we have been able to interview 86 significant pioneers and legends from the performance aftermarket and drag racing.

“We feel extremely fortunate to be able to reach this many of our ‘founding fathers (and mothers)’ in such a relatively short time. We are very hopeful we can continue on this pace to gather the interviews of more pioneers in 2012.

“All of these interviews were completed because of the generosity of donors like Moroso, Mr. Gasket, Quick Fuel Technology, Strange Engineering, Jegs Performance, Performance Warehouse Association (PWA), World Products, the Mondello Technical Center, Hilger Performance, Express Parts, Joe Amato, Lori Johns, Joe DaSaliva Racing, and the hundreds of fans and racers who are a part of our ‘Friends of PROJECT 1320’ support group and many others who made financial or in kind contributions. These folks all need to take a bow!”

“On a personal level, I would like to ask you to please reach into your pocket and send the Foundation your check. Here is some simple math: If you have worked in this industry for 5-1/2 years and you put 5 cents in a dish each day of that period, you would have over $100.00. So send your $100 or more today! PROJECT 1320 must continue to preserve the “voices” for all to hear and see.”

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The Quarter Mile Foundation is a 501(c)(3)not-for-profit foundation, which is producing PROJECT 1320, a documentary film series about the history of drag racing and the parallel growth of the performance automotive aftermarket. # # #

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Show marks completion of 100 interviews for PROJECT 1320

Parma Heights, Ohio (December 7, 2011) – The Quarter Mile Foundation reached a major milestone with completion of 100 interviews of drag racing and industry figures at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.
“We completed 14 interviews during the PRI Trade Show,” said Traci Hrudka, Foundation chairman. “Those interviews placed us right at a total of 100 interviews.

“We are very, very pleased and proud to be capable of reaching this milestone in less than two years. The Foundation began the interview process in October 2010, when we got the interviews of the documentary’s narrators, Jon Lundberg and Dave McClelland. By using the opportunities afforded us in 2011 by the generosity of the SEMA Show, the NHRA (MAC Tools Gatornationals), the Holley-NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, York-U.S. 30 Reunion and the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, we have been able to interview 86 significant pioneers and legends from the performance aftermarket and drag racing.

“We feel extremely fortunate to be able to reach this many of our ‘founding fathers (and mothers)’ in such a relatively short time. We are very hopeful we can continue on this pace to gather the interviews of more pioneers in 2012.

“All of these interviews were completed because of the generosity of donors like Moroso, Mr. Gasket, Quick Fuel Technology, Strange Engineering, Jegs Performance, Performance Warehouse Association (PWA), World Products, the Mondello Technical Center, Hilger Performance, Express Parts, Joe Amato, Lori Johns, Joe DaSaliva Racing, and the hundreds of fans and racers who are a part of our ‘Friends of PROJECT 1320’ support group and many others who made financial or in kind contributions. These folks all need to take a bow!”