Moroso Motorsports Park
W. Palm Beach, FL
April 17-18

If the second race of the year is any indication of how the 2004 race season will be, then the sport compact drag racing scene is in for some of the best racing it has ever seen. With the fall of the 7-second barrier by Lisa Kubo in ProFWD and the quickening of the HotRod class, every time there is a race, a new record seems to fall, and Golden Eagle has been a part of it all.




 
 
  Hot Rod

Gary Gardella – Gardella Racing

When this guy came on the scene, there was no stopping him, and things haven’t changed. Running a very impressive 8.3 in this Hot Rod entry car, Gary Gardella sure knows what it takes to get the job done. Gary is still the MPH record holder for the NHRA Hot Rod class and improved his career best time by .15 of a second. Gary has switched to a new tranny set-up and once this great team figures everything out, watch out.

“ Just you wait. We have the power, hence the 180 mph, we have the reliability. All we need now is to get some seat and track time to get all the bugs worked out of this new tranny and once we do……ah man! GM is in for it!” , says crew chief Jon Perry

We have always enjoyed watching Gary progress in this sport. He is the fastest privateer in the class and is sure to put a hurting on the corp. sponsored teams throughout the season. We are all rooting for you Gary!!!





Sav Leone – Leone Racing

Sav is building a new car for the 2004 season to compete in the NDRA drag racing series. We hope to hear a lot from him later in the year. Best of luck to you Sav!
   

All Motor

 Vince Tiaga – Team Bergenholtz

Team Bergenholtz will be debuting their all-motor class entry at the NHRA Las Vegas race in July. We hope to see some great number from this car.

 

Pro FWD

Lisa Kubo – Saturn Motorsports

The Queen of Sport Compact racing has always been the front runner of her class. Every time she hits the track in her Golden Eagle Mfg. sponsored Saturn Ion she amazes and excites everyone watching. This race is no different. Lisa Kubo is the first front wheel drive car to EVER break the 7-second barrier. During the first round of qualifying, Lisa took the car off of the trailer and hit the 7.96 that made history.

“I didn’t expect it on the first pass off the trailer,” explained Kubo. “We knew we had the potential to do it this weekend, but that pass was literally the first one off the trailer.”

Lisa then backed up her time with an 8.00 in the finals to win her second NHRA event in 2004 and putting her #1 in points. We expect to see more great things from this great team. Congrats to Lisa, Gary, Charlie, Arthur and Jim Epler for accomplishing the great achievement. We here at Golden Eagle Mfg. are proud to be a part of this great team.

 

Ed Bergenholtz – Team Bergenholtz


From the time the Mazda 6 of Bergenholtz Racing hit the track, everyone knew it was going to be a force to be reckoned with. This has proven to be true as Bergenholtz finished 3rd and maintained their 3rd place points for the championship. Off the trailer, Bergenholtz blasted an 8.30 pass with small boost. They then saved the car for the qualifying rounds. During the first round of eliminations, ED was poised to run a great time, but luck was not on their side as Ed was DQ’ed for crossing the center line of the track running an 8.70 @ 127 mph. The mph will let you know that the car was off its mark by a good 60 mph and that the pass was really geared for a great number. Bergenholtz racing has to develop everything for the motor program and has relied on Golden Eagle Mfg. to get it done.

“Every time we turn up the wick a little bit a weak link seems to present itself. We got a handle on the problem now so we can expect some wicked times at the next Englishtown event.” said chief motor builder Vince Tiaga.

 






 

Sport FWD

Jason Hunt – Hunt Racing

If you don’t know Jason, then you don’t know fast FWD street cars. Jason has been one of the only people to run a 9 second ET in a car that weighs approx. 2400 lbs, has full interior, does not use wheelie bars, and can be driven to get milk for your morning cereal. Jason qualified #1 with an impressive 10.06 @ 148 mph. IN the first round of qualifying, Jason killed his competition running an eye popping 9.878 @ 149 mph. Wow!!!! That is one fast FWD street car.

Jason has just overcome a big loss. His newest car for the class was in a track accident and will not be able to be salvaged. The car he is currently running is his older CRX that has a very small wheel base, but still seems to be on top.
   


Overall, this was one of the most exciting races to date. Even though there was a very small turn out of racers, the stands were packed full of cheering fans and the records fell like the sweat from my brow being in the FL humidity. I have to say that I am very excited to go to Englishtown next week. That should be a race for the record books.

I would also like to take the time to thank a few people like Team Bergenholtz who have given me a great team to work on, Team Saturn Motorsports for the their generosity on and off the track, to Gary Gardella’s dad for being a great guy and not making cement shoes for Ron, and to all the racers who have supported Golden Eagle throughout the years. Best of luck to all Sport Compact drag racers and teams, and may your 2004 season be filled with great success.

Regards,
Vince Tiaga
Golden Eagle Mfg.