FORT PIERCE FOLKS
Featured in The New York Times April 4, 2010
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Dr. Mondo takes his vintage race cars to tracks around the country.
own mechanic work. The cars require special care because
parts for the “Offy” can be difficult to find. “My cars have
been driven by well-known racers, including Bettenhausen,”
a legendary driver from an equally legendary racing family
who started 21 times in the Indianapolis 500, Mondo says.
“I enjoy taking the cars to vintage events around the country,
including Loudon New Hampshire Motor Speedway,
Thompson Conn. Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Jennerstown
Speedway in Pennsylvania, Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
Rockingham N.C. Speedway, Darlington Raceway in
South Carolina and Orlando Speed World.”
Vintage racing is for fun, not for money, Mondo says. It is
fun enough that the racing bug has spread to family members.
“I typically trailer two cars to these events,” Mondo says. “I
drive my cars, and my cousins often join me and ride one of
the two cars I take. It is a family affair with my wife and my
cousins and sometimes their wives. My sons have also driven
my cars at Loudon New Hampshire Motor Speedway.”
Midget and sprint cars are short-track, high-powered cars.
Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti and
other well-known drivers made a name in sprint car racing
before moving on.
Mondo’s 1950 black panther sprint car is powered by an Offenhauser engine,
which is no longer produced.