Reader’s Rides: A ’48 Fiat And Some Mopar And Chevy Representation

Just after the close of the holidays, we launched our all-new Reader’s Rides segment here on Dragzine, putting out the call to our readers far and wide to send in their prized set of wheels that we could help them proudly show off to the world. Truth be told, it’s the weekend warrior that pulls a 9-5 all week (or more) and toils late hours in the garage at night for the pure love of racing that truly makes this sport go-round, and we think that deserves a little recognition. Of course, we also just want to see a lot of cool cars, and we definitely got that. The response was, in a word, overwhelming, with a flood of excellent submissions destined for this and upcoming Reader’s Rides, and we hope you enjoy reading this — and seeing your own cars — as much we enjoy putting it together.

Now, we’ve talked long enough, so let’s get to those rides!

Tommy Romeo’s ’70 Nova

Many of you may right away recognize Romeo as the brother of popular Northeast racer Mike Romeo, who lost his life in a tragic traffic accident two years ago. There’s quite a bit of history with the Romeo name in drag racing, and Tommy actually followed his brothers into the racing world, selling his Harley to buy the Nova you see here back in 2006 after witnessing all the fun his brothers were having drag racing.

Romeo purchased the car as a roller and stuffed a 632-inch big block Chevy under the hood for 8.50 Index action. He won twice in that category before moving up to 7.50 Index in 2010. But early that year, the car was crashed, forcing Romeo to rebuild into its latest incarnation, which he contests in Outlaw Big Tire races at Cecil County, Atco Raceway, and other venues up north. With the 632 power plant and three nitrous kits onboard, Romeo has been as quick as 4.48-seconds at 162 MPH in the 1/8-mile, recorded last summer at the Yellow Bullet Nationals. According to Romeo, the motor produces 1,300 horsepower and an estimated 2,000 to 2,200 on the nitrous.

Matt Jolley’s ’66 Valiant

If you ask us, there just aren’t enough Mopars out there in our sport, but Pennsylvania native Matt Jolley is helping carry the flag with his cool ’66 Plymouth Valiant that he campaigns in the Pro And Super Pro E.T. classes at the Maple Grove Raceway.

Jolley’s ride features power from a Chrysler 360 stroked out to a 408-inch mill with Edelbrock heads running on pump gas, backed by a Torqueflite 904 transmission moving the power to a spooled Dana 60 rear end with 4.56 gears. Jolley and his father actually saved this classic machine from a scrap yard and built it into the track warrior that it is now, complete with an S&W Race Cars four-link and roll bar that they installed into the car during the restoration process.

Jolley has been as quick as 10.50 at 125 MPH in the 1/4-mile, and despite running the car in bracket categories for the most part, it was originally intended for NHRA Super Street competition, and they’re certainly right in the ballpark for the 10.90 index class. And best of all, Jolley points out the engine is completely streetable, if they so chose to take it for a drive.

Chris Guarnere’s ’48 Fiat Topolino Altered

Who doesn’t love Altereds? There’s just something about them, be it the looks or the heritage born from the early Fuel Altereds that give these cars a “wild” persona just sitting still.

Guarnere is part of a father, son, and grandson racing team from Rochester, New York, known as Wrenchead Racing, that competes around the country and at their home track, Empire Raceway Park in Leicester. 

Thirteen years ago, Gaurnere and his father purchased a ’23 T Altered and redid the entire car, cloaking the 125-inch wheelbase chassis with a new ’48 Fiat Topolino body. The father and son contest Nostalgia events across the eastern United States, including Norwalk, Indianapolis, and Maple Grove, in the Pro Comp category. Guarnere has won and runnered-up in back-to-back years, in 2012 and 2013, at Empire’s Nostalgia Gold Cup Nationals. 

The Guarnere’s machine has a 427 cubic inch small block for power, producing 650 horsepower. That, paired with a Powerglide transmission, has pushed it to a best of 8.52 at 150 MPH with a 1.19 short time in the 2,250 lb. car.

Guarnere’s son, Julian, is soon to begin racing in a ’63 Belvedere the family has, which will officially add the third generation to this racing family.

If you want to be a part of a future Reader’s Rides and have your car published, click here to learn how.