RIP Joe Mondello

The sport of Hot Rodding has lost another legend. Joe Mondello passed away last month from complications following stomach surgery. Many of you know him as "Dr Oldsmobile"  The worlds top Olds V8 expert. His engines powered many a Champion drag racer and boat racer.  What you may not know is that he was slready racing and modifying flathead Fords in the early '50's before he was 17 years old.  Along with guys like Vic Edelbrock Sr, Joe was an innovator back in the days when it was all seat of your pants, no flow benches. Modern Cylinder head and combustion technologies owe a lot to Joe and the work he did on Carroll Shelbys dominant LeMans engines in the 60s as well as early small-block Chevys.  Mondello set the gold standard in cylinder head research, even building Don Garlits record setting dragsters.  Before his sudden illness, he was still working at the Mondello Technical School training the next generation of high-end racing engine builders and machinists, as well as building his beloved Oldsmobile engines for customers.  He was a true champion of the sport and a legendary nice guy.  Now what the hell am I going to do about the 455 Olds engine sitting in my garage needing a rebuild while ( Gasp ) a Chevy powers my Hurst/Olds?   Mastermind