anyone remember al zaborrinni who ran a 40 willys sponsored by beeline automotive out of stamford, conn. in the '60's. just curious as "whatever happened to?"
It's alive and well! Saw it for the first time at the Dover Drag Strip Reunion 2005. I'll post some photos later tonight.
wow! really! that's great .thanks so much for responding," 37 kid" i'd really appreciate it. does he stillown it?either way, thanks again 37.take care
One of my main flaws is my inability to remember peoples names, FACES & CARS are unforgettable, so I can't give the name of the current Bee Line Willys owner. Real nice guy and he has done a nice job puting the car back together and is saving all the original paint and logo.
A friend of mine now owns the Beeline Willys.He would love to see those pictures from the 60's at Dover,or any that any exist from the past.
I've got a couple of black/white shots of the Bee Line car when it was black. I've got it on color super 8mm movie for about a second or two. It was a memorable car in that it was the only gasser that ran weekly at Dover that made quick,clean passes. It was an animal for the time. One of my favorite cars at Dover. The other notables were the Brazze Brothers Crosley altered, Charlie Bouchers A bone pick up c/altered truck (a national record holder in c/a) and the Bershire Beetle dragster. How about the black '36 Dodge of Antonne Addesso? (sp) Anyone remember that?
Al Zerbarini raced a Mini Sprint at Accord Speedway in Accord, NY quite successfully back in the 1990's. His daughter and her husband currently own the track (bought it around 2001). Al and his wife are often at Accord on Fridays helping out their daughter and son-in-law. http://www.accordspeedway.com/
From the Accord Speedway website news release of the season ending banquet: "Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Al Zerbarini, a pioneer in auto racing with a vast history of winning in drag racing as well as the dirt tracks. Zerbarini, at 80 years old today, ran his last race at the age of 65, where he was credited with a second place finish in Mini Sprint competition. Al and Lousie Zerbarini were honored for their long association with the Speedway."
the black '36 Dodge of Antonne Addesso is in Bethel CT although it might me going back to Antonne. It unfortunately has been sitting in a field for a few years and has had a mustang II front end installed in place of the straight axle.(oh the butchers tyring to make a streetrod out of it.) The guy that owns it may let it go but only to Antonne.
This site is incredible. Zerarini owes Accord? I remember going there and seeing guys driving their race cars to the track (in the 1970's!) and saw a couple go off turn one into a pond...and then all these ducks flying like crazy to get away from all the commotion. Antonne originally had a steel coupe, but they made their own (very bad) fiberglass replica body for that car. So somewhere around there there's another '36 Dodge he had first, or maybe the fiberglass on disintegrated.
Accord Speedway is currently owned and operated by Gary & Donna Palmer with help from their own three children who are in their twenties and help from Donna's parents....the Zerbarinis. Nobody crashes into the duck pond anymore, the walls are 8 feet high boiler plate steel instead of those wonderful old board fences.
Hey Storm, I sure do remember the Brazee Bros. Crosley,named "The Little Giant",(what a name ) ! I used to see it run at Connecticut Dragway. I've heard the car is in New York, and is painted black,runs as a bracket racer/
Hey Dennis, Yeah that car was awsome back in the day. Injected sbc if I recall; which is even rarer, one that ran well! Really one of the cleanest altereds I ever saw.
Storm, Do you also remember Angelo Greco's orange A/GS 37 Willys coupe? First Willys I ever saw. It was sold to Gary Saunders, he sold it and then it disappeared. Wonder where it is now?
Angelo Greco's car? I'll ask my brother about that, I don't recall it. I do remember the Aroura & car, a green '40 Willy's out of N.J.; the team also had a max wedge super stocker and I think both cars used the same motor. If memory serves me correctly Tim Richards, or Joe Amato and now Bernstien Bud King fame, was the crew chief on that car. Dino! I was wonderin' where you were man! You're late to this party!
I lettered the thing & can't remember the owner...BUT for all you Dover Guys...I JUST TOOK POSSESSION OF over 1200 photos from Dover in black & white that were converted to cd from ORIGINAL Terry O"Shea negitives ! ! ! too much to go through But will find the time to try & catalog . How ...I don't know but will figure out how to Thumb nail on a site or something.
Yea Storm, The Aurora 7 Willys Was In An Old Magazine In Front Of Hirsch Bros. Dodge(brooklyn?)which I Think Was A Sponsor.yes,had The Max Wedge With Cross Ram Carbs? One Of The Guys,maybe The Driver Was Jerry Lanzelotto? A True Gasser.
Here's a nice Update for this Topic. Al Z. On Video being Reunited with his restored car at the 2009 Dover Reunion. It's in a little (at 11:05) ,so be patient. Other Dover veterans in attendance include Bobby Lagana, John Sachs (& partner Ron Malinese get Reunited with Thier Old Anglia Gasser), Charlie Boucher (Bad News B/A ) and more. Video: http://www.doverdragstrip.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1670 Topic on The Beeline Willys: http://www.doverdragstrip.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1654
Sad News to report....Al Zerberini of BeeLine Willy fame Passed, away last night. He won the A/GS class with the car at the '61 NHRA Nationals The Car is currently being restored by Ron Norman http://www.doverdragstrip.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3473
Another update on the Bee Line Willys. It is currently in our shop, Ron has removed the SBC and went back with the blown Olds. We are running fuel and water lines and should have it running in a few days. If all goes well it will be in Indy for the 58th annual Mac tools US Nationals Labor Day weekend August 29 - September 3.
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