Pedregon Brothers Recreate Father's Legacy
Pedregon Brothers Recreate Coupeı Memories Flamingı Frank Pedregon Was a Legendary Driver; Inspirational Father CHINO HILLS, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2004) Brothers Tony and Cruz Pedregon are trying to bring their fatherıs legacy back to life, by recreating the famous Fiat Coupeı front-engine dragster that made Flamingı Frank Pedregon the talk of hot rodders throughout the 1960s. Despite Flamingı Frankıs untimely death while in his early 40ıs, the Pedregon brothers still have fond memories of those days. But memories are just that memories. The duo wanted something a little more tangible to remember their father. So, they began an adventure to recreate that remarkable race car. With the help of Pat Foster, owner and chief builder of Foster Slingshots, and legendary engine builder, crew chief and driver Dale Armstrong, that memory will become a reality as the car will make its on-track debut during the 2005 NHRA Winternationals at Pomona Raceway next February. ³My dadıs car was very unique,² Cruz continued. ³With all of these older cars being reconstructed and some being restored, we got the bug to recreate the car. We searched around for the original and didnıt have any initial luck. So we decided, after many years of wanting to do it, to recreate it. ³It was truly unique in the way it looked and the way the tires burned going down the track it was the one and only cars that went down the track like that,² Cruz continued. ³It really became a fan favorite as he raced a lot of the local tracks around Southern California.² His brother Tony expressed a similar sentiment; ³To continue what my father started in memory and tribute to my dad is very important. Dale Armstrong will be building the engine, which is so important because they were good friends and raced together years ago. To have Pat Foster actually build the car and the two of them working together with us is really amazing. I think itıs amazing to pool this talent together on a project like this. I think that is why this project is even going to be that much more special.² At the beginning of the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season, Tony left John Force Racing after winning his first championship to form his own race team. The opportunity to join brother Cruz was too much to pass up when Quaker State came calling as the title sponsor. The move has brought the two even closer together, which cemented the idea to build the car. ³My dad was very motivated,² Tony said. ³He was resourceful, intelligent and he made a lot of what little he had. I think that really said a lot about him. Drag racing, even 30 years ago, was still racing. ³I was born in 1965 and that car ran to the end of 1968,² Tony added. ³My memory goes back to when my dad drove for Don Madden in the Howard Cam Special Top Fuel Dragster. I donıt remember much of the Coupe except, when it was retired. It sat in the back of our house in Chino (Calif.) and chickens lived in it. Thatıs why we called it the Chicken Coupe.ı² Both Tony and Cruz wanted to make the car really reflect their father, both in mind and in heart. He was considered one of the most innovative racers of his time. ³We know, through watching our dad throughout his racing career, what kind of craftsman he was,² Cruz said. ³We knew how detail-oriented he was. Weıre going to do that to this car. Weıre going to make it nicer, shinier than it was. This car will really reflect what Flamingı Frank Pedregon was all about.² PedregonRacing.com