Dalcorp Racing and AREA 51: March 2009

GNP/BG Oil Cobalt ready for 2009 season.

With all the extra curricular activities going on the past few months we were beginning to wonder if we are ever going to get back to the track. It was time to freshin' things up a bit in the Cobalt which meant new engine and trans. Unbelievably, we ran two full seasons on one motor. When GM sent the new engine to us they also included the pistons, rings, and bearings from the old engine for us to check out. They looked brand new! What a testimony to the GM tech guys and engine builders back in Michigan, but also to BG Oil and PetroSpecs. We run their products exclusively in our Cobalt and our other race cars, and that is why. Thanks BG for a great product!

Pato has all the cars ready to rock and roll with the exception of Pete's 67 turbo'd Bug. We're waiting on a few parts but it should be back together soon. We plan on testing in the next couple of weeks at Irwindale to make sure all systems are go before we hit it hard this year. We'll be posting our schedule in the next week or two; hope to see you at the track.

Just about back together...a new bullet.

Pato's custom designed oil cooler...and it works!

"I wonder where this goes?"

SURPRISE! Frank Marrone turns 50!

It was party time, Italian style, when the Marrone gang invaded AREA 51 for Frank Marrone's surprise 50th birthday Party. About 90 of Frank's closest friends and family tried to wait patiently for Frank to arrive but were pretty "amped up" by the time Frank's brother, Ben and a couple of friends, got him to AREA 51. They were about 20 minutes late, but the surprise went off without a hitch. Brother Frank was stunned as everyone descended on the birthday boy for hugs and kisses. Pepper's Mexican Restaurant catered the event and did an awesome job as usual with a fiesta package fit for a king, or a 50th birthday boy! "The Hoister Bar" was rockin' as was the entertainment for the evening, "Flirt", one of the best bands we've ever had play at AREA 51. You can visit their web site at www.flirtrock.com . It's always great having the Marrone family in the house and this time was no exception. Happy Birthday Frank!

How would you like to have this gang comin' at ya'?

The anticipation was almost too much to handle!

The Birthday Boy! "What is going on?"

Frank addressing his friends and family...and

then it was time to party!

No one went home hungry. What a spread!!

Thanks, Peppers!!

AJ workin' his magic at "The Hoister Bar."

...a picture is worth a thousand words...

Nocita and Rodriguez at Family "500". High Revving presentation a hit with the kids!

One of the things we enjoy most about racing is that we get invited to participate in a variety of community functions and educational programs. Curt Gibson is the associate director of the Lake Avenue Community Foundation and heads up Family "500", an after school program that works with about a 150 at-risk youths in Pasadena. LACF is a faith-based nonprofit organization that gives these lower income students a place to go after school to receive help with school work, personal issues; anything and everything. Lorenzo and Erica were asked to come and speak to the children as the last part of a four week program that Curt had put together concerning education, vocational training and achieving your goals. It was great to see the looks on the kids faces as they listened to Lorenzo and Erica tell their stories and how they've achieved some of their goals. But when they fired up the race cars and whacked the throttle a few times, (well, maybe more than a few times), they were grinning ear to ear! We also enjoyed meeting the many volunteers and parents who work with Curt and the staff at Family "500". But the best part of the day was talking with all the kids, letting them sit in the cars, and just hanging out. Thanks for the invite, Curt. We hope you'll have us back soon.