ANDREACCHI BUYS BILLES' RIDE

Ralph Andreacchi, from Maple, Ontario, recently purchased the blown '53 Studebaker that Al Billes campaigned for the past three seasons in IHRA's Pro Mod wars. Andreacchi reportedly plans to race the car at all three Canadian IHRA Pro Modified events next year, as well as in the Ontario Street Car Association series and the Canadian Fastest Street Car Shootout. Billes will assist with the tune-up and plans to test with Andreacchi in February. (Photo by Ian Tocher) [12-08-2003]

COLLIS QUITS STAR RACING

Calling it "a very hard decision," Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Fred Collis has ended his five-year affiliation with Star Racing and team owner George Bryce.

Collis began racing for Bryce in 1999 and won the AMA/Prostar Pro Stock championship, as well as the series' Rookie of the Year award. Collis backed up his AMA/Prostar championship in 2000 before taking a short hiatus from racing.

In 2003, Collis raced a Star Suzuki TL-1000 on the NHRA Pro Stock Bike circuit and won the race in Columbus, OH, on his way to an eighth-place finish in the points chase. No reason was given for Collis' sudden departure, but after insisting his five-year association

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with Star Racing was a "great experience," he said, "at this time it was just best that I went my own way." [12-08-2003]

CREW MEMBERS MOVE TO PEDREGON CAMP

Dickie Venables, crew chief for Tony Pedregon's new Quaker State-sponsored Funny Car, said Kurt Elliott will be his assistant and that two former John Force Racing associates have moved over: engine builder Paul Blagg and Chris Sorells. Rick Ducasin has joined the crew, which will get three more additions before January, when the team heads to Phoenix for preseason testing. Venables worked with Rob Flynn, Cruz Pedregon's crew chief, in 1996 on Whit Bazemore's Funny Car team. [12-08-2003]