1948 Modified Fiat Part of the Annual California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway

Bob Dietz and Dave Ward began racing together ten years ago. They went to the track prepared. One year earlier they built the Dinosaur. It is a 1948 modified Fiat with a fiberglass body. It resembles a car from the early 1960s, runs on alcohol and has one of the shortest wheel bases on the track in the American Nostalgia Racing Association Series.

1948 Modified Fiat named the Dinosaur is powered by a supercharged small block Chevy motor
1948 Modified Fiat named the Dinosaur is powered by a supercharged small block Chevy motor

The Dinosaur can next be seen at the 2009 California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California
The Dinosaur can next be seen at the 2009 California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California
“We raced in the Goodguys Hot Rod Drag Racing Series with a fuel injected motor for the first five years,” said Bob Dietz. “We switched to a supercharged small block Chevy motor in 2005.”
Team Dinosaur depends on K&N oil filters to keep it's supercharged small block Chevrolet motor alive
Team Dinosaur depends on K&N oil filters to keep it's supercharged small block Chevrolet motor alive

2007 and 2008 American Nostalgia Racing Association Champions Bob Dietz and Dave Ward are also leading the points in 2009
2007 and 2008 American Nostalgia Racing Association Champions Bob Dietz and Dave Ward are also leading the points in 2009

Dietz and Ward built the Dinosaur to run at nostalgia events including the ANRA, American Nostalgia Racing Association and the NHRA Heritage Series. They are the 2007 and 2008 ANRA Champions and are the points leaders with only one race left in the 2009 series. “We were also national champions in the 2008 NHRA Heritage Series,” said Dietz. “We will finish in 6th place in 2009.”

Dinosaur Racing has a great crew and takes pride in its racing operation. “Dave and I do all the maintenance on the car,” said Dietz. “In ten years of racing we have only missed one run down the track because of mechanical failure.”

Team Dinosaur uses the best products on its car. “In the end the best products show in performance and reliability,” said Dietz. “The biggest cause of engine failure in this type of racing is oil system related. That’s because of the fuel we use and the amount of horsepower we make.”

One of the keys to keeping an engine alive is making sure your oil is clean, he said. “The K&N oil filters, product number HP-3002, that we run on the Dinosaur are the best we have ever used,” said Dietz. “We have run the same engine bearing for at least two years and that is proof positive that our K&N oil filter is doing its job. K&N filters also give us the confidence we need to perform at the top of our race program.”

Dietz and Ward’s next event will be the 2009 California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California on October 16-18.

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