Joe Pisano
The epitome of a self-made man, the son of Italian immigrants taught himself the three “R”‘s: reading, writing, and racing. Relocating from Pennsylvania to California in 1945, the teenager was exposed to the harsh realities of a homeless family, sleeping in city parks. Pisano was also exposed to the booming Los Angeles hot rod scene and became hooked for life. He raced roasters at Ascot, entered a Hudson (with Dempsey Wilson) in the 1953 Mexican Road Race, ran the dry lakes, drag-raced supercharged gasser’s, and entered Bonneville’s 200 MPH Club. A natural salesman, Joe also sold enough new Chevrolets to buy into Venolla Pistons in 1961. By the late 60’s, he was doubly successful as a manufacturer and funny car owner. In the 70’s, he redesigned aluminum connecting rods for fuel racing, further increasing Venolla’s fortunes. In 1984, he introduced the JP-1-cylinder block that would power his own car through both the 280 and 285 mph speed barriers. His block would also push Eddie Hill’s top fuel dragster through the four-second barrier in 1988. Throughout his life “Pappa Joe” was also known as a kind, caring individual who dispensed more valuable advice and aluminum parts to needy racers than anyone outside of his brothers realized. At the 1991-Mile-High Nationals, Joe was returning a new driver, Dale Pulde, from a mandatory checkout pass when he suffered a fatal heart attack. Frank Carmen and Tony Pisano would keep their beloved brother’s spirit alive and thundering in the form of his 5.11-second ET funny car two years later.