Research & Development

Mondello/Welfringer R & D Car
   

Meet the Driver...

   Introduced to the sport at a very young age, drag racing has been a part of Ginger's life as long as she remembers.  Growing up in Washington State meant spending most weekends bracket racing at S.I.R., now Pacific Raceways, with her father, Lynn.
   The family stepped up to a Competition Eliminator dragster winning 5 Wally's from 1990 to 1996.  Ginger got her feet wet in this car, making several half-track passes in the C/Econo-dragster In 1995.  When the car was sold in 1997, the family decided to quit racing and move to California to run Mondello Performance Products, a high-performance Oldsmobile speed shop.  Ginger stayed behind, attending college on basketball and golf scholarships.
   Soon after graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in marketing.  Ginger decided to move to California to re-join the family.  After a 5-year hiatus from the sport the Welfringer family is back at it, this time with Ginger behind the wheel.  Lynn and Judy Welfringer purchased the Oldsmobile Cutlass that Warren Johnson won the 1996 Pro-Stock Championship with.  The car was filled with Mondello Performance Products parts, including a 470ci, 925 horsepower Oldsmobile power plant.  The car was set up to go out and run with the Super-Comp dragsters in the Western United States.
   Ginger made her driving debut at the 2002 Winternationals in Pomona, California.  While their first season was a definite learning experience, the team finished the season with strong performances and a very respectable T-16th finish in the ultra-competitive Division 7 Super Comp points standings.
   In June 2003, Ginger Welfringer became Ginger Welfringer-Masse', marrying Greg Masse', currently working as a satellite technician in the United States Army.
   Lynn, Judy and Ginger would like to thank all those who have been critical to the team's success.  Crewmembers:  James Jarzynski, Michael Graves, Larry Bates and Greg Masse'.
   A special thanks to our sponsors, The Cowgirl Cafe, Pro-Blend Lubricants, Ringer's Gloves and Kreative Kustoms.  In addition, the Welfringer's would like to thank everyone at Mondello Performance Products, Danny Roslan, Mike Ferderer and Rich Carlson Photography.

Featured Flyers   

Lynn Welfringer's '97 Cutlass is not your typical Super Comp Doorslammer.  Driven by his daughter, Ginger, the Don Ness-built car is the same one that Warren Johnson drove to his fourth Pro Stock championship in 1998.
   "We're using it primarily as an R&D car," said Welfringer, general manager for Mondello Performance Products, which specializes in Oldsmobile engines and engine parts for high-performance, drag racing, street, and marine applications.  "I bought it from a friend of Warren's last year, and we put the car together at home using Mondello Products.  It's got a 470-cid motor, which is the same one that we sell at the shop as a racing motor."
   The Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals was just the second race for the car and Ginger, who made her driving debut at the season opener in Pomona.  The 25-year-old golf pro lost in the first round at both events.
   "This will be [Ginger's] first season, and we're going to try and run 11 or 12 races," said Welfringer, who used to race Comp in Division 6 before moving to Paso robles, Calif., several years ago.  "It was actually my wife Judy's idea to put Ginger in the car and do some divisional and national event racing like we used to do, and that's what we've done."
   The car's 470-cid Oldsmobile features Mondello/Edelbrock cylinder heads and manifold and a 1250cfm Holley carburetor.  Internal components include an Engle camshaft, Arias pistons, Mondello shaft-mounted rockers, and Manley rods and valves.  Welfringer uses an MSD ignition, Meziere cooling system, Moroso oil pan, Dedenbear electronics, Auto Meter gauges, Weld wheels, and Hoosier tires.
   The drive train has a TCI Powerglide transmission and torque converter, and the rear end is a titanium nine-inch Ford with Mark Williams components, including 4.10 gears.  Former Super Gas champ Mike Ferderer, who, said Welfringer, "has done a wonderful job of setting up the car and instructing Ginger," worked on the car's Strange Pro Stock-style suspension.
   With the help of crew chief James Jarzinski and Mike Graves, the Welfringers' 2,247-pound machine has run a best of 8.84.
   "We thought it would be kind of cool to have a door car and a girl driver in a class that is dominated by boys in dragsters," added Welfringer.  "We wanted to do something different."

This article was published under 'Featured Flyers' in the NHRA  National Dragster Magazine, March 15, 2002

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Photo by Bob Johnson Photography
Race Team Manager Judy Welfringer (third from the right) designed the team uniforms that won Best Appearing Crew at Sonoma Raceway June 2002.

Photo by Rich Carlson Photography
Lynn Welfringer, General Manager of Mondello Performance Products at the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals.

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