of Mortal Men.













It can be a long drive, the journey of life… … or it can come to a sudden stop.

Rich men made from hard work. Men who’ve gained success through blood sweat and tears are just like the rest of us… just with more money. Men who’ve walked that tight-rope can take care of themselves… The “silver spoon” fed millionaires who are not aware of reality… fortunes fools.

I was happy to meet Santo Rapisarda at his Smithfield workshop of his construction crane service. I was introduced by Chris, a young crane operator working for Santo during the day while moonlighting as Santo’s race team captain I think… … … someone has to be the anchor, Chris puts his heart and soul into every moment he spends taking care of anything he can for his boss, Chris lives and breathes drag racing, I’m quite inspired by his dedication to the sport and I’m sure that things would be less than they are without guys like Chris.

I’ve been to many race meetings now… the “top fuelers” are something special… I spent the entire 2005 Christmas weekend at the drags mostly hangin’ around Santo’s tent… mostly watched in awe of the skill and precision within what it takes to win, times aren’t just about the track… in the pits every tent is alive with fuss about the next run. In Santo’s tent the atmosphere was surreal… palatable…

I was fortunate to speak to the legend who is Tom Hoover about how he advised Santo for the purchase of a new dragster. Tom took Santo to the 2005 US Winter Nationals to view and possibly buy the car from Connie Kalitta, Scott Kalitta’s dad. Scott drove Santo’s new car to victory at the WSID on the 27th of December 2005. Scott Kalitta beat his Australian made team mate David Grubnic who drove a car which the living legend, Jim Read bought from the same original owner. Both Scott Kalitta and David Grubnic completed what was the fastest side by side finish in Australian history.

I remember years ago… Jim Read talking to stupid politicians on the radio talk shows, John Laws and the parrot… when he was trying to negotiate a track to be built at Eastern Creek to replace the old one. I was inspired by Jim then as much as I am now. I reckon that Jim should take up politics. It seems to me that both Santo and Jim wanted a new fast car at the same time. It seems that they got what they wanted but the competition wasn’t only between those two teams. I spent some time talking with Tom Hoover about the politics of drag racing and the dangers while he showed me his old burns… “We’ve all got them Bill”… …there was a sultry blonde beside Tom the whole time, I didn’t find out whom she was but I guess she was his wife. I noticed a little girl crying near the door of Santo’s tent… her mother was trying to console her, I watched as the blonde walked over with cheerful spirit took a photo of the girl then showed it to her, much to the little girls delight.

Not often enough do I see people take the time to do the little things though when I do, it warms me to my heart and reminds me of the kind of person we’ should always aspire to be.

I’m still not sure of whom the blonde was but I know what she was… a lady first class.

Over the last few years I’ve been intrigued as to why these men do it. I try to understand why they spend all of their hard earned money on cars to race fast down a track.

I know that Santo has had personal tragedy, spilling blood on the track. The family team is still called… “Santo and Louie Rapisarda Racing”… the red cars carry a photo while there’s always the wing. I was surprised to see an old school buddy at the event; we once lived close to each other… his entire family learnt to drive at my fathers driving school. When I asked him what he was doing there, Anthony explained that he was Santo’s son in law… that he was there to watch the racing from one of the corporate boxes.

After a catch up chat I had work to do but I did stick my nose into that corporate box for a moment to see Santo’s daughters watch with angst and clench their crosses each time those cars blasted off.

I have children of my own and I did find it hard to understand how the man himself could possibly keep going after all. But I’ve come to terms with it after seeing the look on Santo’s face when his team won the event.

Drag Racing is the purist form of Motor Sport.

After my fair share of tragedy and being a professional of funerals these days… it’s very clear to me that life is way too short to stop living and it would only be disrespectful to Louie if Santo stopped.

So with Santo’s grandchildren cheerfully playing, running around inside the tent…

I found John Mancini, one of Santo’s major sponsors… John was just hangin out making sure his investment was still keeping it real. I spoke to John about tricks and tales… he ventured about his work with cancer kids and how the happy look on their terminally ill faces tied a knot in his throat every time he took them up for a fly in his private helicopter. Out of all the things John coulda’ talked to me about in Santo’s tent… all he wanted to tell me was about those cancer kids. What a top bloke that all the money he’s made from hard work means nothing to him next to those faces.

So as I sit at my computer during what’s left of my Christmas holiday wondering what this article will become… as I drink red wine to the voice of my beautiful wife reminding me I have to cook the BBQ for lunch. As I watch my kids run around in the back yard of my humble home… my experience over the Christmas weekend reminds me just how very rich I am.

I have no money… but I have all that I need.
Who needs money!
When a man becomes wealthy from hard work… that’s the kind of man who knows what money is for…
Burn the money, And live…

During the time I spoke to Tom Hoover, I asked him if it was OK to use his name at all in any article… … he said…
“Bill !…, make sure that you write… “I’m a personal friend of Santo and the entire Rapisarda family!”” … “make sure that you put that’ in any article!”… … …

… god bless him and all the other cool guys hangin round that tent… mortal men rich in spirit and good will.

Please when I die, don’t come crying to my funeral…
…that’s not the kind of guy I am.
Bullshit Bill.

PS… it’s a struggle for men; we all want to look cool.
We need cool to help us get laid.
Men who are “men” will always compete with one-another by nature.
Some blokes become bikies; others look to acting or music or poetry. Some guys surf…
Santo Rapisarda has taken the time to create one of the finest drag racing teams on the planet. I’m curious to see how the next few years go for his team. I know that John Mancini of Wesco has drag racing dreams of his own.
Starting Australia day 2006, John’s brother in law will drive their Wesco team GT XY Falcon in the Ford v Holden Thursday… John’s also got a 1956 Ford Customline waiting in the garage to be turned into a screaming “door slammer”.

Another mate of mine, Paul Stephen and his brothers have aspirations of drag racing in a few classes… I’m gonna make a point of following these three teams progress among the others.

Stay tuned if you like.



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