Don Francisco (motor journalist)
Don Francisco , or just "Cisco" ( 1918 - January 29, 2005 ) was an American motor journalist , publisher and, together with Ed Pearlman, founder of the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA).
Life
Don Francisco worked for the fire department of Alhambra (California) , was busy in a small gas station with the performance enhancement of road vehicles and was among the first mechanics to build hot rods . Wally Parks from Hot Rod Magazine recruited him for his reputation in this field and Don Francisco was part of the editorial team from 1950 onwards, called "Cisco" by colleagues. Soon he was editor-in-chief of the technical section and then also of Car Craft magazine . The American high-speed events Bonneville Speed Week and Indianapolis 500 were his main interests.
In the early 1950s he prepared Lincoln's for the Mexican Road Race , cars that were then leaders in their class and became known as the "Road Race Lincoln". In this and the following decade, "Cisco" successfully took part in the Mobil Economy Runs , headed the Pontiac works team for this competition in the mid-1960s and won Art Arfons as one of the drivers in 1965 . Don Francisco was team manager for the use of Mercury Comet vehicles on the East Africa Safari from 1963-64 - but only until a decision in favor of shock absorbers , which he did not want, was enforced by the factory management . Don Francisco resigned and all Comets had time-consuming repairs or total failure because of the parts.
He founded the Don Francisco Publishing Company in the late 1950s before joining NORRA. Don Francisco was a skilled pilot, very helpful when he launched the 1967 Mexican 1000 desert race - a sporting event that was later taken over by Mickey Thompson and the SCORE .
In 1978, Don Francisco became inductee (recruit) to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame , honoring individuals who have dedicated themselves to off-road motorsport for life.
Individual evidence
- ^ Website of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (accessed May 25, 2016)
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Francisco, Don |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Cisco |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American motor journalist, designer of Hot Rods |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1918 |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 29, 2005 |