|
Cirello "Frankenstein"
Magnetos
Page One
Cirello Magneto's Inc.
The story of the "Cirello Magneto Company" actually starts out as the
Engineering Modification Co., an aircraft components repair shop, that was
founded by Tony Cirello in the early '50's, with the repair of aircraft magnetos
being a part of the business.
Tony Cirello made his living flying as a co-pilot/mechanic for United Fruit Co.,
Catalina Airlines and finally for Superior Oil. He stopped flying in 1950 and
started his Aircraft accessories overhaul business. Howard Keck, who owned
Superior Oil Co. also owned Indy cars and approached Tony to build a magneto for
his car. Tony produced it for the race in 1953 and the "Fuel Injection
Special", a car that utilized Stu Hilborn's new fuel injection system along
with Tony's modified magneto put Billy Vukovich in the "Indy 500"
Winners Circle in 1953 & 1954. This is where Tom Cirello got his
introduction to the magneto business, and as a teenager was working on Indy car
magnetos, but when one of the chief-mechanics would come into their shop, Tom
would hide, to keep them from thinking their "racing fate' was in the hands
of a teenage boy. The Cirello's along with Joe Hunt was the 'magneto men"
of the Offy era.
In 1961 the Cirello's shop was located in Sun Valley, California, in the San
Fernando Valley, which was a hot spot of Drag Racing at that time. They utilized
the services of a company called Deltronics to balance armatures and other parts
for their aircraft accessory repair business. Next door to Deltronics, was CT
Automotive which was a hang-out of many of the drag racers of this time period
and while at Deltronics,to pick up some parts, Tom Cirello overheard a group of
guys discussing magneto problems and told them, that he and his father worked on
magnetos and were just down the street. The person he was talking to was Dave
Zeuschel and as they say, "The Rest is History".
The relationship with Zeuschel was a very good one and Dave used their product
in engines for the top names of the day, including Prudhomme, Ivo, Moody, McEwen
and many others. This relationship lasted through out the years until Dave's
untimely death in his own plane. Though Dave had left Drag racing he was still
involved in overhauling Merlin engines for P51 Mustang aircraft and the
Cirello's modified the Rotax magnetos that were used in these engines which
powered many of the competitors in the Reno Air Races at that time.
In 1961 Paul Schieffer of Schieffer Clutches and Flywheels bought the original
H&C magneto, which was designed by Kenny Harmon and Cliff Collins and
started producing these units. It was the magneto to have at that time and the
Cirellos started modifying them with high-output aircraft coils and Platinum
points. They were very successful with these modifications and in 1968 they
purchased the Schieffer Magneto Company and continued to produce these units
along with their own.
In 1963 Tony Cirello produced the first prototype of his own magneto using an
aircraft unit and doing extensive modifications on it. Ed Donavan and Tom McEwen
came by the shop to see the prototype and watch it run, where McEwen nicknamed it
"Frankenstein" and so the product of choice by the majority of drag
racers of that era was born. The early "Franks" had a tag that bore
the name Engineering Modification Co, as Cirello Magneto Co was not formed until
1968 at which time Tom Cirello was 24 years old.
In 1971 the Cirello's introduced the Cirello DGM (Damn Good Magneto) and Tom
remembers flying to Dallas so Tom McEwen could run the first one in his
"Hot Wheel" car. This was another very successful product and was
produced through 1976 with several hundred units being sold for all types of
racing applications.
Though Tom continued to modify and repair Vertex, Mallory and old Cirello units
he had admittedly lost his passion for the business so in1982, Tom opened a new
business, Cirello Racing, which imported Speedway Motorcycles from England. The
next 15 years was a great time in Tom's life but in addition to his motorcycle
business he kept the magneto business going as well.
In 1993 Tom started modifying Mallory units with rare earth magnets and external
condensers. In this three-year period he was able to take a 3-amp unit and
modify it to produce 8 amps. Tom credits Jimmy Prock and the "Mac
Attack" (Cory Mac) car for testing every model he came out with. This was
one of the best times in Tom's career as the majority of top runner used his
unit's, with Joe Amato winning the tittle five years in a row and Scott Kallitta
winning two years running, however when MSD introduced their unit in 1996, Tom
decided to retire from the "magneto wars"
Tom and Tony Cirello was involved in most every form of motorsports from 1950
until 1996, from Indy cars, drag racing, Bonneville, midgets and boat racing to
airplane racing. This has truly been a life-long vocation for Tom Cirello, who
continues today to modify and repair magnetos.
In the following photo albums you will find photos and clippings from Tony and
Tom's private scrapbook. Tom was kind enough to allow me to copy these items in
this attempt to tell the story of another "Pioneer and Innovator in the
History of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding". I only hope I have done the story
justice and I am truly grateful to Tom for all his help and though Tony is no
longer with us his impact on motorsports will live on.
George Crittenden
Tony and Mary Cirello along with their son, Tom operated the
business and were friends with builders and competitors in all forms
of motorsports.
The Cirello Family
business was located in Sun Valley, CA from
early 1950's until 1964
Tony charging the
magnets in a “Frankenstien”
Tony, shown here in
1963, assembling a “Frank”. Notice how neat
and orderly the shop is
Tom Cirello, testing
a Frankenstein. Notice the test equipment on either
side for Aircraft magnetos
that will take 18 cylinders.
A young Tom Cirello
prepares a magneto for a Indy car.
Jim Albert, who
worked for the Cirello', assembles a "Frank"
while Tom Cirello works on a Vertex in the background. Jim would later,
became the Albert in "Childs & Albert"
Zeuschel &
Chrisman check out the blown Chrysler
before a dyno pull
Art Chrisman &
Dave Zeuschel at the Autolite Dyno - Engine from "Big John"
Mazmanian's AA/GS car
Cirello Products
The First Prototype of the "Frankenstein Magneto"
The "Frankenstein" as it was produced in the mid and
late 60's. It was the magneto of choice for many forms
of racing and several hundred were produced.
The “Cirello-Scheiffer magneto as it appeared in 1968
The "Frankenstein" as it was produced in the mid and
late 60's. It was the magneto of choice for many forms
of racing and several hundred were produced.
Just a few of Cirello's Many
Customers
The "Fuel Injection Special" driven by Billy
Vokovick used a Cirello magneto to win Indy
two years in a row. This is also the car that used Stewart
Hilborn's new fuel injection system
The Smothers Bros. "Beach Boys" Dragster was just
one of many that
used Cirello Products
The Pisano Bros Funny Cars were another one of Cirello's
customers
A copy of the handout from John Weibe with his hand written
"Thank You"
Don "The Beachcomber" Johnson used Cirello Magnetos
in both his
Fueler and Funny Car
To view many more magazine article and clipping from
Tom
Cirello's personal scrapbook
CLICK
HERE
Tom Cirello is still doing Repairs
and Modifications to most type of Magnetos
If you have need of First Class Magneto Repair Contact Tom at:
Tom Cirello
948 Highline Dr.
HC4 Box 5H
Payson, AZ 85541
Or E-mail at
tlcirello@msn.com
|
