The Citizen, 2010-10-21, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010.
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A local garage owner had a hand
in preparing a 1975 Pontiac Trans
Am before it was awarded a second-
place trophy at a the Trans Am
Nationals in Dayton, Ohio.
Chuck Bondi, originally from
Wingham but now living in St.
Thomas, had entered the competi-
tion several times according to his
brother Chris, but had never been
able to place very high.
With the help of Chris, who runs
Bondi Restoration and Collision in
Brussels, the Trans Am was torn
down completely, having nearly
everything re-worked or replaced
before it was painted, decaled and
sent to the competition.
“We dismantled the car complete-
ly, except for the drive train,” Chris
said. “We stripped the body down to
just the bare steel, rebuilt it, and then
painted it.”
After that, it was a matter of wait-
ing for the August 7-9 contest to be
over.
“Chuck called and told me, and it
was great news,” he said. “He just
got back from picking up his trophy,
he couldn’t bring it home with him
originally because it was too big.”
Chris stated that they restored
everything in the vehicle to near
brand-new condition before it was
sent off.
The job wasn’t easy, or inexpen-
sive according to Chris.
“It was a winter restoration,” he
said. “We put approximately 300
hours into that car.”
Chris then said that the cost was
approximately $12,000 to complete-
ly restore the car.
The competition turns Dayton into
“Trans Am City” according to Chris,
as there were 400 Trans Ams
there competing in four different
categories - 60s, 70s, 80s, and
90s.
Chuck’s car may be recognizable
to locals since he has always owned
it.
“That car was always in good
shape,” Chris said. “He bought it
new in 1975 and has always taken
care of it.”
Bondi Restoration and Collision
specializes in restoring antique vehi-
cles, so Bondi said his shop was ide-
ally suited for this task.
The car will soon be focused in a
Pontiac-produced magazine due to
the win.
Awesome auto
Chuck Bondi, brother of Chris Bondi, who owns Bondi
Restorations and Collision in Brussels, is the proud owner
of a 1975 Pontiac Trans Am that placed second in a field of
80 other cars during the Trans Am Nationals held in Dayton,
Ohio. The win was due to the work of Chris who rebuilt the
Trans Am from the drive train up. (Denny Scott photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Chains trade speed for safety
in extreme driving conditions
Continued from page 16
to snow tires for the winter. These
tires are made from a softer rubber
so they can better grip the road.
They may also feature a different
tire tread for even more traction.
Snow chains can be used to offer
greater grip. However, speeds will
have to be greatly reduced when
chains are in place.
Reducing speed is helpful when
driving in an inclement condition,
including on ice. It helps a driver to
better correct a situation and react.
If skidding is experienced, gently
steer in the direction of the skid
without applying the brakes. When
traction is resumed, slow down and
correct the car.
Heavy Snow
Driving in snow is different from
driving on ice, but they share some
similarities. Snow can be melting
and freezing on roads simultaneous-
ly, depending on whether salt and
sand have been applied by road
service personnel. Therefore skid-
ding from hydroplaning and ice
may occur.
Another hazard from snow is
reduced visibility. Driving under
blizzard conditions is very danger-
ous. Wind and snow can cause
white-out situations, essentially
wiping out any visibility. In these
instances, a driver should pull over
to a safe area and wait out the storm.
Some people experience trouble
with snow accumulation on roads
that have not been plowed. A lower-
profile car with smaller tires may
not be able to navigate through
snow drifts and end up getting
stuck. This can prove dangerous if
the car stalls in the middle of a road
where visibility is poor.
The best advice for driving in
snow is to assess the situation. If it
is falling heavily, it can be safer to
stay home. If a person must drive,
reduce speed and leave a very large
buffer zone between the vehicles to
allow for emergency stopping.
When approaching intersections or
stop signs, begin braking early to
prevent skidding through.
Also, be extremely cautious of
other vehicles, as they may be
experiencing trouble stopping as
well.
M.G.M.
TOWNSEND TIRE
40356 Londesboro Rd.,
Londesborough
519-523-4742 • 1-877-619-7877
E-mail: ttyr@tcc.on.ca
Meets the severe snow service
requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA)
and the Rubber Association of
Canada (RAC)
• Helps deliver confident snow, wet and ice traction
• Quiet and comfortable ride
Trans Am repaired by areamechanic takes second place