Student Spotlight
ET major, "Psycho," restores
automobiles in spare time
By Derrkk Stokes
His Friends call him "Psycho." If
you ever ventured into his passenger
seat, you would probably think he got
the nickname from his driving.
Seatbelts are a neccessity, helmets are
optional. Just stay out of the
crosswlaks when a blue blur
masquerading as a 1988 Z-24
approaches. He can't drive 55.
Friends tagged Francis Pagnotta
"Psycho" after the Bill Murray vehicle
Stripes featured a psychotic Francis.
Pagnotta, 21, can be described as
"normal" although this mechanical
engineering technology major spends
most of his weekends on campus. You
have to be crazy to do that.
At 5 feet, 11 inches and 165 pounds,
Pagnotta is built like an inverted
pyramid -- a well-developed upper body,
and skinny legs. A simple nudge could
probably push him off balance.
Pagnotta doesn't look like the typical
engineering technology major -- burned
out and beer-bellied.
His brown hair always looks neat and
his shirts always match his pressed
pants. Dapper Fran dresses like a
humanities major.
"Hey, Fran, where's the flannel shirt
and faded, wrinkled Levis?"
He probably wears them back home
in Latrobe, Pa. when he's working on
his car. It's not a hot rod; it's a classic
'29 Ford.
Pagnotta became interested in
antique cars through his father, Francis
Pagnotta Sr. You can say it's in his
blood.
"Dad had restored one when I was
little, so I grew up around it," he said.
While helping his father cover a
frame in his backyard, his father asked
him if he wanted to build something
with it. Looking at the naked frame, Dr.
"Fran"-kenstein had no idea what body to
Francis "Psycho" Pagnotta displays auto trophies in his room
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give it.
Browsing through an antique car
magazine, he found a picture of a truck
owned by Philadelphian Peter Noyes.
Pagnotta wrote Noyes asking for "tips
and hints." Noyes responded by sending
polaroids.
"Looking at the photos gave me an
idea of how to go about it," Pagnotta
said.
A year and-a-half later, Dr. "Fran"-
kenstein had reincarnated a vermillion red
29 Ford.
According to Pagnotta, it's relatively
easy to restore old cars. Many
companies make reproduction parts, he
said.
Pagnotta was now ready to show off
his new, old car. The best place to show
off his finished product was a car show.
"It's someplace to get reactions, to
get feedback," Pagnotta said.
At age 19, in the summer of 1986
Pagnotta entered his first local show.
He placed second.
It took little coaxing to get Pagnotta
to enter the Antique Automotive Club of
America national fall meet later that
year. He place third.
Last week, the AACA nationals were
held in Hershey. Pagnotta added to his
growing trophy collection by placing
second. Maybe next time's the charm.
Pagnotta said patience is the key to
his stick-to-it-iveness. His neighbor,
Jeff Spencer, echoed those sentiments.
"You have to have an appreciation for
it," said Spencer.
Another neighbor was more cynical.
"It's for people who like to live in
the past," cracked Mike Yost.
Pagnottta said that the estimated cost
of restoring his truck was "about
$8000." He said that if thoughts ever
entered his mind he thinks that $lB,OOO
to $20,000 would be a "pretty reasonable
price."
If only I had a frame.
Photo by Karen Peffer
Jogiwalk-a-thou raises $4OO for
athletic department
by John Yagecic
On Saturday, Oct. 29, members of
the Penn State Harrisburg Athletic
Association and campus athletes donned
their running shoes and hit the gravel in
the association's jog/walk-a-thon.
The jog-a-thon, held at the
Middletown High School track, raised
approximately $4OO which will help
support the athletic department.
Athletic Director .Duane Crider was
pleased with the turnout and the amount
of money raised.
"We had about twice as many runners
as we did last year," said Crider,
"We had good support from the
campus too. About 95 percent of the
funds raised came from student
sponsors," Crider said.
Runners in the jog-a-thon solicited
sponsors before the event to give them a
certain amount of money per lap or a flat
pledge regardless of the number of laps.
"That was the toughest part," said
participant Jim Snock, "I didn't mind
running, but it's a little embarrassing to
go around and ask for money afterward."
The effort was worthwhile, however.
Funds raised will help pay for the sports
banquet held in the spring to which
coaches and athletes are invited free of
Applications are still being accepted for editorial positions for the spring
semester. Any Capital Times member or student who has taken
HCOMM 310 is eligible to run for the position of editor.
for part-time jobs with the WITF TV 33/FM 89.5 Telemarketing Program
Earn $4-$6 per hour (including bonuses) phoning viewers and listeners
to request their continued support of public broadcasting.
We offer evening and weekend hours with a flexible scheduling policy.
Capital Times, November 16,1988, Page
charge.
The money also helps procure
necessary equipment and supplies.
According to Crider, the ice machine
purchased with last semester's earnings
has proved invaluable in treating sports
related injuries.
Aside from the satisfaction of having
helped out the Athletic Association,
runners who earned over $2O received a
jog-a-thon T-shirt. The top money
earner, who will be named when all the
totals are final, will also receive a Penn
State hooded sweatshirt.
NEED
TALKING
CALL
236-6000
Ext. 286
CALL TODAY!!
The jog-a-thon was made a success
through the dedication and cooperation of
all parties involved.
"I'm really pleased with this year's
group on the athletic board," stated
Crider, "we've got a lot more student
participation."
Board member Terry Majzlik was
able to persuade area merchants to donate
gifts and prizes to the runners. The
Colonial Inn, The Sunburst Lounge,
Midtown Pizza, Roberto's Pizza, The
Movie Merchant, J&J Pizza, The Old
Stone Inn, and PSH's own Lion's Den
contributed to the cause by providing
runners with incentives such as gift
certificates and free meals.