`two Wolves' Smith Faces New Sex Charges

Abraham Fiorani 
July 9, 1996 
Abraham ``abe'' Fiorani, 80, Of Pond Hill Road, Mocanaqua, Died Tuesday In The 
Wilkes-barre General Hospital.

By STEVE SEMBRAT; Times Leader Sports Writer
 Thursday, July 11, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





If you see Jim Hagen's car on Public Square today, don't call it the
Batmobile. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hagen hates it when that term is used to describe his black, 1957 Jaguar.
After all, there's only one, not two, huge protruding tailfins on this rare
racing machine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You can check it out for yourself, and get a look at several other vintage
cars, from about 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in front of the Ramada Plaza Hotel
on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The display is part of the buildup leading to the Giants Despair Hillclimb,
which is celebrating its 90th anniversary. This year's Hillclimb will take
place Saturday and Sunday, with action starting at 9 a.m. each day and running
to about 4 p.m. The starting line is at the bottom of Laurel Run Borough, with
the course winding up the mountain road. There is no admission charge for the
race. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hagen, 56, has been collecting rare cars all his life. During the years,
the Trucksville resident has owned several Jaguars along with a Cobra and a
Ferrari. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Despite this, Hagen said he has never driven at Giants Despair. He did take
part in the Great American Race in 1987, when he served as the navigator for
Durland Edwards' Spirit of Wilkes-Barre. That association, it turned out, got
him involved in this year's Hillclimb. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Durland Edwards told me it was the 90th run of the Hillclimb," Hagen said.
"I went to a couple of meetings to see how I could help out. Dan Lipperini
said `Why don't you run your car?' It didn't take much convincing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I've always wanted to do this. It's a Walter Mitty thing." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lipperini, one of the event's organizers, said enthusiasts can expect to
see a Cobra, one or two vintage Corvettes and one or two Mustangs on Public
Square today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There will be plenty of other vintage cars at the hillclimb, Lipperini
said. Expected in the lineup are a 1949 Formula 3 Cooper, a Jabbro, a Sadler,
an Austin Healy 3000, a Lotus Elite, an Imp along with some early Porches,
Mazdas and Volvos. Those cars will be racing in the vintage and historic
classes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "A lot of these guys are coming in just because of the anniversary,"
Lipperini said. "That's the biggest thing we're trying to stress. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If it goes well with these guys, we're thinking of having a special
weekend just for vintage cars. The owners of these cars are really excited
about this. They're looking for an event where they're the main attraction and
not just a sidelight." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hagen, meanwhile, doesn't plan on entering any other races. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Because this is a vintage car, they're allowing me to run this race as
is," Hagen said. "To run in anything else, I'd have to go with the full safety
gear." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even though Hagen's Jaguar was built for racing, he would have to add a
roll cage to compete in other events. Plus, entering other events might
increase the chances of damaging a very valuable car. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hagen said the car is worth $40,000 to $45,000, and there were only about
105 of the model made. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't know how many are left," Hagen said. "Some were lost to accidents.
They also made a street version of this car. There are only about 18 or 19
like it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even though Hagen's car was built for racing, it is street legal. "It is
pushing it a little," he said. Hagen said his car can go about 150 miles per
hour and, with a full racing engine, it can go 187 mph. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I love it," Hagen, who works for a local telephone company, said of his
involvement with vintage cars. "My brother (Bob) and I have been involved in
this for over 30 years." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/LEWIS GEYER &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shavertown resident Jim Hagan in his '57 Jaguar in which he will compete in
the annual Giants Despair Hillclimb. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More on the Giants Despair Hillclimb &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 -- Page 6B &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Finned Race Car One Rare Cat 
For Jim Hagen, Running His 
1957 Jaguar Race Car At This Year's 
Giants Despair Hillclimb Will 
Fulfill Water Mitty Dreams

Finned Race Car One Rare Cat For Jim Hagen, Running His 1957 Jaguar Race Car At This Year's Giants Despair Hillclimb Will Fulfill Water Mitty Dreams