NSRA Street Rod Nationals, Day 1

Greetings from steamy-hot Louisville, Kentucky! And thanks for visiting streetrodderweb.com. This is the final day of preparation, as vendors and NSRA officials alike set up the temporary city we have come to know as the NSRA Street Rod Nationals, held at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. Countless participants are already on the grounds, staking out their preferred section of land, as the rest of their 10,000-plus street rodder friends finish driving in from all reaches of the USA. Yours truly arrived Tuesday afternoon, in order to get reacquainted with the expansive fairgrounds, and also get a heads-up on what the buzz for 2002 is all about.

The morning duties started with a media event staged by the Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau. From the Fairgrounds, Jerry Dixey and I navigated our way to Downtown, via I-65, arriving at the Louisville Galleria with the Street Rodder Road Tour, Coast-to-Coast 1937 Ford convertible. Fully expecting our arrival, security officers waved us right in a side entrance to the upscale mall which features 40 specialty stores. Local dignitaries from the Office of the Mayor and the Bureau were on hand, as were area TV station crews who were all ready for a 10:30 a.m. start. NSRA President Vernon Walker was also on hand, along with several of his key staff members.Following the media event, we headed back to the Fairgrounds so Jerry could attend to setting up the Street Rodder display booth, where tens of thousands of participants (and show goers) will have the opportunity to sign up to win the 2002 Road Tour car. Throughout the show, you can check back for several key highlights as the 2002 Street Rod Nationals unfolds. Thanks again for visiting streetrodderweb!