For many car owners, the cruise out to the Syracuse Nationals has become a must on the summer event calendar. It's a diverse happening that offers a myriad of things to do not just at the fairgrounds, but everywhere else.
Syracuse is a city that is rich in architecture, culture, and history, and it allows rodders plenty of enjoyable things to do during the day and lots of exciting nightlife to take in after hours. Being the birthplace of the Franklin automobile in 1901, it's a city that has never forgotten its automotive roots and to this day celebrates them with The Museum of Automotive History, which is packed with one of the world's largest collections of early automotive memorabilia.
If you were lucky enough to have planned an extended stay in the area, it was a sure bet that you might have checked out the picturesque Finger Lakes region that boasts over 60 local wineries, or quite possibly the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum located in nearby Cooperstown that was just brimming with culture and Americana. There was also the chance to have motored over to Heid's of Liverpool, which is a well-known drive-in landmark that was established back in 1883, famous for their grilled coney-style dogs and fries...you get the picture.
Built in a little over five months, 19-year-old Matt Hayes' '31 Ford coupe was downright wicked, sporting a 5-inch channel and un-chopped lid. The Chevy small-block sports Tri-power, dressed with plenty of vintage goodies, and accented by a neat white firewall.
Settling in for the weekend, car owners arrived to the massive New York State Fairgrounds which encompasses 360 acres complete with loads of vintage buildings, tree-lined roads to cruise, and plenty of character that makes this fairground bitchin'. Despite temps that rode heavy into the 90s throughout the weekend, crowds weathered the heat and spent plenty of time crisscrossing the fairgrounds, checking out well over 200 vendors that had all of their latest cutting-edge products available. If you needed to duck out of the heat, there were numerous informative tech seminars being offered on Friday and Saturday including ones from Loctite, Air Ride Technologies, and Meguiar's with Barry himself there meeting with many of his loyal fans. Street Rodder Road Tour with Jerry Dixey and the Speed33 roadster made quite an impact all weekend long with an endless stream of visitors stopping by to both check out the car up close and to be able to talk with Jerry about what it's like on the long haul with such a killer ride.
With an event program that's jam-packed with things to do throughout the day, there was plenty of opportunity to stop by and meet entertainment legends Henry Winkler and Cindy Williams, whose popularity kept the lines to hang out with them deep every day. Artie's Party once again pulled in some of the world's leading pinstriping artists for a tremendous panel-jam with auctions benefiting charity of some of the most creative pieces ever presented. Plenty of entertainment from numerous stages kept the crowds hopping with searing sets from bands like The Royal Crowns, Fab Cats, Krypton 88, Gary Dunes, and Ruby Shooze who defied the hot temps while delivering the goods. While strolling the grounds it was easy to see that there were a multitude of build styles with everything from slick contemporary to ultra traditional rods and customs in attendance. Syracuse has become an event where car owners will often debut their newest creations with rides like John Favaloro's stoke Hemi-powered '36 Ford Deluxe roadster and Sam and Dave Wilczak's evil little chopped and channeled '30 Ford coupe making the scene.
Sounds like a pretty full dance card with all the cool happenings, right? Well, we're here to tell you that once the evening comes, you'd better grab a bite for dinner and head back to the fairgrounds, cuz the team from the Right Coast has assembled a nightly hoedown that's not for the faint at heart! Getting the evening program started at the huge grandstand area, everything kicks off with a wild tire burning competition that leads into a Demolition Derby, followed by a blistering flame-throwing exhibition by some of the country's most well-known pyrotechnic artists, and finally capped off with a dazzling fireworks display. A signature of the Syracuse Nationals is their endless giveaway program where a weekend of prizes offered to those car owners in attendance caps off on Sunday afternoon when the one lucky attendee gets the chance to win a new turnkey hot rod. This year the promoters knocked out the crowds with a stunning contemporary-styled Coast to Coast '39 Ford roadster that had everybody wishing they'd have a chance to take it home. By the time all of the excitement was over, it was Susan Lawton of Pennellville, New York, who was the lucky holder of the keys. By the time the festivities came to an end 6,790 registered cars had cruised through the gates while 67,000 visitors stopped in to dig the cool vibe. Thanks to the overwhelming support of the Central New York Car Club Association, event hosts, and area service clubs, donations were made from proceeds of the event in the amount of $70,000.00 (which included $48,000.00 from the Panel Jam auctions) to a number of local charities, bringing the nine-year donation total to $300,000. This is one event that's not to be missed so mark you calendar now for the 10th anniversary next year, 'cause we're sure it will be a blast! You can check it all out at www.rightcoastcars.com
Turtle Wax Tech Tips
Interior Cleaning
It seems as if it's just as hard to keep the inside of a car from getting dirty as the outside. Interior surfaces include vinyl, fabric and leather upholstery, carpeting, plastic or rubber floor mats and dashboards.
Recommendations:
Before cleaning these areas, we recommend vacuuming to remove loose dirt, particularly from the folds of the upholstery.
To save time, use ICE Total Interior Care for cleaning multiple surfaces at once. It cleans, shines, and protects soft vinyl, plastic, and leather surfaces. It even works for removing stains on carpet and fabric.
To get the headlining back to its best, a coarse decorator's sponge is the perfect tool.
Rub an ice pack over chewing gum to make it hard and easier to shift.
Keep cleaner off steering wheel (unless you are using ICE Total Interior Care), gear lever, and pedals.
Screaming old-time dirt modified, Ron McJury's '37 Plymouth business coupe got its hardcore looks from a 5-inch section and 3-inch channel. Thanks to a 14-inch rear kick, the car is as low as they get and packed with plenty of evil. | 
Nothing sez it's time to race like a '41 Willys Gasser! Bill and Linda Yorker's PPG Papaya-coated coupe gets plenty of action thanks to Dyers 6-71 huffed small-block fed by a pair of Holley 750s that puts the power to meaty Hoosiers out back. | 
Saturated with just enough candy black cherry glamour, Larry Shackelton's '36 Ford coupe had it all, from a perfect stance and the right amount of dazzle to make it a standout. |
Howard Tarnoff's '49 Plymouth Club coupe was loaded with subtle custom updates, including a clean shave and molded rear fenders, while a hopped-up flat-six loaded with an Isky stick and topped with an Edgy finned aluminum head provided the go power. | 
Donna Migliore's Brookville-bodied Deuce rides on an original Ford spine that's packed with a '53 Ford Flathead topped with Edelbrock heads and a pair of 97s linked to a '39 trans. Doused in go-fast maroon, the car is just plain stunning. | 
You rarely see a '37 Chevy Master Coach as slick as the one built by Bob Imbs. Cranked down with a Chassis Engineering IFS, it rolls on Colorado Custom wheels and was treated to Lexus Renaissance Red icing. |
Looking at the seductive lines of a '33 Pontiac makes you wonder where all of them wound up. Jeff Bracket did justice to his full-fendered coupe dialing in a perfect rake, adding IFS, a taupe leather interior, and Boyd Coddington wheels. | 
Dale Baulder's '36 Studebaker coupe was effervescent with a combination of apricot and silver pearl combined with a smooth body, bagged suspension, American Racing wheels, and Fuzion rubber. | 
Straight from Koolsville, Blaser's '52 Chevy custom had the look thanks to a clean shave, skirts, Lancer caps, lake pipes, and perfectly laid out Watson-styled bronze flames. |
If you dig hopped-up Model A coupes, Larry and Ryan Hill's '31 Ford was sure to grab your attention with its hammered top, drilled visor, Edelbrock dual quad-fed Bow Tie small-block, Radir wheels, and eye-searing orange vibe. | 
Brass headlights, wire wheels, tall windshield, and cowl lights brought us back decades when we saw John and Lisa Bernardi's '22 Ford fad-styled T-tub. Loaded with vintage goodies, it also had a black diamond-tuck interior and fully chromed rearend. | 
Whacking his '31 Ford sedan hard and channeling it to death, Mike Mathalia's hop-up was riding with the Devil while a Tri-power fed small-block leads the way. The Model A grille shell topped with a gravel guard is just plain reet. |
For the 9th year running, the Right Coast Association gave away another stunning turnkey hot rod. This year it was a '39 Ford Coast to Coast roadster built by Tucci's Hot Rods, with paint by Warner's Auto Body, and parts from a multitude of sponsors. | 
After all of the excitement was over, it was Susan Lawton of Pennellville, NY, who was the lucky holder of the keys to the 2009 '39 Ford Coast to Coast-bodied giveaway car from the Right Coast Association. Susan is pictured with builder Dave Tucci (left) and Bob Warner of Warner's Auto Body, who did bodywork, paint, and final assembly. | 
From trash cans to bowling pins and everything in between including pedal cars and carousel horses the artists working the panel-jam brought their very best to the table for the auctioneer to wow the crowds with. |
othing could be finer than racking up the miles on a perfect summer day in a '48 Ford drop-top, especially one as neat as John Pares' deep metallic blue cruiser shod with wide whites and Caddy caps. | 
Combining just the right amount of classic design along with chopping, molding, and frenching, finished off with decadent deep brandy icing brought Ron Hepding's '53 Chevy custom to life. | 
The pinstriper's charity panel-jam known as Artie's Party brought in talent from all over the world to help out, including Hot Dog from sunny California, who laid down lines all weekend long for a great cause. |
It was great to see old friend Neil Melliard working in the epicenter of the charity panel-jam having flown in all the way from England for the cause. One of the top 'stripers in the UK, he was contributing his great talents for an awesome cause. | 
Turtle Wax Presents Street Rodder Top 100John St. Germain's '50 Ford Business coupe defines the term traditional custom. Coated in coral and black gloss, matched with a perfect chop, '54 Olds side trim, and numerous subtle body modifications it definitely earned its Top 100 pick. A stroked Flathead linked to a four-speed column shift helps seal the deal. | 
One guy who truly lives and breathes hot rodding is Rick Smith from Quincy, MA. His Dearborn Deuce roadster is as slick as they come, with a killer stance that earned him a Street Rodder Top 100 pick. With a 408-inch Ford mill topped with a Kinsler stack injection EFI system, this roadster packs plenty of punch. |
Peabody, MA's John Favaloro and his fresh '36 Ford Deluxe roadster nailed a Top 100 pick thanks to a combination that was too hot to miss. Packed with neat details including a one-piece hood, decadent PPG orange metallic vibe, and a 354ci vintage Hemi, it was debuted from the stables of Xtreme Restorations in Slatersville, RI. | 
Having recently completed an extensive restoration on the well-known Moonkist T-bucket to celebrate its 30th anniversary, Rich and Sharon Hoefling of Wayne, NJ, really deserved a Top 100 pick. Evil never looked so good with a blown 396-inch Rat topped with three Edelbrock quads, and a midnight black body accented by a vibrant, orange-pleated interior. | 
Phil Migliore's Walden, NY-based '28 Ford roadster pick-up looks like it was straight out of a "little book" with details that included its Hallok-styled windshield, Model B four-banger complete with a Cragar overhead conversion, and a mirror-straight body bathed in black gloss it went home with a well-deserved Top 100 pick. |
Jim Fleming of Washingtonville, NY, gave his Dearborn Deuce body a very traditional late '40s feel, added a pinched and bobbed chassis, cowl steering, split drilled bones, and low-gloss Washington Blue hue. With a 241ci Red Ram Hemi linked to a five-speed, it raced to the head of the class, earning a Top 100. | 
Perfect proportions thanks to a 4-inch chop and channel give this '30 Ford coupe owned by Sam and Dave Wilczak from Darien Center, NY, loads of personality earning it a Street Rodder Top 100. Powered by a warmed over '61 Chevy 283-inch V8 topped with three deuces, it's a killer mill for the early '60s look. | 
After cranking out 1,100-plus miles on the Street Rodder Road Tour all the way from Florida to New York, Ron Hickman's Deuce proved that it had just the right combination with a 420hp Chevy small-block to keep up with Jerry Dixey on the long haul earning it a Top 100. |
Dick Ling's '50 Pontiac Streamliner out of Rochester, NY, was just plain bitchin'. Chopped 3 inches and treated to countless additional mods brought the car to a whole new level easily earning it a Top 100 pick. | 
Lou Querusio's '58 Chevy Impala from Mendon, MA, is all about obsession. It sports a custom bullet grille, a perfect stance thanks to Air Ride bags, and an amazing body topped with just enough PPG Cashmere Blue. The knock-out punch comes from under the hood with a fully detailed 348ci mill topped with six deuces that cruised home with a Top 100. | |