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The 35th Annual Turkey Run - A Daytona Beach Thanksgiving TraditionThe 35th Annual Turkey Run From the May, 2009 issue of Street Rodder By Carroll Hamilton
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Eating turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie is a national Thanksgiving tradition. In Daytona Beach, Florida, another Thanksgiving tradition has taken hold--the annual Daytona Beach Turkey Run. Held in the huge infield of the infamous Daytona International Speedway, just west of the "World's Most Beautiful Beach," the event includes 5,000-plus show cars, 1,300 filled swap meet spots, a 1,500-spot car corral, and food vendors everywhere, making the Turkey Run the largest swap meet/car show in the Southeast. Daytime show activities include two hours of door prize drawings Friday and Saturday, a craft world, the huge swap meet, a large selection of vendors, everything from gator bites to homemade ice cream, and a lot of fun. When the sun sets the party moves to numerous venues across the Daytona Beach area, including the sponsored activities located just outside turn four on the speedway grounds. Sponsored activities include trike races, teeter-tooter, slow drags, and other interesting and enjoyable activities. With all of this fun the more important fact is that all profits from the event go to support activities, charities, and facilities in and around the Daytona Beach area. The Daytona Beach Street Rods hosts the show car portion of the event, while the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District handles the swap meet, car corral, and spectator gates. Through these two organizations, the Turkey Run and its participants have been responsible for funding many community charities, activities, and facilities. With support from Bitchin' Products, Roddoors, Coker Tire, Total Performance, and others the Daytona Beach Street Rods built a 1936 Ford rat rod in between events. On Saturday afternoon the anticipation grew as the car was to be given to some lucky participant in a random drawing. Margaret and Matt Mattingly had the lucky registration number and will be taking the rat rod back to their hometown of Nicholson, Georgia. As we cruised the grounds we noticed the continued growth in the numbers of fat fendered rods. We saw that the blown, big-blocked '41 Willys is still popular, while a resurgence in T-buckets appears to be taking place. And whitewall tires appear more popular than ever. In the swap meet, parts for '35 through '48 Ford cars and trucks were popular, while four-speed and five-speed transmissions as well as bellhousings were abundant, supporting the increase in hot rods with three pedals. If you are looking for a good time on Thanksgiving weekend, check out www.turkeyrun.com and make plans to attend the 36th annual Turkey Run.  Tony Layton can be seen all...  Tony Layton can be seen all around the Daytona Beach area in his eye-catching, satin black and flamed '39 Ford coupe.  Real or copy, Joe Jordan's...  Real or copy, Joe Jordan's '56 Ford Drag car had the right look and the right parts, including the 406ci Ford engine. Middle Eliminator: 1962 NASCAR Winternationals, Daytona Beach, 1964 Track Champion, Yellow River Drag Strip, and other lettering all adds to the intrigue.  Del and Tim Clark sure got...  Del and Tim Clark sure got the look right on their '32 Ford highboy. Del and Tim cruised over from DeLand, FL.  A lot of custom goodies went...  A lot of custom goodies went into Chris Badertscher's '52 Chevy Custom. '49 Olds grille, chopped top, spots, skirts, scoops, lake plugs, the list goes on and on. Chris cruised over from Lake Helen, FL.  Don Stewert brought the Big...  Don Stewert brought the Big Sandy Furniture 1944 Chevrolet pickup down from Ashland, KY. The cream and blue paint is flawless and the '59 Caddy taillights add that just-right custom touch.  We caught young Calvin Decker...  We caught young Calvin Decker from Ocala, FL, checking out Paul Humphrey's Virginia-based, slammed '37 Chevy pickup truck. Calvin was probably dreaming about his hot rod future--it gets in the blood at an early age.  This all-steel '36 Ford roadster...  This all-steel '36 Ford roadster is the work of Johnny Vogel out of St. Augustine, FL. Johnny's roadster was another fine example of the current trend toward bumpers, bumper guards, rubber running boards, door handles, etc.  Jim and Joan Hasty are the...  Jim and Joan Hasty are the proud owners of this fine example of a 1937 Ford coupe. Boards, door handles, bumpers, even the aftermarket, cowl mount, and radio antenna add class to this ride. The Hastys are from Port Orange, FL.  How about an early SUV? Robert...  How about an early SUV? Robert Bruce's 1946 Chevrolet Suburban was looking good in its cream and light blue livery. Robert had no problem with trunk space as he loaded up for his trip from Ladson, SC.  Daytona Beach's Joe Gimpel...  Daytona Beach's Joe Gimpel built this beautiful recreation of the 1935 Ford Phaeton Indianapolis 500 pace car.  Ron and Linda Hoover obviously...  Ron and Linda Hoover obviously know something about simplicity. There is just something "hot rod" about a simple but well-done '41 Ford pickup truck. The Hoovers dropped down from Lexington, SC.  Bill and Vicky Jones' 1933...  Bill and Vicky Jones' 1933 Series 67 Buick stopped nearly everyone in their tracks. C5 Corvette suspension front and rear and 502 cubic inches of Buick power made for a luxury ride from their hometown of Stockbridge, GA.  Frank Hawkins dusts off his...  Frank Hawkins dusts off his beautiful champagne and black 1941 Willys coupe. The paint and graphics say "Street Rod," but the 10-spoke front wheels, big rubber in the rear, and a big, blown Hemi all say "racecar." Frank and his wife Sarah call Jonesboro, GA, home.  Gail and Russ Gilman's '39...  Gail and Russ Gilman's '39 Ford standard coupe features an independent front suspension, a bone-colored interior, wide whites on chrome reversed wheels, and some real hot flames. The Gilmans are from Wilber-by-the-Sea, FL.  Four out of five experts will...  Four out of five experts will agree that the late Dick Kraft's "Bug" was the first purpose-built dragster. Built in 1950, the Bug was crude, rude, and utterly dangerous. However, it took its place in history when, in 1985, Dick built a replica of the Bug for the Don Garlits Museum. Local Daytona Beach racecar historian and restorer Glen McGlone recently completed this nearly perfect clone of the "Bug." If copying is the greatest form of flattery...  This extra-nice four-door...  This extra-nice four-door '39 Plymouth caught our attention. Not a car many would choose to street rod. Erin Williams selected a great two-tone paint scheme, wide whites, mag wheels, and slant six power and created a fine-looking ride.  Not all "fat fendered" cars...  Not all "fat fendered" cars are coupes and roadsters. Tom and Cynthia Nunez cruised over from Tampa, FL, in this nice '35 Ford two-door sedan. Wide whites, black paint, and red leather interior are highlights of this fine ride.  Gary "Chop It" backs his chopped,...  Gary "Chop It" backs his chopped, channeled, full fendered pickup truck into a parking space. A well-known builder of '50s-60s-style rods and customs, "Chop It" calls New Smyrna Beach, FL, home.  Julio and Delores Acevedo...  Julio and Delores Acevedo own this neat Ford Model A sedan highboy. The light blue body with the "Ford Blue" frame, suspension, and wheels gives the car a lot of personality. The Ford blue paint and the Ford engine make us believe the Acevedos are Ford fans.  Mark Turner had a different...  Mark Turner had a different idea for a Model A roadster. This 1929 racing version features a racing-style body and seat area, rear-mounted gas tank, and monocle windshield. Headlights, taillights, horn, etc., allow street driving. Mark came up the coast from Melbourne, FL.  Bitchin' Products, Total Performance,...  Bitchin' Products, Total Performance, Rod Doors, Coker Tire, and others donated parts and the host club, the Daytona Beach Street Rods, donated the labor to build a 1936 Ford "rat rod" to give away to some lucky participant. Event Chairman Rick Finzer (right) presents the title and keys to the winners, Margaret and Matt Mattingly of Nicholson, GA.
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