Turkey Run painting by artist Wayne Mauro
Henry only produced twenty-nine...
Henry only produced twenty-nine hundred 1942 Ford Convertibles and Ron and Sylvia Brookshire drove this one down from Mt. Airy, NC. Flawless red paint, chopped top, tan leather, and a late model Ford small block highlight this fabulous ride.
There was no sign of an economic downturn at the 36th Annual Turkey Run. Record crowds, record number of cars, record swap meet sales, record car corral sales, and a very successful auction all added up to a great weekend of motorhead mayhem.
A few years back the host club, the Daytona Beach Street Rods, elected to remove the word "Rod" from the Turkey Rod Run slogan. The reason was custom cars, classic cars, trucks, etc...were also a big part of the biggest car show in the Southeast. This year the cutoff year was removed and any classic, custom, street rod, antique or specialty car or truck was welcome. This made a really big event even bigger and better.
Held in the massive infield of the Daytona International Speedway, in addition to the biggest car show in the Southeast, the Turkey Run features the biggest swap meet and vendor area in the Southeast. If you could not find it here you probably didn't need it. Parts movers are available to carry your purchases to your vehicle and they were very busy shuttling parts all four days.
Randy and Chris Nelson raced...
Randy and Chris Nelson raced in from Umatilla, Fl in their oval track inspired Track T. Multiple side draft Weber carbs hang off the Slant Six Mopar powerplant, while a wild exhaust system gets rid of spent gases.
Dan Kruse Classics in conjunction with Vicari Motorsports produced a classic car auction that ran from mid morning to late afternoon Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A host of rods, customs, and classics rolled across the auction block all day long. The call of the auctioneer, along with the calls of the bidders just added to the atmosphere.
Throw in 1,500 car corral spots, a craft sales area, and a giant food court and you had a full four-day weekend of fun.
If spending the day perusing the swap meet, checking out the car corral or eyeing the nearly 5,000 show entrants wasn't enough, nighttime activities were everywhere. The sanctioned activities were held each evening just outside of turn four of the speedway. Music, food, slow drags, tricycle races, a car teeter-totter, and more made up those activities.
We caught Bob Fisher parking...
We caught Bob Fisher parking his flamed '32 three window to get ready for a big day of food, fun, and cars. Bob tooled over from Port Orange, FL.
Other evening activities are located throughout the area, including the highly popular Bel Air Plaza "Outlaw" Cruise. So named because it is not planned, it is not sanctioned, and it is not advertised, yet every year hundreds of rods and customs invade the Bel Air Plaza Shopping Center parking lot for the nightly cruise.
Throw in the tourist attractions and the miles of drivable, wide, flat, sandy, beaches, and there was something for everyone. This explains why the four-day event is beginning to become a week long or even longer for many participants.
As we walked the show grounds we noticed an increase in the number of fat fendered rods, especially '39 and '40 Fords, plus a good number of drop tops from the same years. Rubber running boards, cowl lights, door handles, and bumpers appear to be continuing to make a comeback, as are full fendered, unmolested Fords, Chevys, and few Mopars of all years.
There are cruisers and then...
There are cruisers and then there are cruisers. Tracy and Kim Wood cruise their hometown of Jacksonville, FL, and all around the Southeast in their 1960 Olds Dynamic 88. If you are curious about the fender skirts - they are one piece from the side trim down and from the rear to the door, and they are easily removable.
As in the past, all profits generated from swap meet spaces, car corral spaces and spectator ticket sales are handled by the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District and are used for parks and recreation in the Daytona Beach area. The profits from the car show entry fees and the raffle car are handled by the Daytona Beach Street Rods and are donated to various area charities with an emphasis on the Volusia County Special Olympics.
If you are looking for a really exciting Thanksgiving weekend check out the 37th Annual Turkey Run. For information contact www.turkeyrun.com
How about a recreation of...
How about a recreation of a Moxie soft drink parade car? A 1923 Buick roadster works as the foundation/drivetrain. Moxie was a soft drink to cure locomotor ataxia, imbecility, loss of manhood, and more...it outsold Coca-Cola - that's what the sign said!
Three deuces on a Blown small-block...
Three deuces on a Blown small-block Chevy, powered Bruce and Linda Becato up the Florida coast from Key West in their beautiful T-Bucket.
Bumpers, boards, cowl lights,...
Bumpers, boards, cowl lights, and more all combine to make Don and JoAnne Tillery's metallic silver, A sedan look good in the Florida sun.
It was top down weather on...
It was top down weather on Thanksgiving weekend in Daytona and this smooth, orange, '41 Ford convertible was taking full advantage. No info was displayed, but the car was running Ohio tags.
Early Mopar sedans make great...
Early Mopar sedans make great rods, and this maroon and silver rodded '34 Plymouth four door is a fine example.
This '55 Chevy Bel Air hardtop...
This '55 Chevy Bel Air hardtop with Purple and lavender paint, lavender and white rolls and pleats, wide whites, and five spokes took everyone back to the '60s.
These young men are checking...
These young men are checking everything out from the bed of a cruising pickup truck. Huge crowds of spectators and a record number of cars made cruising nearly impossible later in the day.
On Friday and Saturday afternoon...
On Friday and Saturday afternoon the host club, Daytona Beach Street Rods, hands out door prizes to hundreds of lucky entrants. They also raffle off an engine and a car. This year's raffle car was a 1965 Chevy II Nova SS won by Mary Anne Kennedy of Ormond Beach, FL.
You just can't top a good-looking...
You just can't top a good-looking woody. Spring Hill's Jack and Geri Klingel added spots, mags, visor, and a luggage rack with a surfboard, to a really straight '53 Chevy wagon and created this fun machine.