The wild, wheelstanding action...
The wild, wheelstanding action continued well into the night as the rain-modified race schedule had the finals running near midnight on Saturday.
Our hot rod heritage is a rich one, and after many years of attending rod runs that frankly suffer from a certain sameness, we look forward to the annual trek to the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Holley is the major event sponsor, which seems only natural since Beech Bend Raceway is literally in their backyard.
The event is a magical one, with all the right components to put it on the top of many hot rodders’ must-attend list. First, the location is simply amazing, with a dragstrip that was established in 1951. The fact that it is located in the midst of an amusement park that was established in 1898 adds to the heritage and charm of the event. Beech Bend Park includes ample room for campers, plenty of shade trees and beautiful grounds. This means there is something for everyone from the kiddies to the hard-core hot rodders attending the event.
Now there are burnouts, and...
Now there are burnouts, and then there are burnouts! The “Hairy Hauler” sure put on a great show. The Willys gasser brings the crowd to its feet every time.
A big show ’n’ shine surrounds the dragstrip while the vendors’ midway is formed inside the oval racetrack directly behind the dragstrip. The event consists of the Hot Heads drag racing, a Cacklefest, and the SoffSeal Show ‘N Shine along with a free Lifetime Achievement Honoree Reception, sponsored by the Justice Brothers and Dynamat. This year the honorees were the entire Cluster Busters Car Club along with Dave Boertman, Jack Doyle, Jim Oddy, Bill Pryor, Jim Naramore, and Tom Raley. The 2011 Grand Marshall was famed drag racer Bruce Larson.
The swap meet is filled with real hot rod and race car parts, and the event is non-stop action and fun. As you might expect, traditional hot rods, gassers, and muscle cars dominate the show and shine area, while vintage drag cars fill the staging lanes at the fabled Beech Bend track.
There was never anything quite...
There was never anything quite like Wild Willy Borsch in the ’60s, and the same can be said today. The Borsch-Marcellus & Boyd Fuel Altered was on hand but engine failure made for a short weekend.
Even more race cars are on static display and this is an event where you can actually talk with living legends of drag racing from the ’50s-70s. Folks like Bruce Larson, Don Garlits, Bobby Langley, and more were on hand this year. Cars from the golden age of drag racing seem to be everywhere, with the likes of Jungle Jim’s funny cars and Don Nicholson’s first AFX car on display, along with less-famous vintage drag cars from across the country. For the participant, the racing camaraderie is second to none, and for the spectators sitting under the covered grandstands in genuine ’50s theater seats is simply the perfect way to view great nostalgia drag racing.
The Show ‘N Shine surrounds the racetrack and while it is a big show you can still cruise around the track and into the pit area. Shade trees abound so hanging out with your hot rod is comfortable, when you’re not at the swap meet or watching the racing action.
Long before Street Rodders...
Long before Street Rodders became fond of the ’33 Willys styling, drag racers were using them due to their light weight. The Huffman Trucking Willys does some serious hauling.
This year NHRA debuted a new schedule with the event beginning on Thursday and ending with the finals on Saturday night. Things were going just great on Thursday, with picture-perfect weather all day. Friday the racing was interrupted by a shower or two, but the track quickly dried and the vendors uncovered their wares as the event continued. The street rods were pouring into the park and we had all the makings of another great Hot Rod Reunion. But Mother Nature had other plans, as by Friday evening the rain was approaching. When a tornado warning was issued for the immediate area everyone headed for cover. Unfortunately the rain would not abate until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
That moved the Cacklefest from Saturday night to Saturday afternoon as workers dried the track. At 4:30 p.m. the track was lined with top fuel dragsters, fuel coupes, funny cars, and supercharged gassers. Due to the weather conditions it was a static Cacklefest with no push-starts, but still the roar of race engines and the stinging fumes of Nitromethane filled the air in yet another incredible display of vintage horsepower.
This gold Anglia could be...
This gold Anglia could be a true “show ’n’ go” car, with a highly detailed chassis that is best viewed during a wild wheelstand.
The drag racing began by 5:15 p.m. and would continue until midnight to get all the class eliminations run. The finals were wrapped by midnight, a real tribute to the work of the NHRA crew in race control.
And so another reunion was in the books, NHRA, Holley, Hot Heads, and SoffSeal did an amazing job getting the program completed. Of course it would have been better had the weather cooperated, but we’ll be back next year for the 2012 version of the Hot Rod Reunion. Next year will be the 10th anniversary and you can bet it will be the best one yet—and that’s really saying something. Be there!
While the Willys might have...
While the Willys might have been the preferred coupe, tracks all across the country were populated with coupes like this ’37 Chevrolet. Because of their parallel leaf spring, solid axle, and front suspensions early Chevys were a natural for drag racing.
Not all of the Deuce three-window...
Not all of the Deuce three-window coupes were relegated to the show ’n’ shine area, some were out on the track carrying the front wheels off the start.
That’s 100 percent pure, original,...
That’s 100 percent pure, original, Austin bare sheetmetal you are seeing. This may be one of the best Austin bodies left on the planet, and like any good gasser it launches hard.
When Mike Millsap isn’t behind...
When Mike Millsap isn’t behind the counter or in the shop building street rods at Sachse Rod Shop, you can find him piloting his Junior Fuel dragster. The rail runs in the mid-7s.
Don Garlits slides into his...
Don Garlits slides into his Swamp Rat for a little Cacklefest action. Anyone who has ever gotten a good snoot full of spent nitro will understand the look on Garlits’ face, a lesser man would wear a mask.
The afternoon sun lights up...
The afternoon sun lights up the gold metalflake on the K.S. Pittman Willys coupe. The late K.S. Pittman campaigned several Willys gassers through the glory years of drag racing.
While the term “gasser” often...
While the term “gasser” often conjures up visions of Anglias, Willys, and Austins, a large majority of D/G cars were often Tri-Five Chevrolets. One walk through the pit confirms that theory.
This C/Gas ’55 Chevrolet is...
This C/Gas ’55 Chevrolet is a barn find gasser that last raced in 1965. Greg Porter gave the car a sympathetic restoration and now runs 12s in the quarter-mile with this authentic gasser. The yellow Plexiglas windows and gold metalflake seats are 46 years old.
The original funny car wars...
The original funny car wars are the stuff of legend, and few attained a more legendary name than the late-Jungle Jim Liberman. A showman who backed it up with performance, the Jungle Jim cars are still crowd favorites.
The Helger Brothers Speed...
The Helger Brothers Speed Shop in Little Compton, RI, fields a great vintage top fuel car. There is nothing quite like the sights, sounds, and smells of top fuel competition.
This Model A truck was part...
This Model A truck was part of a race team support group, and you have to love the door art on this very cool pickup.
Traditional-style hot rods...
Traditional-style hot rods are predominate at the Hot Rod Reunion, J.R. Drake’s chopped-and-channeled sedan has that dragstrip refugee look, right down to real mag wheels.
Traditional hot rods and nostalgia...
Traditional hot rods and nostalgia drag racing make the Hot Rod Reunion a trip back in time. A scalloped Deuce roadster and a deeply channeled Model A sedan set the mood perfectly.
Jack Medlock motored in from...
Jack Medlock motored in from Richmond, KY, in his traditional Model A sedan. We really like the look of the unchopped top along with the perfect stance.
The SoffSeal Show ’n Shine...
The SoffSeal Show ’n Shine was brought to an end on Friday afternoon by a band of strong storms followed by steady rain. Street rods, muscle cars, and vintage drag cars sure look good together.
Real magnesium wheels, pie-crust...
Real magnesium wheels, pie-crust slicks, and speed holes everywhere add up to one very cool ’34 Ford truck. But our favorite part of C. Crowley’s hauler was the holey headliner.
Andy Pack’s well-ventilated...
Andy Pack’s well-ventilated Deuce coupe sits next to a covered roadster as the rains moved in. Early style tires, drum brakes, and red oxide primer define the coupe.