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10th Annual Hot Rod Reunion Bowling Green - NHRA Kentucky Was A 10The tenth ever Hot Rod Reunion was a blast from the past From the December, 2012 issue of Street Rodder By David Trent
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A pair of street-going Willys coupes are at home entering the famed Beech Bend dragstrip during the awards ceremony. Tom Venezia owns the tangerine coupe, while Joe Chapman pilots the flamed coupe. You’ll see a lot of old race... You’ll see a lot of old race cars and street rods pulled out of garages for this event. One of the racers brought along this vintage T coupe, complete with six-twos atop a big Hemi. Time travel. On a scientific level we haven’t managed to accomplish the feat, but leave it to hot rodders to figure out how to do it with virtually no high-tech equipment. It’s as simple as getting in your street rod, vintage drag car, or custom and high tailing it to the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion. Right now there are two of these events a year, one in Bakersfield, California, and the other in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Both events are permanently placed on many hot rodders’ “must attend” list, and for good reason. Street rodding and drag racing began to go their own ways in the late ’60s and ’70s. Prior to that amicable split hot rodding was directly connected to drag racing. It didn’t matter if you had a street car, a drag car, or the more common double-duty car, if you liked hot rods, you liked drag racing. It was that simple. This ’57 Ford racer was on... This ’57 Ford racer was on display in the infield of the oval track. Powered by a Boss 429 this would have been a terror on the street and strip in the early ’70s. Like many old friends do, drag racing and street rodding continued to drift apart over the next 20 years. Sometime in the ’80s nostalgia drag racing began to take hold and street rodders took note. Some street rods were even making the occasional quarter-mile pass and the stands were beginning to fill whenever the vintage drag cars came to the line. Goodguys Rod & Custom events were instrumental in getting this movement in motion, but it really didn’t hit its peak until the National Hot Rod Association had their first Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. The response was amazing and we must believe even NHRA was pleasantly surprised. The support for vintage ’50s-70s drag racing and great hot rods was a perfect match, and much like those old friends who had drifted apart, it took a great reunion to re-establish old ties again. The Hot Rod Reunion quickly became an annual event. Butch Sprague’s ’49 Ford sedan... Butch Sprague’s ’49 Ford sedan carries one of the best flame jobs we’ve seen in a while. Shaved door handles and bull-nosed hood complete this mild custom. While it seems like just yesterday that we were at the first Bakersfield event, it was actually 21 years ago. It’s equally difficult to believe that we were walking the pits, sitting in the great vintage spectator seats, and checking 1,500 hot rods at Bowling Green for the tenth time. Yes, 10 great reunions and we’d put this one high on the list of the best of 10. From the swap meet to the great action on the dragstrip, it was non-stop fun. This year the weather was much more cooperative than last year, albeit a bit on the hot side. The swap meet held the usual array of real hot rod parts, the pits were filled with everything from vintage front engine rails to Gassers, Funny Cars, and FX cars. In short it was just what we expected, the perfect trip back in time to the golden age of drag racing and hot rodding. This year the Grand Marshall was longtime Top Fuel and Funny Car driver Tom Hoover, while the 2012 Justice Brothers Reunion Spotlight shined on the Middletown, Ohio, Pacemakers Car Club. Also at the banquet were the 2012 Honorees, Jack Ditmars, Jack Moss, Bennie Osborn, Jere Stahl, and Bill Stebbins. The nighttime cackle fest was the crowning moment in a great weekend, with the air filled with equal parts nitromethane and noise. John McKelvey drives this... John McKelvey drives this very cool and equally rare ’40 Mercury four-door convertible. The ragtop carries all the proper vintage custom touches. We’ll be back for the 11th Annual AAA, Holley NHRA Reunion again next year, and here’s some exciting news: NHRA has announced a first-ever Hot Rod Reunion to be held in New Hampshire in September 2013. So if you’re into time travel we’d suggest you mark your calendar for the Hot Rod Reunion next year; it’s time well spent.  The Tavoletti & Gearhart Willys...  The Tavoletti & Gearhart Willys launches hard to the delight of the crowd. This coupe is just one of the many fine Gassers running under the Geezer Gassers banner.  The great thing about Beech...  The great thing about Beech Bend Raceway is you are very close to the action. Speaking of action, nothing brings the fans to their feet quite like the AA/FA Winged Express.  Smoke billows from the radiused...  Smoke billows from the radiused wheelwells on this good-looking ’55 Chevy Gasser. Dragstrips all across the country were swarming with cars similar to this one in the ’60s.  We’ll never tire of seeing...  We’ll never tire of seeing a pair of great Gassers lighting ’em up before some heads-up racing.  Wheelie bars? “I don’t need...  Wheelie bars? “I don’t need no stinkin’ wheelie bars” The crowd went wild after this pass. When the Model A came down, the passenger side door flew open. He never lifted, the door slammed shut, and he completed the run.  Finding a full-fendered Model...  Finding a full-fendered Model A coupe that runs this hard is no easy chore. This little coupe won a couple rounds before being eliminated.  While most Gassers were based...  While most Gassers were based on the Willys coupe, this ’40 Ford takes on an evil look at night when the red Plexiglas headlight covers glow red.  When it comes to shear showmanship...  When it comes to shear showmanship and speed few things can compete with the Miller Welds & Embry-Riddle University–sponsored jet car action. Elaine Larsen pilots the Miller jet car while Marisha Falk is the Embry-Riddle driver.  And then there was the cackle...  And then there was the cackle fest. The nighttime air filled with fire, fumes, and noise as dozens of vintage fuel dragsters fired up their engines in a display of raw horsepower. Painless Performance Products presents
Street Rodder Top 100
For the Top 100 program, STREET RODDER attends 10 selected car shows each year and picks 10 vehicles at each to make up the Top 100. For more on where those shows are and how they’re voted on, check www.streetrodder.com.
Painless Tech Tip
If you are mounting a fuel pump on the frame, be sure to mount it as close to the fuel tank as possible and as low as possible as these pumps are designed to push fuel rather than pull fuel. Direct drive starters have been in use since they were first invented. With the invention of the gear reduction–style starter, they draw less current to operate and provide better clearance for engine to frame and exhaust.  Dave Pennington, Germantown,...  Dave Pennington, Germantown, OH / 1933 Ford Tudor All we can say is “not bad for a guy’s first paintjob”. Dave Pennington did most the work on this sedan, including the blue paint. Willis Pinstriping handled the flames and lines on the car while Grey’s Auto Upholstery did the brilliant red leather interior. The top chop was compliments of Times Welding. A detailed small-block Chevy spins the polished Americans.  Jack Ostrander, Waterford,...  Jack Ostrander, Waterford, MI / 1955 Chevrolet Nomad The biggest surprise on this pristine Nomad lies under the hood. When you were the pilot of a Top Fuel dragster for over 30 years you become fond of horsepower. Somehow he managed to shoehorn an 8-71 blower and twin Holley carbs under the hood. A B-Cool radiator and fan maintain the proper temperatures and all four wheelwells are filled with Billet Specialties wheels.  Rick Duffin, Mansfield, TX...  Rick Duffin, Mansfield, TX / 1961 Impala SS Rick Duffin’s car was ordered new from the factory with the SS package and the coveted 409 and four-speed. Like so many factory hot rods the 409 had a relatively short life. When Duffin purchased the car the ’09 was long gone so a Ramjet 502 and 700-R4 found its way under the hood. Tubular control arms and a Currie 9-inch complete the performance upgrades.  Jean and Kert Lancaster, Warner...  Jean and Kert Lancaster, Warner Robins, GA / 1930 Model A coupe It was the Hugger Orange paint that caught our eye, or was it the Moon tank, or possibly the Isky-cammed, dual-quad fed 348 motor? Whatever it was, the more we looked the more we liked about this homebuilt coupe. A 2-inch chop with a van roof insert completes the perfect profile, and yes, it’s a four-speed car.  James Reading, Shepherdsville,...  James Reading, Shepherdsville, KY / 1951 Chevrolet Fleetline Building a timeless custom often takes some restraint. The 3-inch chop, frenched headlights, and tasteful root beer scallops combine with a simple grille to make this custom radical in a subtle way. Jeremy Brown whacked the top while the owner performed a lot of the bodywork. Larry Sneed stitched up the interior behind a ’59 Chevrolet dashboard.  Jason Graham, Portland, TN...  Jason Graham, Portland, TN / 1930 Model A coupe This is the latest in a string of fine hot rods to roll out of Jason Graham’s shop. Employing the radically chopped and channeled approach, the coupe is powered by a ’50 Merc Flathead hooked to a T-5 tranny. Gray artillery wheels complement the subdued blue hue, while the black Harrtz cloth roof insert matched the matte finished chassis.  Bill Kuntz, Salem, IN / 1933...  Bill Kuntz, Salem, IN / 1933 Ford three-window coupe Not all Top 100 street rods are fresh builds. This owner-built coupe has racked up over 54,000 miles riding on a set of Lobeck rails. PPG single-stage black makes touchup easy on the Redneck body. Inside bright red upholstery includes a very unique “his and hers’” seat track fabricated by Bill so his wife could share driving duties.  Carolyn Smith, Mansfield,...  Carolyn Smith, Mansfield, TX / 1947 Ford woodie It is truly hard to improve on the intrinsic good looks of a stock Ford woodie, and so most people simply don’t make many changes. Carolyn Smith loved the original look too, but underneath a small-block Chevy resides in front of a smoothed firewall. Vintage Air keeps it cool and a Mustang II front suspension provides the proper stance.  Oscar and Jane Gamble, Paducah,...  Oscar and Jane Gamble, Paducah, KY / 1932 Ford roadster This roadster redefines the terms detail and packaging. At first glance you see a fine ’32 but upon closer inspection you’ll find a proper ’61 Corvette engine with a pair of Carter WCFB on top hooked to a five-speed and a Winters quick-change rear. Brad Starks handled the paint, but the owner spent untold hours detailing every fastener, bracket, and panel on the car. If you see this car somewhere take a closer look; it’s amazing.  Tom Venezia, Dayton, MD /...  Tom Venezia, Dayton, MD / 1941 Willys coupe Straight-axle cars are all the rage, and no car looks better with a nose-high stance than the iconic Willys coupe. Covered in PPG Candy Orange this steel-bodied coupe relies on a Mooneyham 6-71 blown and Hilborn-injected 392 Chrysler Hemi for power. Attention to detail on the car is nothing short of amazing and the street-going coupe runs 12s without pushing it too hard. Big Al has owned his ’41 Willys... Big Al has owned his ’41 Willys since 1965. It was completely transformed from street car to Gasser 20 years ago, modeled after “Big John” Mazmanian’s ’41 coupe. A 6-71 supercharger and Hilborn injection feed the 392 Hemi. Geezer Gassers A group of nostalgia drag racers called the Geezer Gassers has been showing up in force at strips from Bakersfield to Beech Bend—wherever Gassers still run. Their purpose? To bring back the cars of the Gas class that ran during the Gasser Wars. The Geezer Gassers was formed at an Indianapolis Goodguys event, where Chuck Lipka’s ’40 Willys was included in a field of four to run Gassers. As they grew in popularity, they were approached by other racers with like-appearing and performing cars. They were tired of the bracket racing, and wanted to run in a heads-up format. To quote Lipka, “Whoever heard of losing at a drag race because you went too fast?” The Geezer Gassers are from the generation of the early ’60s, captivated by the Gasser Wars. They grew up watching heroes like Stone, Woods, and Cook; K.S Pittman; “Big John” Mazmanian; and “Ohio George” Montgomery create the one-upmanship of the era’s drag race scene. For the Geezer Gassers and other Gasser racers, as well as the fans in the stands, it’s all about living in that past. The Nitro cars and other classes continue to have their followers, but these days you’re more likely to hear, “When do the Gassers run?”  Randy Tavoletti with Tavoletti...  Randy Tavoletti with Tavoletti Gearheart Racing and “Big Al” Chernik of Acme Racing were the first two members brought on after the original Geezers had banded together. Tavoletti found his ’41 Willys in a garage in Gary, IN. It was an original early ’60 race car called “Whine-O”.  Chuck Lipka, a founding member...  Chuck Lipka, a founding member of the Geezer Gassers, has two versions of his “Little Booger” Willys. One is purpose built for the track the other is an all-steel original version. He has been involved in this for the past 13 years.
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