The season began on April 12th with the Southwest Nationals in Oklahoma City. This new early season date proved to be very popular as the street rods in attendance jumped by 300 cars over last year's total (to a new record of 1,949). Rain on Friday and Saturday morning gave way to blue skies on Saturday afternoon.
With work being completed on our 2002 Coast-to-Coast Convertible at California Street Rods, we had a worthy stand-in at the Street Rodder booth. Sherry and Mike Goldman brought their beautiful blue '39 Ford Coast-to-Coast convertible to Oklahoma City.
The Ridler contender was built at their Meridian, Mississippi, shop. Our thanks go to Sherry and Mike for filling in at the Southwest Nationals! Complete coverage of the NSRA Southwest Nationals can be seen in the September issue of Street Rodder magazine, which goes on sale July 30.
Work was completed on our own Coast-to-Coast 1939 Ford in time for the second event of the summer-long NSRA season. The pros at California Street Rods in Huntington Beach put the finishing touches on our 2002 Road Tour ride and it was taken on its maiden voyage north of Los Angeles to the Western Nationals in Bakersfield, California.
The car performed flawlessly on its first outing and everyone at the Kern County Fairgrounds was anxious to get a look at this year's Tour car and to sign up to win it at the season's end.
Following the Bakersfield event, it was time to put our '39 to the true test: a 2,400-mile road trip across I-40 to Knoxville, Tennessee, the site of the NSRA Nationals South. It was a three-day thrash across the country in a rod with only 300 miles on the odometer!
As with all of a the Road Tours, the trip had some exciting moments and we were able to take in a few sights on our eastbound boogie. Quick stops at the Petrified Forest and the Cadillac Ranch gave us some great photo opportunities, while a tense moment in Arkansas provided all the excitement we needed for that leg of the journey!
We made it to Knoxville and enjoyed the sights and sounds of NSRA's Nationals South all weekend. Then, we were off to Ohio for a two-week layover before the Mid-America Nationals in Springfield, which is followed by the huge Nationals East.
Complete coverage of the Western Nationals and the Nationals South (as well as our Road Tour adventures) will appear in the October issue of Street Rodder Magazine, which goes on sale August 27.
Be sure to log back on here at the Road Tour section of Street Rodder Magazine's website, www.streetrodderweb.com. This will be the place to keep updated on our 2002 Road Tour adventures all summer long. See you on the road Tour!
With work being completed...
With work being completed on our own Road Tour Coast-to-Coast convertible, Sherry and Mike Goldman brought their blue roadster to Oklahoma City from their shop in Meridian, Mississippi. It was one of the eight finalists for this year's Ridler Award at the 50th Detroit AutoRama.
A little rain didn't dampen...
A little rain didn't dampen the spirits of the street rodders at the Southwest Nationals. Skies cleared on Saturday afternoon and Sunday was beautiful.
When we arrived at California...
When we arrived at California Street Rods on the Monday prior to the West Coast Nationals, the crew was hard at work finishing the 2002 Road Tour car. Three days later we were on our way to Bakersfield, and it didn't skip a beat.
Cruising the Fairgrounds in...
Cruising the Fairgrounds in the evening is a Bakersfield tradition. This bad blown coupe went through a lot of fuel over the weekend.
With Bakersfield in the rearview...
With Bakersfield in the rearview mirror, we were "east bound and down" heading towards Knoxville and the Nationals South. Vernon Walker traveled along with us for a while in his blue '39 Chevy.
We stopped for a quick sightseeing...
We stopped for a quick sightseeing tour through the Petrified Forest National Park, just south of I-40 in western Arizona.
On the outskirts of Amarillo,...
On the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas, sits the eighth wonder of the automotive world: the Cadillac Ranch. Nine vintage Caddies are buried up to their windshields with no explanation in sight!
We made it to Knoxville just...
We made it to Knoxville just in time for the annual Lokar open house. Skip and Debbie Walls (and their friendly staff) always invite the street rodders to stop by. Usually about 800 do just that!
Friday morning at the gates...
Friday morning at the gates to the NSRA Nationals South, about 500 early risers were waiting in line. By the end of registration almost 3,500 street rods had signed in.
Chilhowee Park is a great...
Chilhowee Park is a great place for a rod run. There is plenty of room and the tree-lined grounds are beautiful.
At Sunday's awards ceremonies,...
At Sunday's awards ceremonies, the stage was packed with the cream of the crop from a great weekend in Knoxville. Our next adventures take us to Springfield, Missouri, and York, Pennsylvania. Please check back for more.