HOLLEY NATIONAL HOT ROD REUNION - Vintage Iron On Parade
The
comparisons were inevitable. After four years at Bowling
Green, Kentucky’s Beech Bend
Raceway, the switch to National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio,
left many lamenting the loss of the venue where the popular NHRA Hot Rod
Reunion made its first East Coast appearance in 2003. Beech Bend, with its unique covered grandstands and
park-like expanse of rolling, tree-lined grounds seemed the perfect compliment
to a show which featured the best in nostalgia drag racing and vintage hot
rods.
By the time the winner’s photos were snapped late Sunday afternoon, however, memories of the weekend near Columbus, Ohio, were more than likely replacing those of the first four years in the minds of many. The logistical and political wrangling that forced officials of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, promoters of the event, to find a new home mattered little to the fans who came to see the cars, and stars, of drag racing’s venerated early years.
Once the sensory assault began it was just like old times. For three days a non-stop parade of Gassers, Super Stockers, Funny Cars, Top Fuelers, and everything in between rolled two by two to the starting line, putting on an awesome display of smoke, fire, and thunder, much to the delight of the gathered faithful.
By the time the winner’s photos were snapped late Sunday afternoon, however, memories of the weekend near Columbus, Ohio, were more than likely replacing those of the first four years in the minds of many. The logistical and political wrangling that forced officials of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, promoters of the event, to find a new home mattered little to the fans who came to see the cars, and stars, of drag racing’s venerated early years.
In addition to the racing, which featured hundreds of beautiful vintage machines, there were acres and acres of pre-1972 hot rods, customs, muscle cars, restored classics, and rat rods to admire, and drool over. From mild to wild, the show and shine area had it all. For those building their dream rides, or looking to upgrade an existing gem, hours could be spent rummaging through the swap meet stalls in search of that special old piece or part. Never was the expression “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” more appropriate.
For
those looking for something new rather than used, there were rows and rows of
manufacturer and supplier displays set up in the manufacturer’s midway.
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Topping it off was the appearance of American Graffiti actor Paul Le Mat, as well as two replica cars from the film: a yellow 1932 Ford Coupe that Le Mat drove and the black ’55 Chevrolet 150 sedan driven by Harrison Ford.
On Friday evening a reception was held to honor John Abbott, Don Cain, Ted Harbit, Fred Hurst, and the team of Gary Rupp and Pat Dakin. The Justice Bros. Reunion Spotlight award was presented to Frank Hawley, and reunion Grand Marshall Jeg Coughlin Sr. was honored as well.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening came when Tony Thacker, executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, and Steve Gibbs, former NHRA vice president and current board member of the Parks Museum, presented Eileen Daniels and her husband Bob, who was not able to attend the event, with a Lifetime Achievement "Wally" Award.
The
first Cacklefest in 2000 (at the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Calif.)
featured only nine dragsters, but as the event's popularity rose with
subsequent Reunions, so did the number of classic cars. At last year's
California Reunion, more than 40 vehicles participated, and 25 dragsters
cackled at the 2006 Holley National Hot Rod Reunion. "From the very
first Cacklefest, I knew we touched upon something that took many of us back to
a hallowed era. It was pure magic," said Gibbs.
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Not to be outdone by their Top Fuel cronies, owners of four historic Funny Cars also had their prizes on display. These included Tom "Mongoose" McEwen's English Leather Corvette, winner of 1978 U.S. Nationals and now owned and restored by Don Trasin and driven by Pat Foster; Roland Leong's "Hawaiian" Dodge Charger, owned and restored by Ted Guth and driven by Larry Reyes; Jim Liberman's "Jungle Jim" 1972 mini Camaro, owned and driven by Henry Gutierrez; and the "Big Mike" Burkhart Camaro, restored and driven by Stephen Timoszyk. Also on display was the two-time NHRA Funny Car Champion Chi-Town Hustler that was driven by Frank Hawley.
With
that many cars vying for spots in Sunday’s elimination rounds, incidents were
inevitable. Early on Friday Sylvia Crouse took a jarring hit as her “Nonna’s
Toy” ’62 Chevrolet got lose and turned into the concrete wall during the first
qualifying session for the Quick 64 cars. Crouse received slight injuries, but
her classic Chevy didn’t fare as well. On Saturday Larry Shawberry brought the
crowd to its feet when his Dodge Charger Funny car got out of shape, made a
sharp right turn, went up on two wheels, crossed from the left lane to the
right, and settled back down on all four. It was a scary ride, but no harm was
done.
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When the smoke cleared on Sunday afternoon, it was Dennis LaCharite of Torrance, Calif., driving his '69 Pontiac GTO to victory over the ’70 Barracuda of Mike Savage of Tucson, Ariz., 6.386, 230.72 to 6.345, 227.96 in the Funny Car final.
In Nostalgia Top Fuel, Troy Green was the big winner. It was the fourth consecutive year that the car has won the reunion final, but it was Green's first as driver. Green, of Purcell, Oklahoma, roared down the track in 6.408 seconds at a speed of 190.65 mph to take out Salem, Wisconsin’s Kevin Lennon, who went through with a mark of 7.285. 188.975.
So while memories of reunions past may linger for a while, there wasn’t much doubt that the groundwork was laid in Ohio for bigger, better, and more successful shows in years to come.
“Our move to National Trail Raceway makes it possible for even more spectators, racers, street rodders and their families to join us,” said Tony Thacker, executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. “We were worried about the move from Kentucky at first, but the track here is great – it’s historic. We had over five hundred race cars, a thousand show cars, and a huge crowd all weekend long, so we know we’re really onto something here in Ohio.”
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