Cars and Adventures

Author: Joe

  • Vintage Motocross at Wildcat Creek MX

    I attended my first vintage motocross race at Wildcat Creek MX this August. The race is part of a vintage series called Midwest Vintage Motocross. You can read more about them on their official website here. You can check out the track’s website by following this link. Wildcat Creek MX is just west of Lafayette, Indiana. It is a 2-day event featuring both modern and vintage dirt bikes. It appeared the majority of the vintage bikes were from the ’80s, although there were a few from the ’70s as well. We arrived during practice in the morning, right before the first race of the day was to begin.
    A vintage Honda during one of the races.
    Going through the pits we pasted rows of trucks and trailers, with classic bikes from all over the world, such has Husqvarnas, Maicos, Yahamas, Suzukis, Hondas, Kawasakis, a Penton and a CZ. The Wildcat Creek MX track is built on a small hill, and at the bottom of the hill is a tree line that the course briefly disappears behind. It utilizes the natural terrain. The jumps are exclusively made up of forgiving tabletop jumps, which is good for the shorter suspension travel of the vintage bikes. There are several light evaluation changes, as well. The infield is accessible via a tunnel under one of the larger tabletop jumps which makes the track very accessible to spectators. It’s a somewhat lengthy course. We hung out just after the first turn. This gave us a great view of the start of the race, and several other parts of the track as well. Wildcat Creek MX even has an indoor pace to eat.
    The John Penton designed, KTM powered Penton.
    It was interesting to see vintage bikes on the track, along with modern ones, as multiple classes were run at the same time. In some of the races, there was more than a 30-year difference in the ages of the bikes. It seemed that almost every race we watched had a mostly full starting line. It was refreshing to hear so many 2-strokes on the track. As the motos went on a light drizzle slowly turned into a total downpour. We left around that time. I’m looking to returning to watch some more vintage motocross racing. It was cool to see so many valuable classic bikes, on the track doing what they were made to do.
    A bike from the Swedish manufacturer Husqvarna.

  • DeLorean: How One of the World’s Most Unique Sports Cars Created One of the World’s Most Unique Car Companies.

                  The DeLorean car was the brainchild of former GM Executive John Z. DeLorean. He founded the DeLorean Motor Company or DMC to produce a truly unique sports car. Equipped with a mid-engine mounted Volvo V-6, an unpainted stainless steel body and gullwing doors, the two-seater DeLorean was one of a kind. The Volvo V-6 was an interesting choice given John DeLorean’s Detroit background. It shows the emphasis placed on handling by having a lighter weight engine. The design reflected the period it was created in, the late 70s, while still having a timeless element to it. Like many cars of the era, it had sharp angles and flat surfaces. Since the company only made one model, the DMC-12 in one color, the company name brings to mind an image of an exact model.

    The DeLorean With Its Iconic Gullwing Doors Raised. Photograph by Kevin Abato

                                                                 The Original Company
                  The DeLorean went into production in 1981; however, by 1983 the company had gone out of business with slightly under 10,000 cars made. It was a difficult time for the auto industry, and the unique DeLorean didn’t take off. Cut to 1985; a science fiction-adventure-comedy called Back To The Future was released. The film series revolved around time travel. The DeLorean was a perfect fit for the 1985 time travel classic. In the film, a time machine is built out of the futuristic-looking DeLorean; although it is only used in a few key scenes, it made a lasting impression on filmgoers. The film was a hit and had two more sequels. The DeLorean had, just several years after going out of production cemented its reputation as one of movies most iconic film cars. Many fans have even built detailed replicas of the film car. Had the timing of the film and the company going out of business been different. The film’s popularity could have had a major impact on sales.

    Picture by Sicnac.

                                                                     The Company Today.
                  According to its website, the new DeLorean company is completely separate from the original. The U.S. based company sells, repairs, supplies parts, and accessories for DeLoreans. They created an electric DeLorean concept car. They even sell used DeLoreans. They have locations around the U.S. DeLorean and also sell high-performance kits. As per their website they had once sold newly assembled cars out of a combination of old and new parts. When Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky ended production, DeLorean had expressed interest in buying it, even going so far as to have concept art of what one might look like created. Recently DeLorean announced that they had planned to make new DeLoreans, with the only modification being modern engines. They even released a teaser trailer of sorts to promote it. It had a time-related theme, showing the impact that the Back To The Future trilogy had on the company. There are legal hurdles they must overcome, however. As a bona fide part of pop culture, the future looks bright for the sports car that defied convention.

    DeLorean with red pain. Picture by Greg Gjerdingen

  • The 2019 Trans Am Nationals.

                   This August I went to the 35th Annual Trans Am Nationals in Fairborn, Ohio. Although I was only able to attend on Saturday and Sunday, I was able to see a lot of stuff and got to go to the Tipp City Cruise. The Cruise is considered a highlight of the event by many. This year there were 485 cars. According to one person who was attending the record was around 600 back in 2002. Although it was a little off from the all-time high, it is still impressive considering that in 2002 the Pontiac Trans Am was still in production.
    The 1971 Pontiac Pegasus.
                   This year was unique in that the GM Heritage Center had brought several Pontiac Firebird concept cars from Detroit. This was a rare opportunity to see these cars as the Center is not open to the public, although large groups can arrange a visit. They included the Banshee, a red on red concept car with a longer, sleeker hood then production models. The Pontiac Pegasus, a V-12 Ferrari-Powered 1971 Firebird. The K Type Trans Am station wagon concept car was also in attendance. There was also an unveiling of the nearly completely restored Silverbird racecar, as well as the actual 1989 Trans Am used to pace the Indianapolis 500. There was a huge 1989 Turbo Pace Car turn out as it was the 30th anniversary for them. Several high-ranking Pontiac engineers were in attendance as well who helped shape the Trans Am in its early days of production in the ’60s and ’70s.
    The Pontiac Banshee concept car.

                   It was amazing seeing cars in person that I had only seen pictures of in books or magazines. The Pegasus was beautiful with its deep red paint. The body differed significantly from a production Firebird. The interior had been modified as well. The Banshee was also radically modified from a stock Firebird. Not only was the front of the car sleeker, but the doors had also been modified enough that that traditional full side windows had to be substituted with a much smaller one, like the kind seen on a DeLorean. There was also extensive pinstriping done as well, which makes sense as the car is from the mid-’70s. The other concept car was the Trans Am Type K. I had seen it years ago when the show was located at a nearby airport back in 2006. The Trans Am Type K is unique in that it is a station wagon prototype. It features redesigned rear seats, giving backseat occupants more room. It also has a lower rearview mirror to counter the changed rear visibility. A station wagon may seem like an odd choice for a Trans Am concept car, however, in the late ’70s, the Trans Am was a big enough seller that GM could afford to try something different. The sleek Silverbird was cool in a book and awe-inspiring in person. It was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer turned racecar driver and designer Herb Adams. It’s custom body mounted on a race car tube frame made it stand out from production models. It was very cool to see them all side-by-side.

    The Pontiac Trans Am Type K concept car.
                   
                    The Tipp City Cruise was always fun. It was nice seeing the hundreds of Firebirds and Trans Ams converge and park around the beautiful downtown area. There is a separate award ceremony for the Tipp City Cruise, as well as a DJ. On Sunday, I was able to check out more cars and go to the Mini Nationals, located in a room at the hotel. The Mini Nationals is always fun to see. It is an entire room filled with die-cast and plastic model kit Firebirds and Trans Ams representing many different scales, both unboxed and still in the original box. There were also some dioramas set up as well. Several people had brought large collections of cars to it.
    A 1969 Pontiac Trans Am. The first year for the Trans Am.
                   On Sunday a charity auction was held. Some of the items auctioned off for the charity event were a slot car set autographed by several of the Pontiac engineers in attendance. It was a great show that took a lot of effort to pull off, but the staff did an amazing job making sure everything ran smoothly. It was great catching up with old friends and meeting new people. I’m looking forward to seeing what new things are there next year.
    A large collection at the Mini Nationals.
    One of the many 1989 Turbo Trans Ams at the show.

  • An Introduction to the Barrett-Jackson Auction

                  For years the name Barrett-Jackson has been synonymous with high-end collector car auctions. Established in 1971, the Barrett-Jackson Auction is one of America’s best-known collector car auctions, attracting bidders from all over the world. The Jackson part of Barrett-Jackson is baseball great Reggie Jackson, himself a classic car lover. Often associated with rare classic muscle cars that go for upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the multi-day event has a diverse array of cars from many different manufacturers, spanning decades and even a few brand new ones, although the majority tends to be classic American cars. Several charities are represented at the auctions as well, with the money raised from cars going to them. They range from custom hot rods, ultra-original classics, resto-mods, and a few late model European cars as well. Part of the excitement of the auction is wondering what will be driven across the stage next. Bidding takes place in person, online, or over the phone. There is often a lot of excitement and energy that goes along with the bidding. Although there have been many ultra high-cost cars there is a wide range in regards to price, lower prices tend to be around the $20,000 mark. There are multiple Barrett-Jackson auctions throughout the year in the U.S. They even have their own year-round classic car showroom with cars for sale. Their website also mentions there is an automotive memorabilia auction as well. You can view their official website here: https://azure.barrett-jackson.com.
    A Ford GT at the Barrett Jackson Auction. Picture by Rbdesimone
                         The Classic Car Auction Goes Mainstream.
                   Barrett-Jackson receives live multi-day television coverage that spans a large part of the day. It also features numerous celebrities from the car world and beyond. With expert commentators, it almost feels like a sports event. In April of 2018, the auction was held in Palm Springs, Florida. Under and above car cameras help capture the action. Viewers could learn about cars by simply watching the coverage as the commentators delved into detail about them. There have been several records set at Barrett-Jackson as well. For awhile the record for the most expensive U.S. vehicle ever sold was set at the auction. The GM Futurliner, a unique RV/Bus looking vehicle that was used on promotional tours for GM. April of 2018, at the auction’s Florida location actor Burt Reynolds, auctioned off 3 of his personal Trans Ams and appeared on stage. One of which was an ultra-low mile Indianapolis 500 Pace Car complete with lights on the roof.
    A GM FuturLiner. Picture by Binelli2011
    Collector Car Auction and Beyond
                   Barrett Jackson is a big event, with a lot going on not even counting the auction. They have their own line of merchandise. The multi-day event extends far beyond the indoor auction house. There is a lot to see and do not even counting the auction itself. As their website shows they have a diverse array of vendors as well. You can learn more about them here: https://azure.barrett-jackson.com/Exhibitor/Home As more and more cars become collectible, it seems the Barett Jackson Auction will be as popular as ever
    Site of a Barrett-Jackson auction in Florida. Picture by Brett Levin Photography.

  • Guide to the NHRA’s Pro Classes.

                The NHRA or National Hot Rod Association is America’s largest drag racing sanctioning body. It was founded in 1951. Today it has several types of professional classes for cars and motorcycles. Some of which can trace their origin to the very early days of professional drag racing. Those classes have evolved and changed significantly over the years improving performance greatly.
    Top Fuel Dragsters
    The fastest class is the top fuel dragster. Also known as “rails” due to their long and narrow shape are capable of incredible speeds and acceleration. They have evolved over their 50 some year history, but one thing remains the same, going fast. They are characterized by their long narrow body and large back tires and skinny, almost bicycle like front wheels. The driver sits in front of the supercharged nitro-powered Hemi-V8. In place of a traditional steering wheel, there is an airplane yoke looking control. They have a single-speed system engagement. Depending on driver preference there may be a canopy covering the driver. It is common for dragsters to achieve speeds of over 320 mph.

    A Top Fuel Dragster. Picture by clickphoto.

                                                                  Top Fuel Funny Cars

    Top fuel funny cars, easily recognizable by their lift-up bodies, share the same engine and drive system as the dragsters, although they bear more of a resemblance to a road-going car than a dragster. Their body is designed to maximize aerodynamics. The driver sits in the middle. Like dragsters, they have massive back tires to deal with the large amount of power they have.

    A top fuel funny car. Picture by NaBUru38

    Pro Stock
    Pro Stock cars, also known as “door slammers” look more like a road-going car then funny cars. As their nickname suggests they have opening doors. They also have 5-speed manual transmissions and steering wheel that look like something similar to what is found in a road-going car. Unlike funny cars, the driver sits on the left side of the car. Until a few years ago they had large hoods scoops. They no longer have them giving them more of a production car appearance.

                                                

    A pro stock car. Note the hood scoop. Picture by GSenkow.

                                                  Pro Stock Motorcycle and Top Fuel Harley

    One of the two main motorcycle classes in the NHRA is the pro stock motorcycles. They are powered either by a straight four or a v-twin engine. The manufacturers represented are Suzuki, Harley, and EBR. They sport a massive back tire which is the size of a car tire. Unlike the car classes, there is quite a bit of variation in the looks of the bikes. The Harleys, for example, do not have any bodywork covering their engine, much like their road-going bikes. It is common for a Pro Stock Motorcycle to reach speeds of over 195 mph. One of the most noticeable features of the bikes is their long wheelie bars.
    Top Fuel Harley
    A fairly new class is Top Fuel Harley. These bikes are unique in the fact that they have a parachute to help them slow down, much like other drag cars do to help deal with the higher speeds. This one-make class is modeled after Harley Davidson “baggers”, with large front fairings and they are powered by V-Twin engines using nitro.

  • The Evolution of the Dirtbike.

                    Although its purpose and general design has remained the same for over 50 years, the dirtbike has evolved considerably. With its evolution, the sport of motocross has changed with it. The dirtbike’s improvements often occur alongside its road-going counterparts. No matter how much dirtbikes change, one thing is for sure; manufacturers will continue to improve their bikes to get that competitive edge.
    The 60’s: The Early Days.
                    In the early days of motocross, the bikes often resembled something you might find on the street. Knobby tires helped bikes get traction off-road. Fiberglass fenders appeared in the 60s, making the bikes lighter then the steel they replaced. Motocross races of the time had smaller jumps then what is seen today, and they often incorporated natural terrain into the track.
    Picture by Peprovira of a 60’s Bultaco dirtbike. Note the low-slung exhaust.
    The 70’s: Rise of the Factory Teams.
                    Motocross’ incredible popularity meant that a wide range of manufacturers were not only making dirtbikes but also fielding factory-backed pro motocross teams. Manufacturers from all over the world began making motocross bikes bringing with them innovations. Harley Davidson even got in on the act for several years. During this time, bikes saw new materials introduced to bikes such as plastic and aluminum, which meant better performance. During the 70s aluminum gas tanks appeared, as well as aluminum wheels helping the bikes to become lighter. Plastic fenders appeared as well. Factory “works” bikes appeared at professional races, with high-performance modifications not found on production bikes, showing how important the sport was for manufacturers. An example of this was Honda and their Mugen performance division.
    Picture by Jeff Sanders of a 70’s Maico.
    The 80’s: Changes for Bikes and Tracks.

    Few eras saw such radical changes in motocross bikes then the 1980s. One of the significant improvements to come to dirtbikes during this time was the suspension. Bike suspensions got longer travel. The twin rear shocks were replaced by the single mono-shock. Disc brakes appeared as well. Gas tanks became plastic around this time. By looking at motocross’ indoor cousin, Supercross, it becomes clear how much the bikes advanced during this time period. When the first Supercross race was held in the mid 70’s the track closely resembled motocross tracks of that era, consisting of a few jumps. By the 80s, the number of jumps had grown in size and amount. Liquid cooling came about as well during this era.        
                                                                                                           
                    As supercross jumps got bigger and bigger bikes evolved as well. One of the big changes came in the form of the inverted or “upside-down” front suspension. Although not universally adopted, the aluminum frame was another significant innovation that was utilized by almost all of the major manufacturers replacing steel ones. Interestingly spoke wheels have remained a constant in motocross for over 50 years, with a few deviations from it. A more recent change is the move to electronic fuel injection. As bikes continue to evolve, manufacturers are always looking for ways to gain an edge on their competitions, but one thing remains the same, great racing.
    Picture by KTM AG. A modern KTM dirtbike. Note the heavy use of plastics.

  • Star Wars Celebration Chicago

    The 2019 Star Wars Celebration
    This April, I attended my first Star Wars Celebration; it is a massive fan convention.  Every year the location changes to a different place, one year it was held out of the U.S. in the U.K. This year it was located in Chicago at the McCormick Place. It goes for multiple days and attracts people from all over the world. I went on Monday, the last day for it. There were still quite a few people there. Being my first time, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had only been to a couple of pop culture/comic book conventions in the past.

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    Boba Fett themed Toyota FJ Cruiser.
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    The large banner at the entrance to the convention.
                Coming from Northwest Indiana, I took the South Shore train line. It dropped me off right at McCormick Place. A short walk later and I was there. Outside of the main hall, there was a large banner depicting characters from each of the Star Wars movies. Once inside the main hall I saw a group of Star Wars themed cars, Including a Ford Raptor (complete with Han Solo frozen in carbonite under the bed cover) and a Volkswagen Beetle made to resemble the Droid BB-8. There was also a Hyundai Tiburon made to look like an X-Wing fighter, and a Boba Fett themed Toyota FJ Cruiser. Just past those were a life-size X-Wing and Tie Fighter. I couldn’t believe the amount of detail in them, given that they would have to be taken apart and moved in a short amount of time. The Tie Fighter even had lights inside its cockpit.

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    BB-8 themed Volkswagon Beetle.
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    The Lifesize X-Wing on display.
             Not far were several Star Wars pinball machines (all set to free play) that a company had brought. There were rows and rows of vendors, selling everything from art to collectibles. I saw quite a few vintage Star Wars toys for sale. There were several LEGO sets on display, as LEGO was celebrating their 20th year of making Star Wars LEGOs. LEGO had even created a massive Stormtrooper helmet made out of Stormtrooper LEGO mini-figures. They had been attached to the board they were on and not glued. There were also a lot of plastic model kits from Bandai for sale. They had some that were convention exclusives. Also on display was a large diorama depicting the planet Scarif from the Star Wars movie Rouge One.
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    The Tie Fighter viewed from the back.
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    Hyundai Tiburon made to look like an X-Wing.
                There was a chance to try out the upcoming Star Wars VR game Vader Immortal. I wanted to try it; however, the line was really long for it. Another pinball company that makes pinball video games called Pinball FX had brought full-sized digital pinball machines, complete with touch screens. There were a bunch of photo ops available. Several of which were run by the Star Wars costuming club The 501st Legion. They were raising money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Disney also had a photo-op set up promoting their upcoming Star Wars-themed theme park.
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    Star Wars themed Ford Raptor.
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    Stormtrooper helmet made out of LEGO mini-figures.
                There was also stage with interviews throughout the show consisting of actors and behind the scenes people. The seats were packed, but I was able to watch some of it projected onto a large screen over the stage. I was able to watch some interviews with people involved in Star Wars: Episode 1 as it was the movie’s 20th anniversary. Around the convention, there were kiosks where you could scan your badge for the chance to win a prize. Each location was a different chance to win, making it like a scavenger hunt. There was also some merchandise exclusive to Celebration. It was just announced that badge holders would be able to buy it online. I had a great time, and am looking forward to going next year when it is held in Anaheim, California.
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    Part of the giant Scarif diorama.
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    The X-Wing style Hyundai Tiburon from the back. Complete with R2 droid.

  • The 2018 PRI Show.

    The 2018 PRI Show.
    For my second year in a row, I attended the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. A good way to describe the PRI show is a smaller version of SEMA, with a focus on the automotive racing and performance industry. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana it is an annual event for industry insiders and journalists. It is not open to the public. Given the size of the show, I was able to see a lot of new things this year. It takes up two large convention halls in downtown Indianapolis and stretches under a road and right up to the edge of the Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Indianapolis Colts play. Indianapolis is a natural location for the PRI Show. Indianapolis and its surrounding areas are home to many performance companies. This is due in no small part for many of them due to the proximity of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s not too far from Detroit either.

    A Porsche 911 GT3 Race Car.
    This year I went to a section I hadn’t been to last year. I was able to see the RV and trailer section, right on the side of Lucas Oil Stadium. On the way there the hallway that leads under the road to the stadium was lined on one side with a wide variety of race cars. One that caught my attention, in particular, was a Chevy drag car turned land speed record car. After this hallway was a room full of what was called featured products. The RV and trailer section was huge. It went right up to the endzone of the football field in the stadium. I got the chance to talk to many different vendors. By scanning the QR code on my badge, they could sign me up for an email list.

    One of the many race cars on display.
    The brands represented varied greatly in size. One of the largest no doubt being Ford. Their performance parts division was represented with several Mustangs and a twin turbo pickup that was styled after a race car. The Hoosier Tire company had brought its dirtbike and ATV tires. They even make tires for smaller dirt bikes. I was surprised to see they had entered that market. It’s a good looking tire, with white lettering that is popular with cars right now. Despite the size of the event, with the app, it was fairly easy to find where companies were located. There were companies from several different countries. There was also a sizable section of the show dedicated to CNC machines; several were running and giving live demonstrations. One of Parnelli Jones’ Indy cars was on display. I’m really looking forward to returning next year to see what new things are added.

    An offroad racer.

  • The 2018 Trans Am Nationals

    The 2018 Trans Am Nationals.
                    The Trans Am Nationals, on its 34th year, is held annually near Dayton, Ohio. For the last several years it has been held at a hotel in Fairborn, Ohio. It is open to all Pontiac Firebirds. This year there were almost 400 Firebirds. It starts on Friday, and goes on till Sunday, with an optional meet up at a dragstrip several miles away on Thursday. It is made up of a car show with judging, auctions, a swap meet, cars for sale, and a vendor’s row. There is also the “Mini Nats” which was comprised of a wide variety of model Firebirds, spanning several decades and scales that filled an entire room.
    Trans Am at the Hotel.
    The hotel, which is located right off of the interstate, could be described as a college town. Just across the road from the hotel is Write State University. Surrounding the hotel are various restaurants and strip malls. I arrived around 2 in the afternoon. Went through the tech inspection and got my car washed with the hose the hotel had left out for the show cars. Later in the evening, we got dinner at a restaurant/brewery called the Wandering Griffin just down a side road not far from the hotel. The parking lot there formed a miniature car show. Even after dark people hang around outside their cars, inside at the hotel restaurant/bar there was karaoke. The second day had several seminars, as well as the Tipp City Cruise. The judging for the Nationals takes place on Saturday and Sunday and is divided up into several classes, in regards to year, extent (if any) of modification, as well as a driver/work in progress class and a concours class. The concours judging involves a far more detailed inspection of cars that what is normally performed in other classes. In the concours judging tent, it’s not usual to see a judge lying on the ground to get a view of the underside of a car.   
    A group of second generation Trans Am’s.
    Tipp City is a small city located just north of Dayton, Ohio. Its small downtown makes up the main drag and continues for a short distance down a few side streets. The main drag is actually a state highway, making the fact the entire thing gets closed down extra impressive. The Tipp City Cruise had its own awards. Ongoing to the Tipp City cruise; we were instructed to take a “scenic route”. There was construction on the main highway to Tipp City, and they had wanted us to enter the city opposite of the main highway. The route took us on the main highway, where we turned off far before the state highway that runs through downtown Tipp City where the site of the cruise is. After turning off the main highway, the road to Tipp City winds through fields, small towns, and rolling hills until it arrives there. The main street and side roads were filled with Trans Am’s and Firebirds. The restaurants in the town (although it is technically a city it gives a small town vibe) were packed. There were several groups that were selling food as well. We left out a little after noon on Sunday. I had a great time; I really look forward to returning next year.
    A variety of Trans Am’s arriving at the Tipp City Cruise.

  • The 2018 Pontiac Nationals

    The 2018 Pontiac Nationals.
                    The Pontiac Nationals is the world’s largest all Pontiac/GMC car meet. It is held during the first full week of August. It consists of drag racing with multiple classes, both bracket and heads up racing, a large car show, swap meet, and vendors. It is held annually in Norwalk, Ohio at the Summit Motorsports Park drag strip. There have been some well-known cars in attendance. Pontiac drag racer Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick and his car are frequent guests. The Boss Bird, a replica of Arnie Beswick’s funny car and currently the world’s only nitro powered Pontiac funny car is a regular as well.
    Drag racing took place throughout the entire day.

                    It is a three-day event, from Friday to Sunday. I arrived Saturday morning. The practice had started for the races that would start in a few hours. The field on the side of the track was filled with show cars representing decades of Pontiacs and even a GMC semi truck. Closer to the track was the swap meet, which was still filled with parts and memorabilia. There is a lot with cars for sale. The cars racing were as diverse as the cars in the show; there was everything from station wagons to dragsters. Several Pontiac powered cars broke the 200mph barrier. There was also a classic super stock race featuring a variety of manufactures. On the other side of the track is a row of food vendors and a gift shop, designed like an old-timey town. There is a good selection of food, ranging from a pound of ice cream for a dollar to slices of pizza, beyond that are the pits for the racers.

    A 1969 Trans Am at the car show.
                    Splitting my time between the racing, checking out the pits, the car show and swap meet, I still didn’t get a chance to see everything. The racing continued on until Sunday, which was when the various award ceremonies took place. I left around 5 and headed back to Indiana. I look forward to returning, as there are always new things to see.

    A GMC pickup getting ready to race.