Tag Archives: Pontiac

The 2022 Pontiac Nationals

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The Pontiac Nationals, an annual drag racing event, is held at the Summit Motorsport Park near Norwalk, Ohio. This year marked the 31st anniversary of the event.

After a few years away, I again made the trip to watch the massive gathering of Pontiacs (and a few GMCs) take to the track and take in the sounds of engines and the smell of burnt rubber. Returning to this track felt like seeing an old friend.

THE EVENT

The Pontiac Nationals is a three-day event that features drag racing and more. Some of the fastest Pontiacs in the world come to compete.

A lot is happening at the Nationals aside from the racing. For example, there’s the Car Corral, where cars for sale are displayed, a car show, a vendor’s row, and a swap meet. The classic rock playing over the PA system helped to set the tone. On Friday, there was a wheelie competition (which I unfortunately missed).

The swap meet was expansive and offered everything from new and used car parts to garage art. It’s a great place to find stuff to get that project finished.

There was a lot going on and a lot to see. I found myself caught between trying to see everything and trying not to miss anything.

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Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick

Once again, drag racing pioneer and Pontiac racing legend Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick appeared with his Tameless Tiger II GTO drag car. One of his earlier cars was even on display. I always look forward to seeing the iconic racer in person.

This 1963 Catalina was driven by Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick

THE TRACK

Located just east of the small city of Norwalk, Summit Motorsport Park is over 50 years. The quarter-mile track, founded in 1963, hosts various events throughout the year.

CAR SHOW

The car show brought out some awe-inspiring cars. In addition, it was an excellent opportunity to get a close-up look at some iconic Pontic models from the brand’s storied history.

From Firebirds to Bonnevilles, there was a little bit of everything. Several GMCs entered the show as well. In all, there were over 1,000 vehicles in the show.

This 1989 Turbo Trans Am is a rare sight
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DRAG RACING

The drag racing featured multiple classes and some seriously fast competitors. I was fortunate enough to witness a 200 mph plus pass. Seeing a run down the track in person at over 200 mph helps you comprehend how mind-bendingly fast that is.

A 1964 GTO on the track
A show-quality GT-37 at the starting line
The Pontiac Nationals saw some extreme cars, like this doorslammer Firebird
It’s not every day you see a rail with a Pontiac motor.
An early Trans Am launches down the track

The cool, overcast day made for some great performance, but there was also a persistent possibility of rain that threatened to put an end to the day’s racing.

Aside from the race cars, it was cool to see relatively stock cars getting in on the action on the drag strip. Bracket racing rules allowed the less modified machines to be competitive.

Newer Pontiacs were represented as well. It was fun to watch the newer GTOs and G8s taking to the track alongside much older machines.

A classic Firebird Formula and a late-model G8 square off

It was always exciting to see what was pulling up to the line next. Several classes made me appreciate the earplugs I got at the track giftshop.

Walking through the pits was like a car show in and of itself, only you got to hear the rumble of cars as they headed for the starting line.

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Nostalgia Super Stock

Nostalgia Super Stock, founded in 1989, is an organization that brings heads-up drag racing with period-correct race cars to tracks around the Midwest. Not only are they fast, but the cars featured are incredibly beautiful, show-quality machines. Watching them line up was like going back in time for a few seconds.

One of the races on their annual schedule was held at the Pontiac Nationals. They fit right in alongside the Pontiacs.

The Nostalgia Super Stock cars put on a great show
Amazing cars were a common sight in the pits

The Trucks

Pontiacs weren’t the only cars having fun on the dragstrip. Several GMC trucks, including a dually, competed in the drag racing.  As with the stock vehicles, it was fun to see the GMCs make passes down the track.

Pontiacs weren’t the only vehicles on the track, as this GMC dually demonstrates
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WRAPPING UP

Even though the discontinuation of Pontiac happened years ago, it is great to see that the enthusiasm for the brand remains strong.

Whether they brought their cars to the car show or the drag strip, they are doing their part to keep the brand that means so much to so many people alive. In addition, over 10,000 spectators came out to enjoy the show.

For more information on the Pontiac Nationals, please visit their website. You can learn more about Nostalgia Super Stock at their official website. In addition, Summit Motorsport Park’s website can be seen here. Finally, click here to see my blog on the 2018 Pontiac Nationals.

Did you attend the Pontiac Nationals? Let me know in the comments!

4 responses to “The 2022 Pontiac Nationals”

  1. John cunningham Avatar
    John cunningham

    I loved the pictures and description of the Nostalgia Super Stocks. Could be straight out of Hot Rod Magazine circa 1968.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Rubens Junior Avatar
    Rubens Junior

    Such an amazing event and great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Joe Avatar
      Joe

      Thank you for checking it out! I appreciate it!

      Like

      Reply
  3. Michelle Szczublewski Zuelke Avatar
    Michelle Szczublewski Zuelke

    We go every year with our classic Pontiacs, my husband has a 68 GTO and I have an 84 Trans Am. Great article on the event!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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The 2021 Trans Am Nationals

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The year 2021 marks the 36th Trans Am Nationals. It’s a three-day celebration for all Pontiac Firebirds hosted by the Dayton Chapter of the Trans Am Club of America. This year it was held from August 27th through the 29th.

It takes place at the Dayton Holiday Inn in Fairborn, Ohio, which is on the eastern side of the city of Dayton. I’ve been coming to the Nationals for years now, and I always have a great time. It’s fun to see what new cars show up.

An awesome first generation pro-street Firebird.

On Thursday and Friday, a movie theater on the southeast side of Dayton had screenings of Smokey and the Bandit (naturally).

The Car Show

Firebirds, Formulas, and Trans Ams fill the parking lot around the Holiday Inn. The 35 years of the Pontiac Firebird are well represented. The rumble of cars and music from the DJ fills the air. You’ll find everything from showroom stock to custom Firebirds.

It’s not everyday you see a Redbird, the luxury version of the Firebird.

The classes are divided up by years, as well as the level of modification. A car is considered “modified,” “heavily modified,” or “custom,” based on the number of modifications it has. There are several Concours classes and a driver/work-in-progress class as well.

The categories the cars are judged on include the interior, exterior, engine compartment, as well as the overall appearance. On Sunday, the winners of the show are announced and presented with their trophies.

Fourth-generation Firebirds were well represented.

This year the show had 494 Firebirds registered, up from the 485 at the last show in 2019. This year, the Nationals also raised over $10,000 for the A Special Wish Foundation. This charity helps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. The Nationals have supported the A Special Wish Foundation for years now. You can learn more about the charity on their website.

The Seminars

On Saturday, there were several seminars. There was a presentation by people involved with the engineering and design of the Firebird, Trans Am, and Camaro. They told some great stories about working at GM in the 60s and 70s under icons like John DeLorean.

They discussed the evolution of the iconic “Screaming Chicken” design evolved from the logo used on 50’s GM experimental cars to possibly the world’s most famous hood decal. A radical design element at the time, the hood decal faced pushback from factory higher-ups. There were concerns over the perceived difficulty of installing them in large quantities.

The “Screaming Chicken” design printed on film.

The aluminum Snowflake Wheel’s creation was also covered, including the design process, and the pitch meeting that set it into production.

The Mini Nats

Like the full-size show, there’s always something new at the Mini Nats too. The Mini Nats is a room in the hotel filled with model Firebirds and Trans Ams in a variety of scales.

There’s everything from plastic model kits to die cast replicas. Tables are covered with Firebird, Formula, and Tran Am models, some decades old and others still in the box. In addition, an incredible scale model of the host Holiday Inn was on display, complete with model Firebirds surrounding it.

A replica of the host hotel.

Tipp City Cruise In

Located just outside of Dayton, the Tipp City Cruise In draws hundreds of Firebirds. It’s been a part of the Trans Am Nationals for years. Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Firebirds make the drive from the Holiday Inn to Tipp City, a city with just under 10,000 residents. The entire downtown area is shut down for the cars.

A late 70’s Trans Am with stunning custom paint and wheels in Tipp City.

Firebirds fill the main street and parts of side streets. Restaurants around town are filled to the brim, and a band performed on one end of town. The downtown is made up old brick buildings that are great for photo-ops, especially when surrounded by cars.

Lambo doors and a custom air intake make a statement on this wild third-gen Trans Am.

More Info

For more information on the Trans Am Nationals, you can check out the official website at tanationals.org. You can visit the website for the Trans Am Club of America, Dayton Chapter, the club responsible for putting on the Nationals at tacadcinc.com.

Also, check out my blog posts about the 2019 Trans Am Nationals and the 2018 Trans Am Nationals. Been to the Trans Am Nationals, or know of a car event I should attend next? Let me know in the comments!

The Pontiac Pegasus: The Time Pontiac put a Ferrari V-12 in a Firebird.

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In 1970 Pontiac created one of their most unusual concept cars of all time. A Ferrari V-12 powered Pontiac Firebird. It seemed to blur the line between a passion project and a concept car. However, under closer observation, the practical nature of it is revealed.
GM was no stranger to usual concept cars; the name Firebird itself comes from a series of turbine-powered concept cars from the ’50s. But why would Pontiac, a company famous for its performance cars and engines, put a Ferrari V-12 in one of their cars? At 4.4 liters, the V-12 was much smaller than the average performance V-8 to come from GM.
The amount of passion that went into the car was obvious. There was not only a custom Pegasus logo on the grill but a Porsche-esque coat of arms on the hood. An original design. The name Pegasus is derived from combing the Firebird (a mythical creature in its own right) and that of a horse. The Ferrari logo depicts what is known as “the Prancing Pony.” The result is the legendary mythical winged horse, the Pegasus.
The Pontiac Pegasus at the 2019 Trans Am Nationals.
This year I had the chance to see the Pontiac Pegasus in person; it was part of a group of show cars brought to the Trans Am Nationals in Fairborn, Ohio. It was in excellent condition. I even got to hear it run as it was moved for the night. Oddly enough, it gave off a low rumble that would not be out of place coming from a small block Chevy. It was great to get up close and see it with the hood opened and closed.
The Ferrari V-12. It is paired with a 5-speed Ferrari transmission.
By 1970 the second generation of Pontiac’s pony car, the Firebird, was released. It was lower and sleeker than its predecessor. The muscle car performance wars of the ’60s were winding down, curtailed by environmental legislation. A headline on an issue of Hot Rod magazine read: 71’ Cars, Will they Perform? Pony cars were still going strong. The popular road racing series, and Trans Am namesake the SCCA Trans-Am series was going strong, showcasing the handling of the pony cars. The Pegasus was a perfect showcase of that handling, with a lighter V-12 then the normal V-8 that came with the Trans Ams and Formulas.
The Pontiac Pegasus’ interior. Note the Ferrari gauges.

I was first introduced to the Pegasus by the great book “The Fabulous Firebird.” It gave an excellent description of how the Pegasus came to be, but one part always made me curious. It was said that Enzo Ferrari himself donated the motor. This connection was odd to me, as there wasn’t much of a relationship between Mr. Ferrari and the American auto industry, especially after Ford’s attempted purchase of Ferrari. While at the 2019 Trans Am Nations I had a chance to speak with a former Pontiac engineer, it turns out, Bill Mitchell, at that time GM’s design vice president, and the man behind the project was a big car collector and someone who had a lot of connections within the industry. The motor was sent courtesy of a U.S. Ferrari dealership.

The car itself has many interesting design elements. Including a racing-inspired gas cap on the trunk area of the car. (this design was also included on the 1974 Pontiac concept car the Banshee.) There were also fog lights, which could be a nod to the car’s European influence. Despite the European influence, a uniquely American design touch is featured on the car.
Much like the Firebird Formulas and the 1969 Trans Am, the Pegasus features an air cleaner inside the hood itself, taking advantage of the cold air available. In perhaps a nod to racing rules dating from before the car was made, there was a full-sized spare tire prominently displayed in the back of the car under the rear glass.
To the Author, the Pegasus is a passion project with real-world bearings, from a time when GM was the largest manufacturer on the planet, and the future of cars and how they would perform was in doubt. Today we find ourselves in a similar situation; it will be interesting to see how much the performance enthusiast is considered as vehicles continue to evolve.

The 2019 Trans Am Nationals.

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               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.

The 2018 Trans Am Nationals

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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

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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.

The Pontiac-Oakland Museum

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The Pontiac-Oakland Museum
             A museum that is well worth the time if you are into cars is the Pontiac-Oakland Museum in Pontiac, Illinois. It’s been at this location since 2011. I’ve been to the museum several times now and every trip back there is something new. Pontiac, Illinois is not unlike many other small cities in the Midwest. Its downtown is a square built around a courthouse. Pontiac, Illinois the sort of city that could easily be mistaken for a town. It’s about 3 hours from Chicago, out in the country surrounded on all sides by fields. The museum is located on the square, and frequently plays host to car shows representing all kinds of different makes and models.
             The museum is owned and ran by the husband and wife team of Tim and Penny Dye. It is truly a labor of love. The amount of work that goes into the museum by them and the volunteers is immediately evident as you walk in. The museum plays host to an ever-changing line up of cars that span a century of automotive history. There’s usually even a race car or two. It even goes beyond cars, there is a section dedicated to Chief Pontiac, the Ottawa chief that the brand is named for and a recreation of a 1960s (soon to be 1970s) campsite. The museum also has its own library. A room stocked with a wide range of books and magazines. Want to find a period road test of your classic Pontiac? There is a good chance it’s in there.
             There’s a gift shop with all kinds of cool Pontiac related items, including a few classic things. I picked up a dealer exclusive model of a 1979 Trans Am there. It’s well worth the trip for Pontiac fans as well as car fans in general. You can check out their Facebook page here and visit their website at http://www.pontiacoaklandmuseum.org/.