The 7th annual National Hot Rod Reunion, sponsored by Holly Performance Products and produced by the Wally Parks NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Museum, was held the weekend of June 19-21 at Bowling Green, KY’s historic Beech Bend Park Raceway. Several thousand drag racing, hot rod, and classic car enthusiast braved oppressive heat and scattered storms to soak up the cool atmosphere at this year’s event which showcased a fabulous array of drag cars, street rods, customs, pre-1972 classic and muscle cars, vintage drag cars from the ‘60s and ‘70s, museum displays, swap meet, vender booths, and a “Cars & Stars” tribute to the Hollywood films American Graffiti and Two Lane Blacktop.
Also included in the festivities was the Museum recognition of Reunion Honorees (drag racing and hot rod legends Jerry Baltes, Amy Faulk, Chuck Nelson, Bob Creitz, and Vince Hunt); the Reunion Spotlight Award going to the team of the famed Stone, Woods & Cook 1941 Supercharged Willys “Gasser” and special ceremonial tribute to Grand Marshall and NHRA All-Time Top 50 Driver member Darrell Gwynn. Mr. Gwynn was left paralyzed and wheelchair bound at age 28 after a horrific crash in his top Fuel Dragster at an exhibition race in England in April 1990. “Burn Up That Quarter Mile”
With the “names” came the cars and the only thing hotter than the weather was the action on the legendary quarter mile drag strip. Showcased on the track were several classes of racecars including Hot Rods, Super Stock, and Supercharged “Gassers.” However, it was the Nostalgia Top Fuel Front Engine Rail Dragsters, Funny Cars, “Altereds,” ‘70s style Match Races, special exhibition runs, and that Saturday night’s sensational “Cacklefest” (nitro-burning fuel dragsters lined and push-started creating a sight and sound to behold) that packed the bleachers along both sides of the track.
The Funny Cars from drag racing’s golden era that participated in this year’s National Reunion, either on-track or display, included the USA-1 1969 Camaro, Jungle Jim 1970 Camaro, Crazy Horse 1970 Mustang, Super-Stang 1969 Mustang, Chi-Town Hustler 1968 Charger, Hawaiian 1969 Charger, Super Nova II 1969 Nova, Wonder Wagon 1973 ‘Cuda, and the recently restored Tennessee Bo-Weevil Plymouth Arrow.
Funny Car track highlights were Saturday’s qualifying and the special tribute exhibition run of the Tennessee Bo-Weevil and Sunday’s elimination and “match” races involving the Super Nova II and Wonder Wagon against the famous fuel “Altereds” of Ron Hope’s Rat Trap and Dave Hough’s Nanook.
The Top Fuel Nostalgia Dragster category also produced a historic moment. This year’s National Reunion happened to fall on Father’s Day weekend. To honor this occasion, legendary driver Larry Dixon and his current superstar driving son
Larry Jr. performed on Saturday night (for the first time together) an exhibition run in restored renditions of Dixon Sr.’s Smirnoff and The Rattler front engine cars. Dixon Jr. was, for the first time, behind the wheel of The Rattler.
Other exhibits of drag racing lore on display was one of Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat dragsters on loan from his museum, “Dyno” Don Nicholson’s Dixie Stomper Super Stock Dodge, a couple of Super Stock Plymouths from the infamous team of Sox & Martin, and two 1941 Supercharged Willys “Gassers” from the Stone, Woods & Cook stable. All cars had been meticulously restored to their original condition.
Where Were You in ’62?
This was the question posed on the advertising poster for the 1973 film American Graffiti. Voted one of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Films of All Time, this timeless classic features a group of teenagers on their last summer night before college. Written and directed by George Lucas, the setting is “any town” USA in the early 1960s. It’s a story of post high school life, dating, rock ‘n roll, cruising, and drag racing.
To honor American Graffiti, the National Hot Rod Reunion played host to actress Candy Clark and two of the film’s signature hot rods, “Milner’s” yellow ’32 Ford coupe and the black ’55 Chevy driven by actor Harrison Ford. Ms. Clark, who played “Debbie” in the film and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, was on site throughout the weekend greeting fans and signing autographs.
Also on hand (from Tennessee) was an immaculate recreation of the ’55 Chevy hot rod of the early 1970s cult film Two Lane Blacktop. This feature starred original Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson and music superstar James Taylor as two drifters making their way across the U.S. by drag racing their Chevy.
Coming in October ’09 to Beech Bend Raceway Park.
For those enthusiasts on hand, this year’s National Hot Rod Reunion provided unforgettable moments. For fans of such events that could not be in Bowling Green this June or were unaware (the NHRA Museum and Beech Bend Park could do a better job of advertising this event in the surrounding markets), don’t dismay. There will be another Nostalgia National event presented by Good-Guys Rod & Custom Association on the weekend of October 16-18 at Beech Bend Raceway Park. Another three days of show cars, swap meet, vendors, and plenty of drag racing action featuring Funny Cars, Top-Fuel Dragsters, and Supercharged Gassers.
The 7th annual National Hot Rod Reunion, sponsored by Holly Performance Products and produced by the Wally Parks NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Museum, was held the weekend of June 19-21 at Bowling Green, KY’s historic Beech Bend Park Raceway. Several thousand drag racing, hot rod, and classic car enthusiast braved oppressive heat and scattered storms to soak up the cool atmosphere at this year’s event which showcased a fabulous array of drag cars, street rods, customs, pre-1972 classic and muscle cars, vintage drag cars from the ‘60s and ‘70s, museum displays, swap meet, vender booths, and a “Cars & Stars” tribute to the Hollywood films American Graffiti and Two Lane Blacktop.
