summer 2009 - Lane Automotive

FEATURES:
The Parts You Need and the Service You Deserve!
The Spotlight .......................1
Editor’s Notes ......................2
New Allstar Products ............3
New Products .................. 4-5
Mini-Poster .........................6
Lane Happenings ...................7,11
Racing News ...............................8
Manufacturers Spotlight ............9
Rodding Journal .......................10
Lane Collectables ......................12
Jack The Bear Is Back...And “In The Pink”
“Jack the Bear” has been a strong influence in Rick Stratton’s life since he was an eleven-year old drag racing fan.
Today, that name is even more a part of Rick’s everyday
existence than ever before. Hey, we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. Let’s back up and fill in some background.
We have often heard of this or that drag car running “...
like Jack the Bear.” Whoever, or whatever else Jack was, he
was the fastest and quickest at his game, and for a car to
run like him was the ultimate testimony to its performance
potential. Here in the Midwest, the “Jack the Bear” that most
remember was the Modified Production ‘57 Chevy owned,
built and raced by Paul Stewart and John Hettinga back in
the 1960’s and, true to its name, that car did run quick and
fast, winning races and establishing a reputation wherever
it raced.
When the ‘57 was sold to pave the way for a new M/P
car, a ‘68 Chevy Camaro, the “Jack the Bear” handle stayed
with the new car, and Craig Clapp came into the partnership to replace John Hettinga. Resplendent in bright orange
and white, the Stewart & Clapp ‘68 Camaro, “Jack the Bear
II”, powered by .030 over 427 big block, was a sure winner
wherever it ran. It remained a strong contender for several
years, recording a best performance of 9.79 @ 140 before
the partners separated and sold the car in 1978. Paul Stewart
went on to buy the “Malmoose” ‘62 Corvette Modified
Production machine from Jim Overmyer, but that’s another
story, for another time.
Back to Rick Stratton and his longtime affinity for “Jack
the Bear”. Several years ago, fifteen to be exact, at a swap
meet, the now all grown up Rick found and bought the original “Jack the Bear” ‘57 Chevy. It was still in its original paint
and trim. With this car now in his stable, Rick started looking
for a ‘68 Camaro to build into a replica of his all-time favorite
drag car, the one he fell in love with many years before, the
“Jack the Bear II” ‘68 Camaro. He found the car and began
to modify it, installing a roll cage and fixing up the body. As
part owner of R&M Auto Body, one of Kalamazoo’s premier
body shops, Rick and his partner, Mark Patterson, certainly
had the resources at hand to do a first class build-up of the
replica and Rich called upon Paul Stewart for his help.
Those who know Rick will all testify that he is the type of
guy who will drop whatever personal project he’s working
on to lend a hand to a friend. As a result, Rick can boast of
having many, many close and loyal friends, but progress on
the ‘68 eventually ground to a halt. Then, three years ago,
an amazing story began to unfold. It all started when Rick
and his wife departed on a three-week Hawaiian vacation
trip. No sooner were they through the security check at the
airport than many of those friends, in concert with everyone
at R&M, began a Chip Foose, “Rides” type barn burner rush
to finish the restoration of Rick’s Camaro before he came
back home. The many friends who had benefited from Rick’s
generosity showed up to return the favor, and Mark, his
partner, pretty much shut down the rest of the body shop
business for the duration of the hustle to get the Camaro
finished in time. The car was finished to perfection in record
time and was waiting in the shop, along with several friends
and family members who were on hand for the unveiling
and presentation.
The cosmetic part of the Camaro was finished in 2006,
but it still needed an engine to achieve full drag race status.
Rick handled that detail quite readily and now a new 427
“thumper” rests beneath the cowl induction hood. Not
content with just owning a replica of a well-known racer,
Rick plans to drag this car occasionally and, as a matter
of fact, was one of the fortunate few to earn a shot at the
“Pinks All Out” event at Martin Dragway in July. Preliminary
shakedown runs netted some 10.80 time slips, with more
improvement on tap. All in all, quite a story and certainly
one to warm every hot rodder’s heart. R&R
Top: The original at Indy.
Bottom: Paul Stewart (left) and Rick Stratton and the reborn “Bear”.
SUMMER 2009 1
RACING AND RODDING
SUMMER 2009
Editor’s Notes
Editor’s Notes
Paul Volk’s Killer Mistsubishi
One of the biggest concerns among us so-called “old time”
hot rodders has always been what will happen to the sport
when it passes to the next generation. In my search for signs
that a new generation of hot rodders is developing, a very
convincing example of what it will take to keep our hobby
alive and well turned up right under my ample nose, here at
Lane Automotive.
Paul Volk, one of our wholesale phone sales personnel,
has invested seven years of his hands-on time, and countless
dollars to be sure, in the transformation of a 1999 Mitsubishi
Eclipse GST from a stock machine into a fire-breathing, pavement gobbling all-wheel drive terror. If a conversion process
that has included twin turbochargers, conversion to all-wheel
drive and massive rearrangement of an engine compartment
excites you, then read on.
For openers, Paul has heavily bolstered the stock 2.0L (122
c.i.) 4G63 engine with .020” over, 9.0:1 Wiseco pistons and
Eagle H-Beam rods. Further fortification includes revised 3G
lifters, dual overhead Kelford 272 cams, Kiggly Racing beehive valve springs with titanium retainers and ARP L19 head
studs. Reasons for adding these muscular components to the
block become very clear when we see the Turbonetics T-4
60-1 turbocharger Paul is installing to force feed the smaller
MHI B16G unit. Fitted with an SBR/Kinetic front-mount
intercooler, two GReddy Type-S blow-off valves and twin
TIAL 44mm waste gates, the turbos will pressurize a Magnus
Motorsports sheet metal intake manifold. A work of art in
the very crowded engine compartment is the stainless steel
3” downpipe fabricated by Paul. This system’s compressors
are capable of achieving a pressure ratio of 5:1 (roughly 75
psia), but Paul will have it gated to run 37 psig. The setup can
achieve 20 psi by 3500 RPM and full boost in the 4000-4500
RPM range. The engine will be redlined at 9,500 RPM.
Fuel is provided courtesy of an in-tank Denso pump that
feeds an inline Bosch 044 unit which, in turn, supplies Lucas
1200cc (120 lb./hr.) injectors. Engine electronic management
is left to a GM 3” Mass Air Sensor, an Innovate LC-1 Wideband,
Dynatek ARC-2 ignition box and MSD wires. According to
Paul, his compound turbo installation should produce approximately 710 horsepower at the flywheel and 600 horses
at the wheels (figuring an 18% drivetrain loss).
With this in mind, he has added a TRE-built transmission
with double synchronizers in 1st-3rd, an 11% taller first gear
and has welded the center of the differential for added
strength. Fidanza provided the 4.3 clutch and flywheel assembly and Driveshaft Shop Level 2 rear axles supplement
the limited slip rear end. Shifts are controlled by a B&M short
shifter.
Will this combo keep Paul happy? Maybe, maybe not. Just
in case, future plans call for direct port methanol injection,
JetHot coating for the entire turbo set-up, an aluminum driveshaft, and a taller 5th gear. If an old hot rodder can make one
observation, let me say that we old geezers will surely love sitting in our rocking chairs and watching as Paul severely rattles
the cages of Z06 ‘Vette owners. One word of advice to the ‘Vette-erans: Add bolts, straps, duct tape...whatever it takes to
keep those fiberglass doors from being soundly blown off! R&R
2
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
New Allstar Products
Spindle Checkers
A bent spindle can cause all kinds of grief in a circle track car, but actually
determining if it is, in fact, bent can be more difficult than it first appears. In order
to make a sound determination, the upper and lower ball joints must be correctly
aligned. That’s where the new Allstar Performance Spindle Checkers can come in
handy. Kits are available for use with GM (ALL56206) or Chrysler (ALL56216) style
lower ball joint and will fit most spindles with 1-1/2” taper per foot upper ball
joints.
ALL11176
Sprint Motor Plates With Bushings
Allstar Performance now offers two front motor plates for sprint cars. The
one-piece plate (ALL38128) uses the lower front mounting holes on the small
block Chevrolet V8. The two-piece set (ALL38129) has a built in mount to accept a
Barnes Oil Filter Bracket (BAR8930) and uses the lower front mount holes as well
as the water pump mounting holes. Both plates are 3/8” thick aluminum and have
19-1/2” center-to-center chassis mounting holes. Bushings for limiting engine flex
and to help with weight transfer are included.
ALL38128
Sprint Fuel Pressure Gauge
Adjust the high speed, secondary and main valve opening pressures using the
pressure gauge and a compressed air source. Gauge can be mounted to the wall
or tool box. 4-1/2” diameter dial has a 0-160 psi range.
Sprint Steering Mount
ALL40330
Sway Bar Bolts
Steel bolts have 7/8”-10 thread. ALL56070 has a 1-1/2” swivel eye and measures
11” from center of eye to end of threads. ALL56071, with a 2” swivel eye, and
ALL56102, with a 2” non-swivel eye, measure 11-3/4” from center of eye to end of
threads. A weld nut (ALL56072) is available to fit both swivel eye bolts.
Slotted Angle Aluminum
Allstar has answered the call for more versatile aluminum angles which car
builders have found to be very handy for mounting body panels and, especially for mounting rear spoilers. Slotted aluminum angles are ideal for use with
ALL23105 body brace kit for complete body installation. 120 degree angles are
available in 26” (ALL23130) and 30” (ALL23131) lengths. A 90 degree angle is available in 72” length (ALL23124).
ALL52115
ALL56070
ALL23130
Air Cleaner Bottom, 2BBL
Plain aluminum air cleaner bottom has 14” overall diameter, a 5/8” drop and is
contoured to assure smooth, even air flow. Will fit carburetors with 3” diameter
flange. Great for solving limited hood clearance problems on any car. R&R
ALL26081
SUMMER 2009 3
New Allstar Products
Solid aluminum mount offers up to 1-3/4” of adjustment with adjustment holes
every 1/2”. Left side of mount has a bracket for convenient mounting of Waterman
fuel shut off valve.
New Products
Integrated LS1/Chassis Harness PWI60608
Painless Wiring knows that the LS1 GM V8 has become a very
popular swap into a variety of older cars. Their new LS1 chassis
harness has twenty-six circuits and 7 relays integrated into a
single fuse block to eliminate separate fuses and relay banks.
Designed for 1997-2004 LS1 engines mated to 4L60E transmissions in any vehicle capable of
using an 18-circuit GM color-coded harness, the integrated harness is perfect for completely
rewiring a vehicle and/or transplanting an LS1 engine.
Convenience Module PWI60340
Add 21st century amenities to any car with a module that will: gradually dim the domelight
after door is closed, leave headlights on for 15 seconds after engine is shut off, delay shutoff of radio for 10 minutes after ignition switch is turned off, and sound an alarm if turn signals have been
on for more than 150 seconds or headlights have been left on. Easy, straightforward installation.
Eliminator Series Radiators
A perfect radiator for high performance muscle cars and pony cars
from the sixties and seventies, the Eliminator Series aluminum radiators
from BeCool have dual 1” cores, billet filler necks, folded and tapered
tanks and are available in popular sizes. An important addition to these
high performance radiators, the high performance, internal automatic
transmission coolers are standard and will definitely prolong transmission life. Eliminator radiators are available for all automatic transmission
equipped small and big block 1967-81 GM intermediates and F-bodies, 1960-88 Mopar A-, B-,
and E-bodies with small blocks, and 1979-93 Ford Mustang and Cougar small blocks.
Intake Systems
New Products
Owners of 2009 GM, Ford and Dodge Ram pickups can now
benefit from AIRAID’s computer designed systems which offer
maximum air flow for more horsepower, torque and improved fuel
efficiency. Offering unmatched fit, finish and a lifetime warranty,
AIRAID filter elements feature SynthaFlow® Technology which relies
upon a synthetic nano-fiber material that traps the smallest dirt particles, almost twice the percentage of 2 micron particulates and more than six times the 0.5 micron particulates captured by other
elements. Elements are housed in a hand-poured urethane body that won’t crack, curl or shrink.
Retro GM Steering Wheels
The classic combination models in Grant’s Retro GM style steering wheels
include the wheel and a chrome Chevrolet horn button that is officially licensed by General Motors. The wheels are available in 3- and 6- bolt mounting styles with hardwood walnut finish grips in dark mahogany, light walnut,
gloss black stain or thick cushion foam. These wheels are modeled after the
classic designs from ’60’s muscle cars and will look right at home in any GM restoration.
1956-62 Corvette Steering Wheel GRT15903
Black leather, 14-3/4” diameter wheel includes chrome horn button with Corvette flag logo and is a
direct replacement for the original.
4
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
New Products
Cylinder Heads For Small Block Chevy
Redesigned, cylinder heads are cost effective and offer more
horsepower through improved efficiency and modern technology. Features include “as-cast” ports and combustion chambers,
raised intake runners, phosphorous-bronze valve guides, extra
thick decks and a three angle valve job. Heads are offered in
170cc, 180cc, 200cc, 220cc and 235cc intake runner versions, and all are sold individually as bare castings.
Bearings
Motor State now stocks ACL Bearings. A product of more than half a century
of research, design, metallurgy and manufacturing experience, ACL tri-metal
bearings are used extensively by racers and engine builders around the world.
Available for numerous performance engines in standard and oversizes
Digital Gauge 5-packs
Bright, LED digital gauges use micro processor controlled
displays for the ultimate in precise, high-tech readings. Look
to Auto Meter digital units for eye catching visual reference
and an exact numeric reading. Choose from Sport Comp,
Ultra-Lite and Cobalt Series 5-gauge kits. All include fuel level, oil pressure, water temperature, voltmeter gauges plus a programmable speedometer and all senders.
Brad Penn Oil
We are now stocking Brad Penn Oil in several viscosities and formulations for high performance use. Truly Made In The U.S.A., American Refining Group’s Bradford, Pennsylvania refinery is the home of “The Green Oil” that racers, engine builders and performance
enthusiasts have come to know and trust. Buy it by the quart or by the case (12 qts.).
Ultra Pro Magnum Rocker Arms
EZefi Carb-To-EFI Conversion Kit
Set aside an afternoon and replace the carburetor with the
FAST EZefi conversion kit. Based on a the universally familiar 4150
throttle body, the system is completely self-tuning, requiring no experience or laptop computer. The
throttle body works with the stock carb linkage and bolts on to any engine up to 550 horsepower.
System includes a mini-ECU, wide band oxygen sensor, wiring harness, injectors, fuel pump kit
and the throtttle body itself. Improve mileage, performance and cold weather start-ups with this new kit. The kit sounds like
the perfect addition to any earlier carburetor equipped car or pickup.
SUMMER 2009 5
New Products
Currently offered for small and big block Chevrolet, and
small block Ford Ultra Pro Magnum Rocker Arms are virtually unbreakable. The arched, web-like design increases strength and rigidity by 29%, reduces the
moment of inertia (MOI) and optimizes dynamic balance for maximum lift and valvetrain control
at high RPM. Larger valve springs, retainers and locks can be used with no clearance problems.
Rocker arms are covered by a lifetime guarantee against breakage, for any reason, and best of all,
they are rebuildable. They may just be the last rocker arms a racer will ever need to purchase.
Lane Car Show Poster
Lane Car Show Poster
6
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
Lane Happenings
Hot Rodders Of Tomorrow Engine Challenge
SUMMER 2009 7
Lane Happenings
Young engine builders from two Michiana area vocational-technical
centers topped a field of eight teams to take top honors in the Hot
Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Michigan Championship
which took place at the 21st Annual Lane Automotive Car Show, May
23, 2009.
The Van Buren County, Michigan Tech Center Team #1, sponsored by
Edelbrock Racing, finished in first place with a time of 65:18, just a little
more than eight minutes ahead of Team #1 from the Elkhart, Indiana
Area Career Center, sponsored by Hedman Hedders/Trans-Dapt, who
finished with a time of 73:18. Both teams qualified for a chance to compete with three other teams for the national title at the Hot Rodders of
Tomorrow National Engine Challenge Championship to be held at the
2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, November 3rd through the 6th. The
Van Buren team qualified by virtue of their first place finish at the Lane
event. Elkhart #1’s time was better than those achieved by any competitors from two other contests around the country which qualified
them as the fourth team for the SEMA contest.
An educational program aimed at high school auto technology students, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is as much an educational and team
building experience as it is a competition. Each school sets standards
and guidelines to qualify for the program, taking into consideration
such criteria as academic grades, attendance and technical skill levels.
Engine building teams from area high schools, technical centers and
junior colleges are eligible to take part in the contests.
Teams, made up of five students, enter into head-to-head competition to disassemble and reassemble fully dressed out Chevy 350
cubic inch V8 engines in the least amount of time. A team of judges
levies penalties for any infractions of the rules which are then added
to a team’s time. The winning team is the one that finishes in the best
overall time.
The Chevrolet engines are high performance power plants typical of
those found in many hot rods, muscle cars and race cars at shows and
race events all around the country. Every part of the engine is removed
and replaced with the exception of the camshaft and the crankshaft.
Sponsors of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge include Edelbrock Corporation, Hedman Hedders, Trans-Dapt, Painless
Wiring,Speed Pro, Fel-Pro, Moroso, AutoMeter, Fragola Performance
Systems, MSD and Be Cool.
Members of the Van Buren Tech Center #1 team are: Ryan Beeching, Bill Tester,
Emmanuel
Perales, Sonny
Degoede and P.J.
Hacher. Instructor/coaches are
Dan Buzalski
and Jason Forler.
The Elkhart Area
Career Center
team members
are: Josh Wilson,
Chris Lawson,
Cody Chupp, Brad Hobson, and Wes Brugh, The Elkhart team was guided by Paul Williams.
The remaining six teams included Van Buren and Elkhart #2 teams, Stevensville Lakeshore High School, Dowagiac High
School, Coloma High School and Niles High School. R&R
Racing News
Dona Marcoullier Takes Two Biggies At Merritt
The Who 55 Presented By K&N Filters
Second generation Dirt Late Model pilot, Dona Marcoullier of Houghton
Lake, MI, topped a stellar field of over 50 entries to claim victory in the 3rd
annual Who 55 held at Merritt (MI) Speedway in June. After transferring
through a “B” Main, Dona started 14th and clawed his way to the front,
taking the lead after a spirited battle with Michigan’s Brian Ruhlman and
Wayne “The Sniper” Chinn from Ohio. Marcoullier’s winnings amounted to
over $6000, including lap money, in the K&N Filters sponsored event. Earlier
in the evening, Rob Harden of Ovid, MI set fast time. Qualifying heats were
won by Adam Thrush, Andy Chester, Ryan VanderVeen, Mark Andersen,
Wayne Chinn and Brian Ruhlman. “B” Feature winners included Dona Marcoullier, Don Marcoullier (Dona’s dad) and Jeep Van Wormer. A special Race
of Champions was also contested and the win went to Winston (MI) Speedway champ, Rich Neiser, who grabbed $1000 in the process.
Dona Marcoullier and Rod Ancel of Merritt Speedway
The Wood Tic
Dona Marcoullier continued his hot streak in Northern Michigan by capturing Merritt’s 21st Annual Wood Tic, which was held in late July. The features
for this two-day event were pushed back to Sunday afternoon by persistent
rain, resulting in a racy daytime surface with plenty of side-by-side action.
Dona grabbed the early lead in the 40 lap feature and led the first 19 circuits
before surrendering the lead to fellow front row starter, Sam Epling of Perry,
MI. Marcoullier took back the point after a lap 29 restart and cruised to victory, his second Wood Tic score in a row. Epling and Rich Neiser filled out
the top three at the flag. Qualifying heat winners included Brandon Thirlby,
Chad Foster, Justin Robinson, Jayme Zidar, Epling and Marcoullier. Josh
Knoll and Adam Thrush grabbed the “B” Main wins.
Dona Marcoullier
Anderson Grabs Dart Modpaloooza
Racing News
Lowell, MI UMP Modified hotshoe, Mark Anderson, topped all comers in the
second annual Hartford Motor Speedway Modpalooza presented by Dart
Heads. Mike “Opie” Spatola was the early leader of the 25 lapper only to
lose his advantage after contact with Brian Ruhlman. The resulting melee knocked out several contenders, including Curt Spalding and Danny
Knowles, and allowed Anderson a clear path to the checkers. The win was
worth $1500 and a Dart product certificate. Track regulars Frank Marshall,
Chris Collier, Tony Roland and Chris May rounded out the top 5.
Mark Anderson
Alan Vochaska On Top In Lane 45
Four-time Hartford (MI) Motor Speedway champion, Alan Vochaska of South
Haven, MI, scored his biggest career victory, leading the final seven laps of
The Lane 45 Presented by K&N Filters. Shawn Toczek of Hebron, IN led the
initial 11 laps of the event, giving way to track regular, JR Hotovy of Covert,
MI. Hotovy piled up over $1300 in lap money, including the Midway Bonus
presented by Corliss Signs and Merritt Speedway, before experiencing
electrical problems on lap 38. Vochaska took control of the race, leading the
final 7 circuits for his first ALMS win, taking home over $4700 in the process.
Second thru fifth finishers were Brian Ruhlman, Jon Henry, Toczek and Phil
Ausra. 35 Late Models were on hand to compete in the ALMS and Ontario
Dirt Late Models co-sanctioned event. R&R
8
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
Jim Borden of Hartford Motor Speedway and Alan Vochaska
Manufacturer Spotlight
SUMMER 2009 9
Manufacturer Spotlight
Motor State Distributing welcomes Fragola Performance Systems to our line of quality AN aluminum hose ends and related fittings. Fragola products are proudly Made in
America, right at the Fragola facilities in Southington, Connecticut.
Since entering the highly competitive performance fitting business a little over seven
years ago, Frank Fragola rolled up his sleeves and joined his production staff in long hours
researching, testing and retesting to perfect the production of all their AN hoses and
fittings. Bright dipped instead of anodized, Fragola products maintain their original color
and brightness indefinitely.
According to the experts at Fragola, the anodizing process is not an exact science. This
means that those familiar red and blue colors can vary considerably from batch to batch,
especially with different aluminum alloys. Sunlight, heat, and the passage of time can
also fade traditional anodized fittings, which becomes very obvious whenever an old
fitting is replaced with a new one.
After carefully studying the fittings that were available at the time, the Fragola team
made some valid observations concerning improvements that could be made to the
basic, fifty year old design used by other manufacturers. They went on to develop a
unique, one-piece design that eliminated two braze joints and the inherent potential
for leakage, improving both flow and appearance. The further addition of two Viton
“O” rings rendered the hose ends perfectly leak-free for the life of the fittings. Other
improvements included a wider, no-slip wrenching surface, tapered nipples for easy
alignment and installation, “J” gauge threads for increased strength and the aforementioned bright dip finishing process.
Jeff Stacy, Fragola Performance President of Sales and Marketing had this to say about the company’s entry into the
performance automotive aftermarket:
“Fragola Performance Systems is very encouraged that in today’s uncertain economic climate more and more people are
turning to an American manufacturer of AN fittings and hose ends. With our in-house manufacturing, and our ability to
react to the customer’s needs in a timely manner, we feel we are poised to become the dominant manufacturer of plumbing parts for the performance aftermarket. With Motor State Distributing on board, we will be able to reach more and more
people with our quality products, making our job that much easier.”
At Motor State, we strive to offer our customers the widest possible array of performance hose ends and fittings and the
selection offered by Fragola Performance Systems is a very important part of that effort. R&R
Rodding Journal
Gilmore Cacklefest
This issue’s first stop along the hot rodding highway was at the Gilmore
Car Museum at Hickory Corners, Michigan where we checked out the first
annual Dust-Off Car Show and Cacklefest May 24. The event was held to celebrate their newest exhibit, Drag Racing - History a Quarter Mile At A Time.
Comprising thirty historically significant drag racing cars, the exhibit will run
through October 31, 2009.
Adding their nitro-fed flames to the museum’s first ever Cacklefest were
the front engine dragsters of Al Bergler (More Aggravation), Ed Golden (The
Probe), John Logghe (Logghe Brothers) and the late Larry Payne (Gang
Green). The foursome were at our car show on May 23rd and then spent the
night in Kalamazoo before heading out M-43 to the museum the next day.
The pre-Cackle publicity generated by minimal advertising still yielded
a sizeable crowd by the start of the event, and we’re sure that many of those present had never before heard a race engine snapping and cackling on 90% nitromethane. An interesting sidelight was the eardrum shattering run made by Buck
Boudeman and his jet-powered bicycle. Yes, he actually rides a standard bicycle with a “buzz bomb” style jet strapped to
the frame. Riding the brakes all the way, Buck almost made his way to one of the distant barns on the museum property, at
a less than sedate 45-50 miles per hour, before he ran out of fuel!
Getting back to the drag racing history exhibit for a moment, we can assure those who visit the museum will feel that
the trip was well worth the drive. In addition to the drag race cars, the museum regularly displays nearly 200 antique, classic
and special interest cars and trucks and offers attractions like the “Blue Moon” Diner, an operating, vintage dining car type
restaurant; a 1929 era Shell gas station; a very nice gift shop and a double-decker bus for tours around the grounds. Among
the drag cars in the historical exhibit are the famed Gabby Bleeker fuel altered Bantam coupe, Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat XVII,
one of Roland Leong’s Hawaiian Punch funny cars and two of Detroiter Walt Knoch’s “Walt’s Puffer” drag cars - a fuel altered
Fiat coupe and a Monza funny car. R&R
Rodding Journal
National Hot Rod Reunion
The seventh edition of the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion, held at
historic Beech Bend Dragway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was HOT in every
sense of the word. The rods were hot, the drag race action was hot, the
Cacklefest was hot, and the weather was HOT. With temperatures hovering
near the 100 degree mark on Friday and Saturday, water and shade were the
orders of the day.
Approximately 2,500 hot rods found their way to Bowling Green for the
three-day affair that has become a “must go” destination for nostalgia buffs
and modern rodders alike. It’s probably the only event - other than the
California Hot Rod Reunion - that blends old and new, and makes the ages of
the participants inconsequential.
Since its inception, the National Hot Rod Reunion, along with the California Hot Rod Reunion, has primarily been a revenue generator for the Wally
Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California. The recent NHRA
announcement that the museum is going to close and send the majority of
its collection to the Petersen
Car Museum in Hollywood
has raised some questions
about the future of the
reunion events. The most
likely answer is that as long
as the reunions continue to
make money, the NHRA will
keep staging the events,
and find some place else to
spend the proceeds. R&R
10
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
Lane Happenings
First Annual Motor State Pro-Touring Challenge
The skies cleared, the sun came out and all was good for the
cruise. Despite threatening weather reports and pop-up storms
all afternoon on Friday, June 19, the 1st annual Motor State
Challenge adopted the attitude of “The Show Must Go On”.
Motor State was host to almost 100 guests and over 50 protouring/G-machine vehicles from 15 different states. Guests
arrived on Friday afternoon from as far away as California and
Maine. The activities kicked off on Friday afternoon with an
impromptu pizza luncheon complete with facility tours... and
an occasional power outage. Miraculously the rain stopped and
held off long enough to get the cruise-in started, which departed our parking lot at 4:00. The cruise took the group East on Red
Arrow Highway, North up through Bangor and into South Haven
where they made their way over to Blue Star Highway and ran
that back down into St. Joe for a BBQ dinner at Silver Beach.
Saturday’s activities were held at Gingerman Raceway where
the group spent a full day on the road course track running
several sessions until our 5:00 departure time. Sunday was spent
at the Lake Michigan College parking lot where our local SCCA
group had set up an autocross for challenging timed runs. At the
conclusion of the weekend the top three (excluding manufacturers) in both Touring and Time Trial class were awarded trophies
and certificates. The winners of those classes were:
Time Trial Class
1st – Mark Stielow
2nd – David Pozzi
3rd – Matt Altamore
Touring Class
1st – Brian Finch
2nd – Chris McCormick
3rd – Jeff Tate
Lane Happenings
Big thanks go out to Detroit Speed, Air Ride Technologies,
Baer Brakes, Heidt’s, Roadster Shop, and a host of other supporting sponsors for helping make this event the success it was.
Pro-Touring is all about enjoying your car. Many of the participants drove their beautiful cars hundreds of miles to participate
in the events and then drove them home again.
Thanks to all those on our crew who stepped up and helped
make this event run as smoothly as it did. R&R
SUMMER 2009 11
Hal McCarty 1966 Shelby G.T. 350
Part No. 119
Each Limited to 996 Pieces
1972 Oldsmobile 442
Part No. 313
1967 Firebird 400 Convertible
Part No. 409
8300 Lane Drive Watervliet, Mi 49098
Phone 269-463-LANE • Toll Free 800-772-5266 • Fax 800-772-2618