Epping, NH: In spite of two days of sporadic rain so common in the region this time of year, the NHRA Motorsports Museums inaugural New England Hot Rod Reunion was a huge hit. Although the fans did get a great show from nitro to jets, most left with the feeling that it really lived up to the reunion aspect that was the original intent. The rain gave the folks a chance to visit old friends and make new ones.

On the Cacklefest side of the program, unlike the 100+ cacklecars that come out to the mecca of Cacklefest, Bakersfield for the California Hot Rod Reunion, there simply isn't that kind of car count on the East Coast. That said, the cars that did make up this inaugural NEHRR Cacklefest were quality and well representative of the breed.

This is a story best told in photos. Enjoy.

On Friday, the racing took a short break to honor some New England racing icons. In a ceremony done with more pomp and circumstance at both Bakersfield and Bowling Green, the Honoree presentations were held in a large tent at the drag strip. Logistics had more to do with this than anything else as there was no host hotel to stage the presentations. On the upside, more people were able to attend that there were cacklecars everywhere.

The first Honoree was Darwin Doll of Pennsylvania, a former NHRA Division Director and founder of the Sportsters Roadster Association in 1957. Darwin had a previous engagement so he received his Wally from Larry Fisher, Executive Director of the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum before the actual ceremony began.

Honoree Tony Feil, NHRA’s Division 1 Sportsman of the Year, Sportsman Mechanic of the Year and member of the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

 

Honoree Don Roberts who, in the day, drove just about anything with wheels: Top Fuel, Top Gas, Funny Car. Member of the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Honoree Pete Shadinger out of New Jersey was the winner of a batch of NHRA titles in the Competition Eliminator ranks between 1962 and '.65.

 

Honoree Bernie Shuman who, together with his late brother A.B., raced in the New England area for many years. He is also a two time U.S. Nationals winner.

New England drag racing legend and Rhode Island native Jimmy King was the grand marshal of this inaugural event. King and the late Don Marshall made up one of the best NHRA Top Fuel drag racing teams in the East Coast during the 1960s and ’70s. The tandem visited many winners circles but none more memorable than their 1971 win at the NHRA Gatornationals.

Today, King continues to relive his glory days of drag racing as crew chief of the Helger Bros. Racing team of Little Compton, Rhode Island.

Also, honored were the Reunion Spotlight Award recipients, the Orientals Hot Rod Club of Reading, Mass.

Cacklefest Parade

Following the final race of the meet on Saturday, the ritual started beginning with the parade. This is where the fans get to see the cars and drivers, learns some history on both, prior to Cacklefest proper.

Opening up was the push start cars that proceeded to the top end where they were turned around and made ready.

First out was John Loukas in the Loukas & Preising AF/MR. This is a real deal car that has been in John's possession since it ran in the early 60's. It was beautified (restored) in 2001.

This car was restored and owned by Bob Nulman of Lincoln,RI, and Jared Brouillette of Pawtucket, RI. The car was built in 1956 by Tom Dunn of Wrentham, MA. Tom raced the car from 1956 to 1960 with a 265 Chevy motor. Tom was at the track on Saturday, and was enjoying all the attention his old car received.

Barnes & Gladstone "Michigander" AA/FD owned and driven by Bob Gladstone.

Jim Walther back in the seat of his "Special Edition" that Lawrence "Penny" Flammia restored and now owns. This is a real beauty.

Art Marshall in the beautiful Jim & Alison Lee "Great Expectations" restoration owned by Brian Beattie.

The final push start car was Grand Marshall Jimmy King back in the seat of the fabled King & Marshall AA/FD.

At the CHRR the static start cars are not part of the Saturday night show, they do their thing on Sunday before first round of racing. Here they were featured with the push start cars for two reasons. One, the short car count and two, there was no Sunday racing.

Ed Pearsons AA/FA... The driver was Pete Tropeano ( famed New England chassis builder ) he was one of the original drivers of this car back the late sixties.