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By all accounts the crowd at Vegas were the most appreciative the cacklecars have experienced to date at an NHRA Championship event. They were bullish on Cackle Cars. Stomped, screamed, clapped, yelled, everything when the last car shut off. While the crews were loading up behind the grandstand, a lot of people took the time to stop and say how much they appreciated them bringing the "Old Guys" and showing them off. There is life after death! Too much fun!

Photos by: John Ewald, Dave Parker and Ron Johnson

The NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum display. Left to right the Bucky Austin owned Jerry Ruth top fueler, Kenny Saffords "Sour Sisters" Olds powered A/FD, Chris "The Greek" Karamesines 1968 "Chizler" and Leon Fitzgeralds "Pure Heaven". In the background, the grandstands for the LVMS oval track across the street fro the Drag strip.

The Shubert/Herbert recreation, Kuhl and Olson original car and the Ewald Brothers restored BankAmericar.

To the right is the main grandstand at the "Strip at Las Vegas". The Cackle Cars were located right at the end of Manufacturers Midway.

On Thursday, before the display was finalized, cars were lined up against the fence. The Magicar and it's push car "The Bone" on the left. The Poacher on the right and far right, Jerry Ruths personal hot rod.

Saturday afternoon, during a fireup at the Ewald compound.

Jerry Ruth's 48 Ford and Bucky Austin's Jerry Ruth car.

Ex fuel racer turned ESPN2 announcer Mike Dunn did a fire up in Mike Kuhl's dragster for the Sunday broadcast. It was aired during the race and Dunn had nothing but great things to say about the whole cacklecar deal. He told the TV audience that... "These cars are actually louder than a modern day top fuel car... at idle." He also related the fact that he remembers steering his dad's (Jim Dunn) FEDs back after runs in the 60's.

Over the course of the weekend several of the cars, including the BankAmericar did static fire-ups in the pits. The fans loved every one of them.

Ace photographer Ron Lewis, who's work has been seen in all the major magazines since the 1970's, asked for a cackle and John Ewald was more than happy to give it to him.

The Chris Karamesines car being warmed-up prior to Cacklefest. Standing with hands on hips to the left is Michelle Reed and Dusty McWilliams. Dusty is one of the unsung heroes of this whole project. He takes cars from the NHRA Wally parks Motorsports Museum to Cacklefest events and sees to it they are ready to "Cackle". In addition he is there to help everybody with a cacklecar. Standing to the right of the Chizler is Richard Randall who brought his two sons, Ian and Brett and the three of them spent the weekend helping anyone in need of help.

The beautiful push trucks were provided by the Hustlers Car Club of Las Vegas. The owners made their own push bars in anticipation of the event. The guys did a great job and the cackle cars that didn't bring their own push cars really appreciated them. On the left is Gary Kirbys 56 F-100 which pushed John Ewald. Next to him is Mike Brown's 71 Pearl White Chev Stepside, which pushed Jerry Ruth. Next is the O. K. Doty owned 57 Ford which pushed Butch Mass in the Karamesines car. Finally, the Red 50 Chev of Bruce Bartlett who got Kenny Safford started.

Mike Kuhl does some work on the injectors of the Safford-Gaide-Ratican Olds fueler, one of four cars brought in by the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum crew. The "Maxed Out Racing" team trailer which is well equipped with tools was the repair shop for all who needed it.

Long time drag racer and current Crew Chief for Morgan Lucas' Top Fuel dragster watched as Rick McDonald and Gary Cochran warmed up the Magicar.

"The Poachers" rattles some ears during a fire-up in the pits.

Scott Kalitta found the cacklecars - "bitchin".

Jim Adolph warms-up up the Pure Heaven II AA/FA.

Sid Waterman and Carl Olson

Sonny Meissner was on hand with his very sharp Swamp Rat III recreation.

Ron Johnson warms up his Shubert & Herbert A/FD with Dusty McWilliams in the seat.

For the first time at a NHRA National event there was a Cacklefest Parade and it was lead by none other than Steve Gibbs who does a great job of putting the show together at NHRA's request.

First down behind Gibbs was Peter "The Mad Brit" Broadribb in his beautifully restored Moody's Garage D/G '55 Chevy. Although it doesn't push start or run nitro, Peter's Chevy is an honorary cacklecar and is featured at several events a year.

Leon Fitzgerald in his restored Pure Heaven II AA/FA

For the Vegas event Dusty McWilliams got the seat in Ron Johnson's Shubert & Herbert recreation.

Rick McDonald guides Bill Pitts' MagiCar past the stands. Gary Cochran was in the car for Cacklefest.

Kenny Safford in the Safford-Gaide-Ratican "Sour Sisters" A/FD

John Ewald in the seat of the BankAmericar.

Ryan Schavrien with the families "Poachers" AA/FD

Jerry Ruth in his 1969 Don Long AA/FD that was restored and now owned by Bucky Austin.

As usual, Carl Olson was in Mike Kuhl's fueler.

Butch Maas got another chance to cackle the Chris Karamesines AA/FD.

Sonny Meissner in his Swamp Rat III reproduction. He even recreated the period correct Garlits push car.

Prior the the semi round of pro finals all the cacklecars were staged at the top end of the track. Pat "Ma" Green got the thrill of riding with Steve Gibbs in the parade lead.