Cacklecars
Huge Hit Over 3 Day Event
Between
true Cacklefest events there are several cars in the "family"
that serve as goodwill ambassadors doing displays, charity functions
and appearances at large public events. Such was the case at
the 57th annual Grand National Roadster Show January 20-22, 2006
at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA where 10 cacklecars drew thousands
of roadster, hot rod and custom car fans to their displays and
fire ups.
Organized by Ron Johnson of Cacklefest.com
in conjunction with Lee Schelin of the Standard 1320 Group and
help from the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the cars were
welcomed with open arms by the shows promoter, John Buck who
gave them all premier spots for maximum exposure. Seven cars
were housed indoors and four outside as they were doing fire
ups all weekend.
Without further ado, enjoy these
photos documenting the show.
Photos by: Warren Merriman, John
Ewald, Doug Peterson, Don Ewald and Tom West.
At the head of the indoor
display was the beautiful "Poachers" AA/FD of Paul,
Pam and Ryan Schavrien and was considered for the "Best
of Show" competition.
On Saturday the Schavrien's
hosted a "Poachers Reunion" when the original 1970
crew came by to see their restored car. LtoR: Dick Gill, Jake
McCloud, Paul Rick, Donnie McCloud and in the seat, driver Walt
Stevens. The only one missing is the late Jack McCloud.
The "Poachers"
with Paul, Pam and Ryan.
Bill Pitts had a family
function to attend but that didn't stop his "MagiCar"
from being on display.
Another crowd favorite
was Ron Johnson's small block Chevy powered "Shubert &
Herbert" (aka Shoobie) recreation.
Keeping Shoobie company
was the Steinegger & Eshenbaugh AA/FD that made the trip
to Pomona from Phoenix, AZ.
John Loukas' AA/Fuel
Coupe has been residing in the NHRA Museum (also located in the
Fairplex) so it was only a short tow by golf cart to building
6.
Another car towed down
the road from the NHRA Museum was George Bolthoff's AA/GD.
Although they are not
cacklecars, Doug Peterson's injected hemi dragster and Don Prieto's
"Top Banana" roadster rounded out the display.
The senior citizen of
cacklecars is Red Greth's "Speed Sport" roadster which
also resides at the NHRA Museum.
The outside displays
were the Ewald Motorsports BankAmericar and Mastercar, Norm Weekly
and Jim Fox with the Frantic 4 and Dennis Prater's Stellings
& Hampshire beauty.
The nitro was really flowing
Friday night when Steve and Cindy Gibbs did the first father
daughter side-by-side cackle. Gibbs, until his "semi-retirement'
in 2003, was deeply involved in drag racing his entire adult
life. He was a drag strip manager, the NHRA Event Director and
most currently involved in all the Cacklefest/CHRR/NHRR/museum
events. In over four decades of doing what he loved best, the
Mastercar is the first running fuel dragster he ever sat in.
Daughter Cindy obviously has deep roots in the sport as well.
Frantic 4 night fire.
Dave Anton of American
Shine Car Care Products and his office manager, Wendy (below)
both got some seat time during the show. The crowds were SRO
10 deep for each fire-up.
Don Atkinson couldn't
get enough of the Frantic 4 car. He got a fire up on Saturday
and again on Sunday.
Rebecca Atkinson had
way too much fun in the BankAmericar AND the Frantic 4 car.
Caroline & Pam Schavrien
side-by-side.
Pam Schavrien was the
only person who got two fire-ups - one in the BankAmericar and
again in the Frantic 4 fueler.
Duane Beasley is a volunteer
at the NHRA museum, he cleans cars and helps on crowded days.
He has had a heart transplant and is suffering from a lung disease
so he had to be helped in and out of the car and wear a face
mask with breathers to protect him from the nitro fumes. This
was a dream of his, to sit behind a running Hemi on nitro. The
Ewald Motorsports crew of Alex Mikkelsen, Bob Danly, Mario Garcia
and John Ewald were thrilled to make his dream come true as well
as the many other "lucky" drivers for the weekend.
Famous former top fuel
driver from the 60"-70's, Walt Stevens got his nitro fix
in the Mastercar.
Jerry Millner (Virginia) and
Neil Lea (Alabama) made the long trip out to Pomona just to try
and find some info on dragsters they plan to restore. Jerry has
a circa 1968 Woody car and Neil has a circa 1968 R&B chassis
(Buttera). If nothing else they each got a fireup.
Donnie Johansen of the Howard
Cams/Rods family, got his first seat ever in a running fuel dragster.
Donnie now grinds cams for Chet Herbert Cams and made the cams
in both the BankAmericar and the Mastercar...the two "king
of flames cars"
Jayne Fenstermaker, sister-in-law
of cacklecar owner Dennis Fenstermaker.
Kelly Wright, office
manager for Ron Johnson had a chance to experience "Thunder
down under!".
Obviously Kelly was not
affected by the experience!
Check back for more
event coverage as they happen.
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