Floats on Both Coasts

Every time we turn around there is another weekend event that says hey dude, you gotta go. This weekend was the California Hot Rod Reunion up in Bakersfield. The event is put on by the Wally Parks NHRA Museum and all the money that’s made here goes to funding their great Emporium of Speed.

Every year it seems new rides come out of the woodwork and show up to play besides the established Kings of Drag Racing. Let’s have a look at some of the toys.

First up is this wild ‘56 Chevy Gasser called The Strip Teaser (JMC_5709). Up front is the obligatory tube axle and no front bumper. Out back it looks like the rear one got the swiss cheese work-over. Best of all is the red windows to match the car’s color. The only thing it was missing was a woman driver, bummer.

Next up we see Joey Steckler doing a nice burnout in his Vette before his run Saturday at the 2015 California Hot Rod Reunion (JMC_5710). We were lucky to get this shot as it was early in the day before over 50 orange vest-wearing photographers showed up on both sides of the k-rails to get their shots.

On the way to getting a snack, we couldn’t resist shooting this T-Shirt for you (JMC_5715). It says everything you ever wanted to know about stick and ball games. By the way, the snack was an authentic A&W Root Beer Float.

Joe Percoco is the driver of Bat Outta Hell!, an Altered that’s disguised itself with a ’23 T body (JMC_5722). It’s perfect for Halloween with its skull and bat graphics. All we need now is some candy and some cute girls banging on our door to make our day.

Along about dusk just before the Cackle fest that had a weird windshield setup so we had to snap one for you (JMC_5716). The driver looked rather intense at the time as you can see. After it pulled up to stage for a run the light-bulb went on.

It looks like we should have dressed up in a costume and brought some really long sticks and some marshmallows (JMC_5717).

After being honored by the NHRA, Gary “Red” Greth is seen being pushed out in the Speed-Sporwe took a lap through pre-stage. There was this slammed Gen II Nova that was named “Black Pearl” that had a weird windshield setup so we had to snap one for you (JMC_5716). The driver looked rather intense at the time as you can see. After it pulled up to stage for a run the light-bulb went on.

It looks like we should have dressed up in a costume and brought some really long sticks and some marshmallows (JMC_5717).

After being honored by the NHRA, Gary “Red” Greth is seen being pushed out in the Speed-Sport Modified Roadster to be presented to the crowd before the Cackling began (JMC_5718). Bill Turney, Red and Don Maynard originally built the car back in ’55 on a 102″ chassis with the engine in the rear. That happened to be a 331″ Hemi that fed 100% Nitro through six ’97’s. The car’s best was 169.11 mph in 9.10 seconds over half a century ago. Even cooler, a few hours before while we were talking with Mike Uribe of the Bean Bandits we were formally introduced to Red. It can’t get any better than that. As for some trivia, seems head “Bean Bandit” Joaquin Arnett and Red were buds and had a little heart to heart. Before you know it a rear-engined ride was in the works for the Speed-Sport boys and the rest is now history.

After the Cackler’s had wowed the audience, the gates were opened and the masses descended upon the track. Drivers signed autographs, shoes stuck to the tarmac and everyone wore big smiles. One of the biggest smiles was worn by “TV” Tommy Ivo who had just entertained us with his “Barnstormer”. It was oboys and the rest is now history.

After the Cacklers had wowed the audience, the gates were opened and the masses descended upon the track. Drivers signed autographs, shoes stuck to the tarmac and everyone wore big smiles. One of the biggest smiles was worn by “TV” Tommy Ivo who had just wow’ed us with his “Barnstormer”. It was os only when they started moving the cars out that we coulda shot of the beauty (JMC_5721).

During the week we had at it with the scanner trying to revive some of the 65-year-old negative’s images we got from Joe Henning. Here’s two that we could even identify without tearing our hair out.

First up we see George Amick in the Ford V8-60 powered Kurtis-Kraft owned by Al Dean in the late ’40s (JHC_1436). The car was white and blue. George was born on October 24, 1924, in Vernonia, Oregon and started racing after WWII. He would die at Daytona International Speedway on April 4, 1959, in the first ever Champ Car race held at the track. Al Dean was an owner-entrant-sponsor for many years and raced his cars under the Dean Van Lines name. Guys like Bob Sweikert, Jimmy Bryant, A. J. Foyt, Eddie Sachs, Chuck Hulse, and Mario Andretti are but a few who drove for him over the years.

Gib Lilly is seen sliding the tail in Ernie Casale’s V8-60 powered ride (JHC_1428). Gib won a 30 lapper at Huntington Beach on April 6 and a 30 lapper at Fresno on May 25 in this car before Johnny Parsons took over and drove it to a win at the Rose Bowl on June 10, 1947.

The state of retro-rodding-racing can be seen in our last two shots for the week. First up is “Guts” Gordon from Newton, New Jersey as he pulls up at Registration for the Race of Gentlemen on Friday, October 19, 2015 (JMC_5723). After signing on the dotted line his car was given the once over tech-wise. Note he’s running OEM Ford Wide-Five’s that are both stronger and lighter than wires.

Parked in the reception-area on Friday for The Race of Gentlemen was Tyler Hardie’s ’31 Ford Roadster that sported a Banger under the hood (JMC_5724). Our Horseshoe Tavern visitor hails from Denver, Colorado. On the left is the Small Town Brewery truck that started life as a Model A. On the side it says Not Your Father’s Root Been and it meant what it said, David Steele and I had one with ice cream in it and we can tell you it’s real beer that actually tastes like Root Beer and it leaves you with a nice buzz. Look out A&W.