Georgia Perspective on the National Hot Rod Reunion, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 2005
by Marvin T. Smith
Photos
The National Hot Rod Reunion was held in Bowling Green, Kentucky on June 17-19, 2005. Sponsored by Holley and presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, the event was one to be remembered. According to the National Hot Rod Association, this was the biggest and best of the three events held to date.
Georgians had many reasons to be extremely proud at this event. To begin with, Hubert Platt, "The Georgia Shaker," was selected to be one of five honorees at the event. Hubert had a great career driving gassers, super stocks, pro stocks, and funny cars from the mid 50s to the mid 70s. Hubert regaled everyone with a great monolog at the ceremonies on Friday night. Sorry folks, but you had to be there!
After the awards were passed out, Hubert Platt donated a framed collage of photos of his race cars created by artist Fred Simmons of the GeorgiaDragRacing.com team. Fred's art was auctioned off to benefit the National Hot Rod Association's museum. After a frenzied bidding, the collage went to Larry Smith for $525. Congratulations to Hubert and Fred for a job well done for a worthy cause!
If that wasn't enough, Rome's Bunky Bobo, son Tony Bobo, and family displayed their Hemi Hurricane Willys in the reunion with the restored drag racing vehicles. Completed just prior to the event, the Bobo's were not sure they were going to make it at all. When they arrived, they set up the car outside the main display area on the grass, but the event officials asked them to move it to the central Memory Lane. Many people met the Bobos and enjoyed the fruits of their labor. In what was to the GeorgiaDragRacing.com team one of the major highlights of the event, on Saturday evening the Hemi Hurricane was selected for a "Best of the Best" award - being judged the best car in the display of racers in the Memory Lane area. You have to understand that there were more than 1200 cars on display on the grounds. Fifty of these were selected as the top fifty, and of these, nine were selected as "Best of the Best." Congratulations to all the Bobos for a job well done. Bunky was allowed to make a half pass down the track going through the lights at 105 mph on Sunday. Tony swears that Bunky lost about 40 years of aging on that pass! See the complete story of the Hemi Hurricane restoration on another area of the GeorgiaDragRacing.com web site.
Then there was the unveiling of the new specialty Platt and Payne 2005 Mustang supercar. This car commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Hubert Platt and Randy Payne Ford Drag Team. Rebuilt from the ground up, the Mustang has a twin turbo motor that puts out some 700 horsepower at the rear wheels. It has special suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, and aero package. The interior has fancy leather seats with Platt and Payne logos stitched in, and lots of carbon fiber trim. Hubert and Randy were both on hand for the debut, and both signed the dashboard of the first prototype in a Saturday afternoon ceremony. Be the first in your neighborhood to own one of the limited edition of 50. Price is rumored to be around $150,000! You have to see this one to believe it. Look for more photos on GeorgiaDragRacing.com
Winder, Georgia's GMP company once again took an active sponsorship role in the event. President Tom Long provided diecast models of the famed Greer, Black, and Prudhomme top fuel car as doorprizes for the Friday evening ceremonies. There was one car for each table and some additional ones for the chair seating area. These are high dollar replicas, and Mr. Long's generosity was much appreciated by the many winners, including GeorgiaDragRacing.com's own David Dilbeck. GMP also sponsored the Saturday night concert staring Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Thanks GMP for all you do.
The Saturday night cacklefest, where restored cars are push-started on the track and allowed to idle until they run out of fuel was the biggest ever held at the National Hot Rod Reunion. The show was spectacular with flames leaping in the evening darkness. Last down the quarter mile was legend Big Daddy Don Garlits. The crowd loved the spectacle.
In addition to the more than 1200 cars on display, there were hundreds of race cars at the event. Several Georgians made the trip to Bowling Green to race. Mike Pittman of Roswell qualified his 64 Impala in the Quick 64 field as did Jake Brinson of McDonough in his 64 Galaxie. Dave Cox (Dacula), Joe Sannutti (Baxley), and Mark Adams (Valdosta) qualified in the Nostalgia Comp class. Clarence Cloud of Vidalia qualified in Nostalgia Gas. Andy Sarratt (Social Circle) and Barry Camp (Monroe) both qualified in Classic Super Stock. Congratulations to all of our racers! Unfortunately, none of them reached the finals this time.
The racing was spectacular. In Top Fuel, Jack Harris took both ends of the track record with outstanding times of 5.913 at 245.94 mph. Unfortunately, Harris went up in smoke on Sunday and did not make the finals. The final round saw Sean Bellemeur win with a 6.42 over Brendan Murry’s breaking 9.29.
The National Hot Rod Reunion started out three years ago as the premier nostalgia event east of California. It has grown larger every year. Don't miss it in 2006!
Photos
The National Hot Rod Reunion was held in Bowling Green, Kentucky on June 17-19, 2005. Sponsored by Holley and presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, the event was one to be remembered. According to the National Hot Rod Association, this was the biggest and best of the three events held to date.
Georgians had many reasons to be extremely proud at this event. To begin with, Hubert Platt, "The Georgia Shaker," was selected to be one of five honorees at the event. Hubert had a great career driving gassers, super stocks, pro stocks, and funny cars from the mid 50s to the mid 70s. Hubert regaled everyone with a great monolog at the ceremonies on Friday night. Sorry folks, but you had to be there!
After the awards were passed out, Hubert Platt donated a framed collage of photos of his race cars created by artist Fred Simmons of the GeorgiaDragRacing.com team. Fred's art was auctioned off to benefit the National Hot Rod Association's museum. After a frenzied bidding, the collage went to Larry Smith for $525. Congratulations to Hubert and Fred for a job well done for a worthy cause!
If that wasn't enough, Rome's Bunky Bobo, son Tony Bobo, and family displayed their Hemi Hurricane Willys in the reunion with the restored drag racing vehicles. Completed just prior to the event, the Bobo's were not sure they were going to make it at all. When they arrived, they set up the car outside the main display area on the grass, but the event officials asked them to move it to the central Memory Lane. Many people met the Bobos and enjoyed the fruits of their labor. In what was to the GeorgiaDragRacing.com team one of the major highlights of the event, on Saturday evening the Hemi Hurricane was selected for a "Best of the Best" award - being judged the best car in the display of racers in the Memory Lane area. You have to understand that there were more than 1200 cars on display on the grounds. Fifty of these were selected as the top fifty, and of these, nine were selected as "Best of the Best." Congratulations to all the Bobos for a job well done. Bunky was allowed to make a half pass down the track going through the lights at 105 mph on Sunday. Tony swears that Bunky lost about 40 years of aging on that pass! See the complete story of the Hemi Hurricane restoration on another area of the GeorgiaDragRacing.com web site.
Then there was the unveiling of the new specialty Platt and Payne 2005 Mustang supercar. This car commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Hubert Platt and Randy Payne Ford Drag Team. Rebuilt from the ground up, the Mustang has a twin turbo motor that puts out some 700 horsepower at the rear wheels. It has special suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, and aero package. The interior has fancy leather seats with Platt and Payne logos stitched in, and lots of carbon fiber trim. Hubert and Randy were both on hand for the debut, and both signed the dashboard of the first prototype in a Saturday afternoon ceremony. Be the first in your neighborhood to own one of the limited edition of 50. Price is rumored to be around $150,000! You have to see this one to believe it. Look for more photos on GeorgiaDragRacing.com
Winder, Georgia's GMP company once again took an active sponsorship role in the event. President Tom Long provided diecast models of the famed Greer, Black, and Prudhomme top fuel car as doorprizes for the Friday evening ceremonies. There was one car for each table and some additional ones for the chair seating area. These are high dollar replicas, and Mr. Long's generosity was much appreciated by the many winners, including GeorgiaDragRacing.com's own David Dilbeck. GMP also sponsored the Saturday night concert staring Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Thanks GMP for all you do.
The Saturday night cacklefest, where restored cars are push-started on the track and allowed to idle until they run out of fuel was the biggest ever held at the National Hot Rod Reunion. The show was spectacular with flames leaping in the evening darkness. Last down the quarter mile was legend Big Daddy Don Garlits. The crowd loved the spectacle.
In addition to the more than 1200 cars on display, there were hundreds of race cars at the event. Several Georgians made the trip to Bowling Green to race. Mike Pittman of Roswell qualified his 64 Impala in the Quick 64 field as did Jake Brinson of McDonough in his 64 Galaxie. Dave Cox (Dacula), Joe Sannutti (Baxley), and Mark Adams (Valdosta) qualified in the Nostalgia Comp class. Clarence Cloud of Vidalia qualified in Nostalgia Gas. Andy Sarratt (Social Circle) and Barry Camp (Monroe) both qualified in Classic Super Stock. Congratulations to all of our racers! Unfortunately, none of them reached the finals this time.
The racing was spectacular. In Top Fuel, Jack Harris took both ends of the track record with outstanding times of 5.913 at 245.94 mph. Unfortunately, Harris went up in smoke on Sunday and did not make the finals. The final round saw Sean Bellemeur win with a 6.42 over Brendan Murry’s breaking 9.29.
The National Hot Rod Reunion started out three years ago as the premier nostalgia event east of California. It has grown larger every year. Don't miss it in 2006!
posted by David @ 12:12 AM
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