Just Like In The Movies

While driving through the pits, checking out candidates for Editor's Choice Top-Ten Drag Car awards, we saw a young man wearing a shirt that had "Hollywood Knights" written on it. Thinking there was a vendor selling such a shirt (which we definitely needed), we stopped to talk. It was Jim Cherol of Austin Township, Ohio, and he was wearing his club shirt. There actually is a "Hollywood Knights" car club, comprised of a group of racers. We rounded up the club members and took them to the Super Chevy subscription booth for a photo with Project "X." We're glad we met these guys -- they know what "cool" really means.

During our search for Top-Ten Drag Cars, we saw so many great candidates at Norwalk it was hard to narrow our choices to ten. What really did impress us, though, was the crop of very fast and great looking Monte Carlos. Racers are taking these big cars and getting astounding performance from them with both big- and small-block power. Besides that, the cars inherently look good, so the result is some extra fine rides. In the car show area, we were treated to more great Montes, proving that Chevy fans appreciate all the best models, old and new (er). It might be time for folks to start snapping up a Monte (or two) before they get as rare as some of our other great Chevys.

Come early and stay late when you go to Super Chevy at Norwalk. Even before the racers hit the track, the Bader family (track owners) treats you to a cup of coffee or juice, and maybe even a doughnut. Then when the light turns green on the quarter-mile, we see what the Mid-Ohio racers do when they're turned loose on one of the finest tracks in the country. Nitro Coupe driver, Gary Irving, cranked up a 6.19-second elapsed time during Saturday qualifying, to set a track record. He was certainly the odds-on choice to take the final round, but he encountered a bit of mechanical trouble later. The rain eventually delayed all the racing so we'll wrap it up in Epping, New Hampshire.

If you're an S-10 fan, Norwalk had a bunch, including Bill Reinhaart's ride from Fostoria, Ohio, which took the American Colorscans Graphics Award.	Headers don't work as well when they're flat on one side. Nitro Coupes that scrape the wall don't work as well that way, either. Just ask Jim Nordhougen.	A Henry J with a small-block (set back almost to the rear seat), along with a straight-axle suspension just makes our day! Thanks to local Norwalk rodder, Henry L. Alexander, for bringing it to the show.
The cool little car caught our attention, but we really loved this guy and his big smile. His name is Michael Kosmo of Lorain, Ohio, and the car is a '69 Mini-Camaro that took a Special Interest Award.	Sometimes you just have to find a nice safe place to take a short nap. What better spot than under a big 'ol dualie, decorated to remind us of why we can do the things we do?	'53 Studebakers are very cool, and most of them are now Chevrolet powered. One great example is John Martin's version from Concord Township, Ohio, which took the ISCA "Award of Excellence."
We usually show the wheels-up view of Chicago Outlaws cars, but they're also capable of some outstanding burnouts. Tim Oros, a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful, has plenty of power on tap.	This big, beautiful double-door was just biding its time in the parking area. We understand that a close relative of Super Chevy's announcer, Mike Fornataro, is the proud owner of this torpedo coupe. Very nice!	If you don't have all the pieces, it makes sense to display how everything might go together. We don't know if it worked, but it got our attention.
Ken Hall was right back in his regular ride after piloting Project "X" at Maple Grove. Judging from this flame pop and smoke show, he seems right at home.	And if you need a project car, there were some available in the car corral. No reason not to have a Chevy ready for Norwalk next year, right?

Roger Adkins	Terry Buza	Paul Carillon
Jim Cherol	John Maag	Tom McCuan
Joe Oiler	Mick Powell	Scott Vanderwyst
Phil Wagner

Bruce Bender	John Bosley	Deb Clark
Gary Czapor	Scott Koenig	Bill Parks
Bryan Sarver	Robert Taylor

Bill Sutton	Lee Stickney	Lon Williams
Tony Smith	Terry Ward	J.D. Genovese
Tom Malone	Carl Wilson	Mike Zayas
Mark Patrone