Street Beat

August 2010

Year XXXVI

Fun Fest Car Show

The annual Fun Fest Car Show held in conjunction with the Kingsport Fun Fest was held on July 24^th in downtown Kingsport, on Main Street and Broad.

It was reportedly the most heavily attended to date. There were 240 plus entries with well over 300 attendees. There was also the biggest crowd of spectators to date. The new location has some shade and was generally more attractive to spectators and car entrants alike. There were 8-10 KARC members attending, with member Jim Bledsoe also setting up to advertise his new organization Vintage Street Rodders of America. Mike Smith said only one person out of a few hundred, commented that he missed being close to the Taste of Tri Cities food court. Hundreds for – one against. Guess who wins?

Wings and Wheels Show

The third annual Wings and Wheels car show was held unfortunately on the same day as the Fun Fest car show, on July 24^th. The show was held at the Virginia Highlands airport in Abingdon, VA. Eight members of the KARC and one other good street rodder friend gathered at the K Mart on Stone Dr. to form a small caravan to travel together to the show. One KARC member experienced some minor electrical problems, and was heard cursing his poor yellow 37 Ford, and also threatened to “burn it down”. Said member has since remedied his problems and has decided not to “burn it down”.

Geographically challenged discuss best route to Virginia Highlands Airport

I (Sid) feel obligated to relay this happening since last year in our caravan to Wings and Wheels my Studebaker made a loud bang and then quit. Twenty rods proceeded to cruise by, wave and grin, just happy that it wasn’t them. Fortunately for me I got it started, took it home, didn’t burn it, and drove a pink VW convertible to the event. In 2009 the KARC and friends had a caravan of 20 plus vehicles. Too bad this years’ show collided with the Kingsport Fun Fest. The Wings and Wheels show was good again with the air show, antique airplanes, radio controlled airplane show, and the car show. The car show entries were down perhaps slightly as the Kiwanis club had advertised that only pre-registered cars would be allowed in. That turned out not to be the case. All proceeds from this show goes to charity, primarily children’s charities. Rumor is the P-51 Mustang will not be back next year. Member Dick Cartwright was called at home after the show and informed that he had won a trophy at the show. Dick traveled back to Abingdon and accepted his trophy. There could possibly be a glitch as far as the class Dick won. He will have to explain that one. Be sure to ask at the August meeting.

Members Machines and Gossip

Mack Armstrong’s beautiful 40 Buick Coupe is mostly finished except for upholstery and a few chrome parts awaiting delivery. Mack has dealt with a California chrome facility that has given problems for more than a few rodders. Mack is pleased to have finally gotten one half of his grille, and has elected to let R&D (one of our sponsors), of Elizabethton finish the other half.

Sid also had problems with this company regarding Studebaker bumpers. Once they get your money, look out. The company will not be named in the newsletter, but just ask Sid or Mack, and they will be glad to tell you.

Member Charlie Ball has reluctantly returned to his 8-5 ball and chain, after recovering from knee replacement surgery. With the knee not being a primary excuse for working on any of his 4 projects, I suppose the extreme heat will be a good excuse. Charlie has found time and energy to install a 4 bbl. intake and quadrajet on his 37 Ford four door.

Charlie Thomas (if you don’t have club e-mail), and his wife Jeanie took their 87 Corvette and zoomed out to Frisco,CO for a few days of Corvette fun. The show was called Corvettes in the Rockies. Charlie had some great shots of Corvettes and the Colorado scenery. Charlie reported his 87 Vette with tuned port 350 and AOD performed well and got in the 20’s on gas mileage.

Bruce Roberts’ 56 Chrysler wagon has experienced a failed electric cooling fan. Bruce is currently looking for the person who sold him the fan. Said person was supposed to be a friend, but is now keeping a low profile.

Mikel Smith has reported his 39 Buick Convertible previously owned by member Mack Armstrong, has been sold, just waiting for the final details to be worked out. Mike is still looking for a 62 Bel Air bubble top, if anyone knows of one. Mike has trimmed his collection down from four to one, that lone survivor being his 68 442 convertible clone, and the old 442 is getting pretty nervous right about now.

Jim Collier has been entertaining the idea of replacing the engine in his 47 Ford Coupe, and has a good lead on a professionally built .060 over 350 Chevy that would fill the bill perfectly. As of this writing Jim hadn’t sealed the deal, but was close to turning loose of a little green cash.

Jim Bledsoe reports that his new organization, The Vintage Street Rodders of America is still growing and plans continue for their first major event. The event will be Sept. l6th, l7th, and 18^th. Jim has worked out a deal with the Bristol Dragway so that entrants to his event will be able to attend the Thursday Nite Street Fights Sept.,16^th) as part of their entry fee. Anyone wishing to pre-register can do so at web site VSRA-USA.com, or call Jim at 423-571-6430.

Jerry Collins and his buddy Dallas Reed attended the GoodGuys Nationals in Columbus on July 9^th thru 11^th. Jerry reported generally good weather and a good turnout of rods, customs, muscle cars etc. The attendance was about 6,000 plus which is about the same as last year.

When this newsletter arives the 41^st annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals will be history. This year will of course be the first nationals using the 30 year rule. Street Scene articles generally tout this new arrangement as being highly successful. Number of entrants at any event as opposed to last years numbers may or may not be a good indicator of the new rules success. Many rodders, (including ole Sid) will be watching and listening to comments. Approximately 10 KARC members are expected to attend the Nationals this year. August 6^th,7^th,8^th are this years dates.

Auto Trivia Quiz

Who first produced over 10,000 vehicles in a single day? (Answer at bottom)

Upcoming Events

NSRA Street Rod Nationals ---- August 5-8 ---- Louisville, KY

FOP Broad Street Cruise-In ---- August 14 ---- Kingsport, TN

UARA Race ---- August 14 ---- Kingsport Speedway

Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruiz-In ---- Aug 12-14 ---- Hiawassee, GA

National Corvette Homecoming ---- July 16-18 ---- Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green, KY

Valley Classic Auto & Truck Show ---- August 26-28 ---- Maggie Valley, NC

Charlotte Auto Fair---- August 26-29 ---- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC

Frog Follies ---- August 27-29 ---- Evansville, IN

Mopar Thunder ---- Sept 3-5 ---- Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN

Dixie Gas Swap Meet, Gasoline & Oil Collectables ---- Sept 9-11 ---- Hwy 41, 9 miles of Sevierville, TN (8 AM-5 PM Daily)

Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup ---- Sept 10-11 ---- Nat’l Parks Resort Lodge, Pigeon Forge, TN

Fall Grand Run ---- Sept 16-19 ---- Pigeon Forge, TN

VSRA Thunder Road Rod Run ---- Sept 16-18 ---- BORLA Exhaust, Johnson City, TN

Allandale Car Show ---- Sept 19 ---- Allandale Mansion, Kingsport, TN

Super Chevy ---- Sept 24-26 ---- Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN

Kevin’s Krooze ---- Sept 25 ---- Mike Miller County Park, Benton, KY ( www.kevinskrooze.com )

Food Lion AutoFair ---- Sept 26-29 ---- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC

Fall Carlisle ---- Sept 29- Oct 3 ---- Carlisle, PA

Forge Classic Muscle Car Show ---- Oct 1-2 ---- Marriot Meadowview Resort, Kingsport, TN

AACA Eastern Fall Meet ---- Oct 6-9 ---- Hershey, PA

Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo Wop ---- Oct 7-10 ---- Charleston, WV (http://www.charlestonwvcarshow.com )

Crusin’ The Coast ---- Oct 3-10 ---- Biloxi, MS

NSRA Southeast Nationals ---- Oct 8-10 ---- Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL

Rolling Thunder Magazine Car Show ---- Oct 8-10 ---- South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, FL

Corvette Expo ---- Oct 15-16 ---- Sevierville Events Center, Sevierville TN

Goodguys Southeast Nationals ---- Oct 28-31 ---- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC

Hamblin County Car Club Fall Swap Meet ---- Oct 23 ---- Colbach Harley-Davidson, Morristown, TN (9AM to 2PM

Tobacco Festival & Car Show ---- Oct 23 ---- Pennington Gap, VA

Fall Cherokee Rod Run ---- Nov 5-7 ---- Cherokee, NC

Somerset, KY, Monthly Cruise in ( www.somernitescruise.com )

ADVERTISERS SPONSORS

Advance Auto Parts --------------------423-246-4290

Appalachian Auto Glass-----------------423-279-7202

Berry’s Pharmacy------------------------423-247-3124

Bone Fire Smokehouse -----------------423-239-7225

Braeden’s Barbeque---------------------423-378-0500

Brooks Circle Wrecker Service--------423-578-2131

Browns Auto and Air Conditioning----423-245-4831

Brookside Automotive------------------423-392-0211

Carter Powder Coating------------------423-542-1150

Center Auto Machine Shop-------------423-247-8168

Classic Investments----------------------423-323-2407

Cross Bridge Wealth Management ------423-477-4311

Custom Auto Paint and Supply---------423-571-6430

Dan’l Boone Region AAC---------------N/A

Dashboard Audio-------------------------423-239-3274

Davis Heating and Air-------------------423-239-8779

D&D Rod & Custom--------------------423-357-4704

Don's and Davis Sanitation Service----800-451-3987

Eddie’s Rod Shop-----------------------423-323-2081

Elmcroft of Kingsport-------------------423-245-7212

Fall Branch Dozing & Ditching ----------423-348-7504

Finishing Touch-------------------------888-234-6313

Gateway Self Storage ------------------423-378-7867

Gilbert Advanced Asset Mgt.----------800-677-4445

Golden Corral --------------------------423-247-7810

Grand Furniture -----------------------423-246-1333

Grant Tire and Automotive -----------423-247-3149

Gulley Performance--------------------423-2472271

Hot Dog Hut-----------------------------423-245-5731

Jan Mar Restaurant---------------------423-245-0731

Jim’s Construction---------------------423-335-0224

Kingsport Body Works----------------423-245-1421

Kingsport Fasteners--------------------423-378-4717

Kingsport Town Center--------------423-246-1697

Norman’s Auto Repair-----------------423-245-7351

Paint by Darrell-------------------------423-288-6417P

Professional Dental Lab ---------------423-246-2421

Quality Body Shop ---------------------423-282-2986

Rainbow Motors------------------------423-288-5827

R & D Metal Finishing-----------------423-543-1722

R & R Auto Repair----------------------423-288-8763

Roger Clendenin Racing ---------------423-357-8251

Ron Matthews Insurance --------------423-246-4241

Smith Auto Parts and Machine Shop--423-272-7686

Speedway Seat Covers------------------423-753-4600

Stateline Collision -----------------------423-392-0828

Storage-Plex ----------------------------423-378-0008

Taylor Automotive & Performance ---423-279-0766

T.K.’s Big Dogs Too!-------------------423-245-6300

Tony’s Pipe and Muffler----------------423-246-7304

TV and Radio Clinic---------------------423-247-4841

Wallace News ----------------------------423-245-2035

Williams Classic Parts-------------------423-247-3260

Wizguy Rod & Custom -----------------423-753-2206.

*Bold Lettering Denotes Major Show Sponsor

Next Club Meeting:

Golden Corral Restaurant on Eastman Road Kingsport, TN., August 12th, 6:30 PM

Trivia Answer - Ford set a single day production record in 1955 with10,877 vehicles rolling off the line.