Event Coverage 1978 Street Rod Nats, Columbus, OH

Recognize any of these cars?

I took these pics with a Kodak 110 instamatic at age 16, then discovered them when cleaning out my parent's house.


Mom & dad weren't motorheads, but liked this '41 (correction: '40) Chevy. Dad admitted it was fancier than the one he learned to drive in.

 

Cool pics… thanks for sharing.

 

I believe the black, flamed 33 is a car owned by John Stimac, originally from Wisconsin.

 

^^^yes ^^^ also the tilt front end Chevy belonged to Sam Gregory from Waukegan Illinois

 

But wait, there's more!

Spillover from the airbrushed mural era.


I liked flashy engines.



"This is not" The California Kid


I think this was Cotton Worksman's ultra-low round-tube-framed T roadster.


Finally, me in my Farrah Fawcett T-shirt & bell bottoms, next to my favorite car.

 

To elaborate on @kabinenroller ’s post Sam’s car was originally white with flames, then when it was redone with all new suspension by R&B Automotive it was repainted black with the elaborate candy paint stripes. Sam was a member, probably a founding member, of North Shore Rods.

 

Cotton Werksman, RIP, built that low slung T for a friend of his.

 

As a young kid, I saw both versions. While not HAMB friendly, I always liked the candy flame job.

 

Oh yeah! Black with flames! Now I remember his was yellow with Ardun heads.

 

Also, the black tilt front Chevy is a 40, not a 41. Great pictures, thanks for sharing.

 

The headers on the "T" on the left look like they would make it extremely difficult to get into, and out of the car. I think some fancy tire climbing and jumping would have to be applied to get in or out of it. Cool cars though.

 

I think I see Mark @Moriarity in the background of the first pic with the quad headlights!

 

Cool blast from the past! Always nice going down memory lane.

 

Thanks cool memories . I attended first in 84

 

I was there in 1978 with my "beater" '48 Ford Pickup 289/4spd.
Stroker caps, bell bottoms and tube tops. Oh to be young again. Thanks for the memories Gary.

 

My wife and I were there on our honeymoon as spectators. Ah the good old days of wide ovals, hahaha.
I'll have to find our pictures when we get back from Texas in April.

 

Corrected. Thanks.

 

The psychedelic-painted channelled Lasalle roadster with the blown 6-carbed hemi is Ed Lepold's ride.

 

I drove from California in my '32 truck.

 

I remember seeing your truck! I'm not sure,,,,,, (constant "balanced liquid diet" Beer in each hand) I probably talked with you. I had the flamed '41 Chevy 10 wheeler.

 

Great stuff, Gary. Thanks for posting. That '40 Chevy garnered a lot of attention back then. Seems it made it into a few publications.

 

I love this stuff. I know there were some awful executions during this time, but there were also some good, highly crafted rides. Cotton Werksman was such an outlier. Beautiful work.

 

I thought that too, how many passengers got singed? But when you're a twenty-something hot rodder dreaming up this kinda thing, you just think "I'll just climb over the tire", and you do!

 

Made the trip from Minnesota. Pretty certain I have a pic of the '40 Chevy.
Three 18-19 yr old farm boys in a old beater heading out East.
Thankfully there was no social media as we were unsupervised.

 

The babe in the second photo is probably a retired grandma now.

 

I saw Sam Gregory’s Chevy sedan at a car show at the Northern Illinois Train museum around 75. What a total work of art.

 

I still appreciate looking at home built hot rods. I think in this day of the internet, people expect that all cars have the fit and finish tht the pro built shops build.

 

I remember studying this truck intently. I loved the idea of the tarped stakebed.

 

That 32 3 window was one of my favorites, seen it at a show in the Detroit area about 1976 parked next to another one the at was almost its twin.

 

LOL . I was so inspired when I got back from the Nat's that I decided to re-do the body..and while I was at it , chop it. Oxy/ace torches and coat hangers... that's how us "poor kids" did things.

(BTW been married to her for 42 years)