The Street Machine Nationals headed into its 27th year on June 20-22 with something different--a new location. Last year's event in Indy had run its course and it was time for a change. With nearly 1,000 participants and close to 20,000 spectators, the 27th Street Machine Nationals presented by Flowmaster and hosted by Car Craft was a resounding success, with sunshine gracing the weekend following weeks of wet weather. This year's event was sponsored by Flowmaster, Mickey Thompson Tires, Summit Racing, Cargo Express, and Dynomax/Rancho. Located on the picturesque Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, street machiners never had it so nice with lush grass, shady trees, a pond, and gobs of Midwestern hospitality.
-
Pat McGinnis, seen here with a plethora of Street Machine Nationals memorabilia stretching
-
A permanent fixture at the Street Machine Nationals and all-around good guy, Jason Reeves
-
This early Chevy pickup relies on a cross-rammed big-block Mopar for motivation.
-
This year's Car Craft magazine Editor's Choice award went to Dan Woods from Kettering, Ohi
-
The winner of Saturday's Mickey Thompson Tires-sponsored burnout contest was Mark Gantner
-
...in his 454-inspired '72 Chevelle. The winner of each day's contest received a gift cert
-
Sunday's contest was taken by Jeff Knous of Wapakoneta, Ohio...
-
...and his '72 Dodge Dart. Smoke generation was provided by 440 inches of big-block.
-
Runner-up honors on both days went to Rick Hicks of South Whitley, Indiana. His hot rod l
-
These Midwesterners know how to do a car show properly...
-
...Reclining chairs, blenders, cold brew, and swimming pools were the order of the day.
-
Having the distinction of being one of the earliest Pro Street cars to be screwed together
-
Jim Martino purchased this all-original and unrestored Olds Vista Cruiser from eBay. The c
-
This bright red '57 GMC pickup was beautifully restored by Toby Binkley of Wapakoneta, Ohi
-
Dan Eby of St. Louis, Missouri, a 27-year veteran of the Street Machine Nationals, shows u
-
Mad Max was on hand with his faux blown and injected Australian Falcon. It has been a drea
-
The bikini contest was deservedly won by Brittny Carder of Wapakoneta, Ohio (center). Leig
-
The US Marines even attended the Nats. Here former Marine and associate editor Marko R. po
-
Car Craft Art Director Tom Donchez was seen hanging out at the swine barn.
-
Playboy centerfold model Angela Little (Aug. '98) was on hand to autograph photos. Angela
-
Not all fast machinery at the Street Machine Nationals was of the four-wheeled variety. Ti
Dyno Bash
As usual, we spent much of our time at the Castrol Syntec-sponsored Werx Motorsports chassis dyno. This year we showed up with a pair of custom-made jackets to give to the two top dogs of the dyno--one for the highest naturally aspirated output, and one for the highest output with a power-adder. The participants didn't disappoint.
Power-adder honors went to "Big" Rich Price of Cleveland, Ohio--and his parrot. His '67 Camaro is packing 540 inches of Rat motor force-fed by an 8-71 blower pulling fuel through two 950-cfm HP Holleys. The blown mill laid down 642 horses and nearly 600 lb-ft of torque to the wheels.
Kelly Howard of Tipp City, Ohio, took the normally aspirated title by cranking out 614 hp. His '71 Chevelle barely contains a high-compression 555-inch fat Rat.
The 2nd Annual Matt King Classic
Last year's inaugural Matt King Classic demolition derby seared an image of post-nuclear-holocaust carnage and twisted metal in our minds. The devastation was so complete that the contest was over mere minutes after the event started. This year's derby took place on the dirt with a full field of entrants. Was there less violent destruction this year? Not on your life, as this derby played out like slow torture. In the end, Steve Shaffer of Wapakoneta, Ohio, took the gold in his '76 Buick station wagon. The wagon's long overhang worked like a battering ram.
-
Chrysler Imperials, normally banned in demo derby competitions due to their virtual indest
-
-
Here's Matt King Classic winner Steve Shaffer and his '76 Buick station wagon sponsored by