Fall 2007 - Lane Automotive

FEATURES:
The Parts You Need and the Service You Deserve!
The Spotlight ........................ 1
Editors Notes ........................ 2
Hot Rodding News & Notes .... 3
New Allstar Products ............. 4
New Products ....................... 5
Racing News ......................... 6,7,8
Rodding Journal ................... 9
Manufacturer Spotlight ........ 10
Lane Happenings .................. 11
Lane Collectables .................. 12
The Head Of The Class = The Class Of The Head
In Chevrolet and GMC truck order books, it’s called the Vortec 4200. In Jerry Arnold’s and Ron Bohn’s book it’s called the latest and greatest engine for the NHRA’s
econo-dragster class. In anyone’s book, the 4.2 liter, inline six cylinder from General
Motors’ Power Train Division is a testament to engineering genius. Displacing 256
cubic inches, the all aluminum inline six was designed to perform yeoman duty in
the Chevy Trail Blazer, but has a lot to offer in the way of performance potential for
use in drag racing. The block has the strength to make lots more power than the 270
horses it’s rated at in stock form. With dual overhead cams, 4-valves per cylinder and
a girdle-like structure that ties the main bearing saddles together for extra strength,
the engine is the perfect base for a modern, unique competition engine.
Jerry (left) and Ron hold Comp Eliminator Trophy
That’s what Jerry and Ron thought when they first discovered this engine. They won at 2007 Division III Fall Classic at Indianapolis .
liked what they saw. Both men have a long history as successful drag racers. Jerry,
well known as the proprietor of Arnold Cylinder Heads in Kalamazoo, was NHRA Comp Eliminator World Champ in 2000
and is a seven-time NHRA Division III champion. Ron owns Bohn Motorsports and
is a wizard with a CNC mill. He’s also a veteran Comp Eliminator racer who has
campaigned a tube chassis Chevrolet Beretta in Division III for many years. The two
decided to combine forces to build an all-out Vortech 4200 to power Jerry’s rear
engine, Comp Eliminator dragster.
Starting with a stock 4.2 base engine, Jerry took a spare cylinder head and cut it
in two to get a better grasp of the intake and exhaust ports and the combustion
chambers. Jerry firmly (and correctly) believes that the cylinder head’s efficiency is
the most important ingredient in making lots of horsepower with any engine. The
aluminum block was plenty strong in stock form, with cast iron cylinder liners for
Car’s first outing and the Best Engineered Award.
durability. The crankshaft was another story. A cast item, it is not only weak from the
high RPM standpoint, it is also quite heavy at 85 pounds. A billet crankshaft, weighing in at a mere 55 pounds, was substituted and, while they were at it, Jerry and Ron decided that it should have 1/2” less stroke. The final combination displaced
236 cubic inches, allowing the car to fit perfectly into the G/Econo Dragster class’s weight to cubic inch break.
After some early bugs were worked out, the fellows took the car to National Trail
Raceway in Columbus, Ohio for an NHRA Divisional race where they won the Best Engineered award. In September, they once again traveled to Columbus and Jerry set
both ends of the G/ED national record with an 8.00/163.00 pass. Then, a few weeks
later, at the Division III Fall Classic at O’Reilly Motorsports Park in Indianapolis, Jerry
ran 165.00, but traction problems at the track kept them from attempting another
record. However, they won the Comp Eliminator class at the event.
The car is currently disassembled for some winter changes. Ron is putting his CNC
skills to good use, building a new billet crank. Inline sixes have an inherent torsional
vibration problem due to the length of the crankshaft and the new crank will be fully
The Ford powered roadster Jerry drove to NHRA
counterweighted which should smooth things out considerably. The tach has regisComp Eliminator World Championship in 2000.
tered as high as 9,800 RPM, but usually is held to about 9,600 so any reduction at all
in vibrations would be a plus. Jerry says the engine produces unreal torque and produces 2.8 g’s at launch. The best 60-ft.
time to date is 1.063 seconds, nearly 5% quicker than the Ford six that previously powered the car. and Jerry feels that there
is still a great deal of performance potential that remains to be tapped. The transmission used is a Turbo 350.
Jerry and Ron have created an impressive engine package in a relatively short period of time, a definite tribute to their
skills as hot rodders and racers. In many ways, they are pioneers with this engine and we think they deserve to share major
credit for doing their part to keep sportsman drag racing at the forefront of drag racing technology. R&R
Fall 2007 1
RACING AND RODDING
Fall 2007
Editor’s Notes
“Build A Better Hot Rod And The World Will Beat
A Path Your Doorstep”
Elsewhere in this issue we have a small blurb on the Hunnert Car PileUp in Morris, Illinois. Just looking at the photos of some of the many cars
at the event gave me new hope that real hot rodding is still alive and well.
Maybe the Chrome Czars, the club that puts on the “pile-up”, emphasize
their stand against billet and flash a bit too heavily, but I think their point,
as I decipher it, is well taken. It is still possible to build a creative, original
hot rod without expecting an end product that looks like it came from
a TV show. For far too many years now, a lot of would-be rodders have
been scared off from actually joining the ranks because they felt there
was no way they could hope to compete with street rods that cost over a
Early 1970’s Ford Maverick is the perfect basis for the
hundred grand to build. Even if they could have found a suitable threekind of hot rod we are talking about.
or five-window Ford starting point, and inherited a hundred gallons of red
lacquer and a billet factory, the standards had been set too high. The Chrome
Czars kind of knock everything right back into perspective. I like the “build it wild, build it mild, but, above all, build it your
way” approach. So, stop fretting if your ‘57 Chevy is a 150 two-door post and not a Bel Air, or the only project car you’ve got
is a ‘55 Oldsmobile sedan. There are thousands of rodding fans out there who are eager to see your approach to creative hot
rodding. R&R
No Hot Rods Anymore??...A longtime friend frequently bemoans the fact that the initials NHRA seem to stand
more for No Hot Rods Anymore than they do for National Hot Rod Association. With the recent acquisition of NHRA by H-D
Partners, this may be closer to the truth than anyone realizes. Rumors persisted for awhile that NHRA Pro Racing, the new
name for the professional ranks, would eventually initiate a move to eliminate top alcohol dragsters and funny cars from
their national events and relegate them to division only contests. Fortunately, these rumors were unfounded. This could be
the original NHRA’s best shot at putting the sportsmen ranks back in the limelight. With H-D only promoting Top Fuel, Nitro
Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Bike, it will be up to the the sportsmen to carry the torch for amateur drag racing. Removal of
three of these four categories - all but Top Fuel - makes NHRA more traditional than it’s been for nearly forty years. R&R
Editor’s Notes
Fare Thee Well, Hot Rod Girl
It’s never easy to come up with words that sound right when a very good
friend passes away. A longtime hot rodder, and a friend to everyone who ever
met her, Kathy Nitz covered a lot of automotive territory in her short life...and
loved every minute of it. Kathy lost her battle with cancer on October 12, 2007.
Kathy was deeply involved in the hot rodding sport,and just as deeply involved with her family; husband, Verne, and son, Josh. For several years Kathy
worked as part of the registration team for the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour,
tackling the job with her typically good-natured, enthusiastic approach. Her
hearty, infectious laugh, well known to her legion of local friends, had become
recognizable nationwide.
Kathy looked right at home behind the wheel of every car she ever owned...and she owned many, including a ‘69 Camaro,
a ‘32 Ford and her most recent ride, the ‘48 Buick convertible pictured here. Her positive outlook in spite of overwhelming
odds and her continual cheerfulness during her long illness will remain as inspirations for everyone. R&R
In Memoriam
Less than one week after we learned of Kathy Nitz’s passing, the local hot rodding scene
suffered another loss. At this time last year, we were working on a story about Rick
Zurek and his charming, period perfect fifties era ‘34 Ford coupe. Now we have
learned that Rick, like Kathy Nitz, lost a battle with cancer on October 24, 2007.
As much as he liked to talk about his hot rod, Rick could just as readily speak
with authority on a number of topics, and was an enjoyable lunch companion. We’ll miss seeing him at the car shows, and sharing an occasional
chuckle over a funny email or a humorous story. R&R
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Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
Hot Rodding News and Notes
Frankenmuth Auto Fest
The “Hemi Deuce” Progress Report
As November winds were starting to signal the onset of winter, we
retreated to the warm confines of Steve Wright’s shop to check on the
progress of the Twin Hemi Deuce Delivery. In our Spring 2007 issue, the
‘32 Ford project consisted of a lengthy pair of frame rails cradling a pair
of dummy Chrysler blocks. We’re happy to report that the car is coming
along quite nicely. In fact, it pretty closely resembles the rough pencil
sketches that accompanied the initial article.
Those hemis up front represent the final mounting configuration,
and instead of the Indy hemis that were originally planned Steve will
be using KB Street Hemi aluminum engines. Each will displace 572
cubic inches - that’s 1,174 total cubic inches - and be force fed generous
amounts of fuel by Enderle electronic fuel injection units and 8-71 superchargers from The Blower Shop.
The car now rides on complete front (Total Cost Involved) and rear (Tom Troxell and crew at Troxell Specialty Cars) suspensions. The front setup is a traditional Ford transverse spring and tubular axle assembly with wishbone radius rods.
Out back, a brutish Dana 60 is supported by a coil over/ladder bar arrangement.
Check the photos. We’ll keep you posted on
the progress of this homebuilt hot rod. R&R
Upper right - This ‘32 definitely has a mean stance.
Lower left - The Ididit steering column hovers above
the masterful metalwork of the Troxell
Specialty Cars crew.
Lower right - Out back, custom fiberglass wheel tubs
offer clearance for Dana 60 and massive
Mickey Thompson tires.
Fall 2007 3
Hot Rodding News and Notes
It’s an overcast, warm late summer evening in the picturesque, little German village. Hanging baskets, filled with colorful flowers, hang from every lamp post and swing back and forth in the breeze.
Bavarian style buildings and the sparkling clean, cobblestone main street, give the
impression of being in a modern small town in Germany. People are walking up
and down the streets, enjoying the view of hundreds of old cars parked everywhere. Several blocks of the street have been barricaded, as if in preparation for a
parade. The clouds overhead become increasingly dark and threatening; a heavy
downpour is imminent. The sun’s rays sneak between some cracks in the cloud
cover, casting a glow over the entire scene.
Suddenly, just seconds after the sun brightens things up, a deafening roar
erupts from somewhere up the street and settles into a rapid staccato . Then anAn idea of how many people crowd into downother roar...and another...and, still, another. All this racket seems to be getting closer. town Frankenmuth for the annual Auto Fest.
All eyes are directed up the street, toward the source of this puzzling noise.
A moment later, a red front engine dragster comes into view, followed closely by a yellow one, a silver one, a green one...and
a really long, red and white one, all with headers blazing raw nitro and “cackling” to their hearts’ content.
Boy, that sure looked like Ed Golden in his “Probe” fueler. And, we’re sure that was Al Bergler in his “More Aggravation”
Comp Coupe, Bud Barnes at the wheel of the “Michigander”, Ron Bergler in Larry Payne’s “Gang Green” and Dave Daunheimer shoeing his “Frantic Fueler” from Illinois. Driving down the main street of Frankenmuth, Michigan? You bet! Vintage
Top Fuel dragsters on main street and the Frankenmuth Auto Fest have become synonymous.
For two years in a row now, a kick-off for the Frankenmuth Auto Fest has been a parade down main street by several
vintage dragsters. The show is put together by Dave Gutierrez and, thus far, has been a huge hit with show attendees. The
2007 show opening was somewhat interrupted by several sudden downpours, but the rain did not dampen the enthusiasm
of 20,000 nitro fans who loudly cheered each car as it passed. If you’ve never been to Frankenmuth, it’s definitely a show to
warrant a spot on that 2008 calendar. R&R
New Allstar Products
ABC Universal Front and Rear Bumper Kits
Fabrication of a bumper for a circle track car need not be an all day project...at least that’s the philosophy that Allstar
Performance subscribed to when they came up with the ABC Universal Front Bumper Kit (ALL22372). The kit consists of a
1-3/4” diameter, .095” wall front tube, two adjustable 1-1/2” diameter, .095” extension arms and two sleeves, which weld to
the frame.
The rear bumper consists of a 1-3/4” x .095” wall main tube, two adjustable 1-1/2” x .095” wall corner pieces, two connector tubes and two sleeves to weld to the chassis. Buy both and save precious time for other, more urgent race car
management issues. R&R
Tire Maintenance and Service Tools
Allstar now stocks a convenient, low-priced Valve Core Tool (ALL44030) that may be used to
remove and install tire valve stem cores. Made of stainless steel with a machined grip on the
handle, this compact, 3” long tool should be a standard feature of any racer’s toolbox.
Allstar’s new Tire Sipers, in 6-blade (ALL10265) and 14-blade (ALL10264) versions, are depth
adjustable to quickly and precisely sipe racing tires for more traction. Designed for heavy duty
usage, the tool uses standard utility knife blades. R&R
Electric Helmet Breather (ALL13012)
Now Allstar has made available a self-contained, 12-volt fan that can supply an amazing
flow of air to a racer’s helmet. The fan has a reusable filter and an RF connector to facilitate
easy, quick helmet removal. A 14” wire is permanently attached to the fan and the end accepts a 24” pigtail - also included - with simple red (+) and black (-) hookups. Perhaps the best
feature of the new air system is that it is so compact that a racer may not even be aware that it
is there...everyone can do with one less distraction during the heat of a big race. R&R
New Allstar Products
Ford 9” Rear End Housing Studs (ALL72040)
Any time a 9” rear end is rebuilt, new studs for retaining the center section should be installed. Until now this was more easily said than done. Allstar Performance offers a new, previously hard to find, stud kit for the 9” rear end that solves the problem of worn studs and makes
the rear end reconditioning project much easier. Ten to a pack, the 3/8”-24 studs are easily
pulled into place via a nut threaded on the end for a press fit. R&R
Brake Hose Kit (ALL42027)
Anyone who has ever assembled a street rod or a race car from ground up has encountered
the problem of finding a brake hose that will connect the 3/16” steel brake lines plumbed into the
frame with the brake calipers. It often seems that the generic auto parts stores only stock hoses that are
“almost correct”, but not THE correct ones. Allstar now offers brake hose kits that fit our 3/16” steel lines and
also connect right up to the 7/16”-20 threads in our big GM brake calipers. R&R
Power Steering Pump Pulley (ALL48251)
We’ve heard lots of good things about our steel power steering pump (ALL48250) and now
we’ve got a nifty pulley that finishes the installation. R&R
Give us a call for more information on any of our new Allstar components.
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Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
New Products
DPI’s Platinum Track Differential
An exclusive item for circle track racing use, the DPI Platinum Track Differential has been completely redesigned with a preload system that can endure the most severe racing conditions while
permitting the wheels to turn freely and the car to steer easily. The unit’s spiral gears sense which
tire has the most resistance, and then smoothly deliver power to that wheel in direct proportion to
the amount of traction available. DPI offers Platinum Tracks for quick changes with 31-spline axles (tight set up) and Ford
9” rear ends with 28- or 31-spline axles and tight or half-tight setups. Adjusting shim packs and preload
adjusting kits are available separately. R&R
MasterCraft Seats for Truck and Off-Road Enthusiasts
MasterCraft offers many choices of seating and accessories for trophy trucks, trick trucks, unlimited and dual-purpose cars
and pre-runners. Originally developed for violent, high speed short course off-roading, the seats have blossomed into the
spotlight as the seats to have for any serious, rugged pursuit. R&R
Among the offerings:
The 3G, with Euro-styling and a race proven suspension system designed for superior lateral support.
The Pro4, the standard for reliability and comfort in off-road vehicles for over a decade.
The Rubicon, offers rock crawlers a seat with the same craftsmanship and safety features as all-out race seats, but with
lower side and front edges for easier entry and exit.
The Baja RS, the first reclining suspension seat for off-roading with a heavy-duty, 9-position reclining mechanism and
the same mounting flexibility as the Rubicon.
The Sportsman, a low mount, suspension seat that adapts easily to early or late Broncos, Rangers, S-10’s and Toyotas as
well as full-size Dodge, Ford and GM pickups.
Call us for more detailed information on each of these MasterCraft seats.
3G
Pro4
New Products
Sportsman
Baja RS
Rubicon
Fall 2007 5
Drag News
2007 Mid Michigan Motorplex Lane/Edelbrock Champions
The 2007 Lane Automotive/Edelbrock Points Championship at Mid Michigan Motorplex came to a conclusion at the
end of August. As it always is with the stellar drag racers at MMM, there were some impressive performances turned in by
competitors in all three points divisions.
When the smoke had cleared in the Super Pro Bracket, Dave Ruehs and his Chevy powered rear engine dragster had
amassed a commanding points total of 935, topping a very tough field in the process. Mark Hancock was Super Pro RunnerUp and Rob Gregory rounded out the top three finishers.
In the Pro Bracket, Rusty Samsel, who runs a trick Chevrolet Vega, garnered 1,047 points and held a healthy 183 point lead
over Runner-Up, Dan Gorby. The third place spot in Pro went to Rod Risner
Not to be outdone in the points total category, Cody Anderson, in a 1972 Dodge Charger, earned an astounding 1,212
points to lead the pack at the end of the season in the Street Bracket. Cody needed to be on his game at all times, however,
because second place finisher, John Keenon, had also scored well over a thousand points. The Street Bracket third place
spot went to Herb Bock.
As always, it has been another pleasurable year with our longtime friends Mary, Mike and Karrie Ledford, the prime movers and shakers at Mid Michigan. Here’s a recap of the Lane/Edelbrock money winners in all three brackets for 2007. R&R
Drag News
Super Pro (Top 15)
1. Dave Ruehs – 935
2. Mark Hancock – 874
3. Rob Gregory – 845
4. John Pranger – 832
5. Rob Perrone – 831
6. Bill Smith – 780
7. Ron Morris – 740
8. Rick Powell – 670
9. Mike Marckini – 632
10. Mike Zednicek – 630
11. Jim Johnson – 600
12. Dave Acha – 580
13. Mike Marcett – 570
14. Howard Jameson – 531
15. Ben Robbins – 500
Pro Bracket (Top 15)
1. Rusty Sampsel – 1,047
2. Dan Gorby – 864
3. Rod Risner – 820
4. Greg Love – 780
5. Pat Lintdow – 760
6. Mike Landheer – 680
7. Jeff Burdess – 660
8. Rocky Winter – 650
9. Tony Hulon – 640
10. Ron Hagar – 611
11. Tim Kruszynski – 610
12. Bill Connors – 590
13. Fred Overkamp – 581
14. Craig Fountain – 542
15. Bob Decheney – 450
Dave Ruehs
Cody Anderson
Rusty Sampsel
Ron Hagar
Street (Top 10)
1. Cody Anderson – 1,212
2. John Keenon – 1,037
3. Herb Bock – 961
4. Scott Beyer – 812
5. Ron Hagar – 649
6. Jason Kieffer – 482
7. Jake Van Gelder – 471
8. Chris Emfield – 270
9. Dallas McKim – 250
10. Ben Wenzel, Jr. – 250
Ron Morris
6
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
Racing News
Bill Reichert Gets Third Championship
Owosso’s Bill Reichert, a drag racer who has taken the Allstar Performance
name to national prominence, recently won his third straight NHRA Top
Alcohol Dragster World Championship. He did it in typical Reichert style,
posting consistent reaction times and outstanding quarter mile performances. Bill proved convincingly that his championship was not a fluke by
also winning the T/AD Eliminator “Wally” at the NHRA World Finals event in
Pomona, California and winning the Division III Top Alcohol crown again.
When the smoke had cleared after three rounds of qualifying, Bill was in the
number one spot with a fine 5.22 elapsed time.
Bill easily won the first round with a 5.25 time slip, but round two caused
quite a scare as Larry Miersch put a gigantic holeshot on Bill’s Rislone
machine (0.007 to 0.073) and was actually winning the race
until half track. Bill made up for lost time toward the big end,
passing Miersch for the win with a great 5.20 elapsed time.
In round three, Reichert eliminated one of the Harker sisters’
entries with a 5.27, putting him in the finals once again. In
the final, Bill unleashed his best e.t.of the event with a 5.19
e.t.@ 275.22 mph, once again showing the troops that the
well-known central Michigan engine builder can handle the
driving chores equally as well. Our hats are off to Bill Reichert, definitely one of the good guys in drag racing. R&R
Bill Reichert (far right) and the crew at Reichert Engines in Owosso.
Wally Parks - 1913-2007
Fall 2007 7
Racing News
If there was one drag racing personality who was always larger than life, it
was Wally Parks. His resume was a baby boomer’s textbook on the history of hot
rodding. He was the first editor of Hot Rod Magazine back in 1948 and, in 1951,
branched out by founding the National Hot Rod Association. His impetus for
starting the NHRA was the bad rap that hot rodding was getting from the general
public because of illegal street racing. Mr. Parks felt that by organizing sanctioned
drag races, the streets would become safer and the public’s take on the sport of
hot rodding would improve. With his careful guidance and direction, the NHRA
grew to be one of the largest motorsports organizations in the world. Perhaps the
item that is most symbolic of Wally Parks’ impact on NHRA and the entire sport of
drag racing is the bronze trophy that is presented to each eliminator winner at all
NHRA national and divisional events. It is, of course, a statue of Mr. Parks himself
and it is affectionately called the “Wally”. Also, the NHRA Museum in Pomona,
California is continually watched over by a twice life size statue of Wally Parks.
We crossed paths with Wally Parks many times over the years, most recently
at each of several of the Hot Rod Reunion events around the country. Just last
year, in fact, after the Saturday night Cacklefest at the California Hot Rod Reunion,
several of us adjourned to the Denny’s Restaurant on Buck Owens Boulevard in
Bakersfield for a late evening meal. It was near midnight and, much to our surprise, there was Wally, with his son Richard, dining in the booth right by our table.
He asked us if we were having a good time so far and we replied in the affirmative.
We exchanged tidbits of conversation for half an hour or so and Wally graciously autographed our event credentials before
he left.
He was a kind, down-to-earth gentleman, and he will be missed by all, and especially by the NHRA. Rick Kirvan supplied
us with the photo at the right which pretty much sums up how approachable Wally Parks really was any time we ever ran
into him. In this photo, he was adding his autograph to a NHRA jacket we
had bought to present to Dave Crane, who could not accompany us to Bakersfield last year because of a lingering illness. R&R
Racing News
Racing News
Kamp Motor Speedway Lane/Holley Challenge Winners
Mike Mataragas
Steve Barnett
Kent Robinson
Mike Fuqua
Jarred Krick
Michael Daugherty
Ian Keller
David Hurst
Dustin Waggoner
Jim Bailey
Derrick Hufford
Michael Kettnich
Denny Schwartz
Shelby Miles
SteveBarnett
8
Jarrad Krick
Dustin Waggoner
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
Jim Bailey
Shelby Miles
Racing News
M-40 Speedway Lane/Holley Challenge Winners
Ty Hayes
Jeff Daugherty
Howard Litaker Jr.
Steve Smith Jr.
Lloyd Brooks
Rob Welch
Derrick Davis
Jamison Corn
Jeff Ganus
Rodney Smith
Jeremy Damron
Steven LaFleur
Jeff Daugherty
Howard Litaker Jr.
Steve Smith Jr.
Lloyd Brooks
Rob Welch
Derrick Davis
Jamison Corn
Jeff Ganus
Rodney Smith
Jeremy Damron
Steve LaFleur
Fall 2007 9
Racing News
Ty Hayes
Rodding Journal
Can A Stay-At-Home Weekend Be Fun?
Sometimes, the best plan is to just stay at home. For many years, on Labor
Day weekend, I’ve packed up all interested parties and headed out for various
automotive events here in Michigan and in Indiana. Continually discouraged
by the high price of gas and what it has done to increase the cost of travel for
the past year or so, we decided to stay home this year...and I’m glad we did. We
found many entertaining things to do, and probably didn’t travel more than
twenty miles the entire weekend.
For several years now, the small, but dedicated Hartford Old Engine and Tractor Club has produced a Labor Day Weekend
tractor show, swap meet, craft show and flea market at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds, just three miles from my house.
The whole affair kicks off with an old tractor (and truck) parade on Thursday evening. I guess you’d have to be a real gearhead to derive excitement from a bunch of old equipment “putsing” along at a brisk 3-5 miles per hour...I certainly am, and I
certainly do! We made several visits to the tractor show from Thursday through Saturday, as my wife had set up a display in
the arts and crafts building.
Another equally dedicated group, the Rod Knockers, headed by Rod Austin and Bob Millhouse and their lovely wives,
Connie and Ruth Ann respectively, have set aside the Sunday of Labor Day weekend for their Annual Hot Rod Picnic. This
get-together has been going on for several years now and has attracted quite a following. This year, nearly a hundred vehicles, including the “full boogie” drag cars of Tom Troxell and Dana Gast and Steve Wright’s project ‘32 Ford sedan delivery
with two hemi engines, showed up to bask in the bright, late summer sun. A sumptuous pot luck lunch was followed by an
entertaining awards program featuring some real awards and some “just for fun” awards as well as an interesting cast of
presenters. All in all, a really great time with great people, great food and great cars...and it was five minutes from home, to
boot!
Labor Day weekend came to an end and I returned to work refreshed on Tuesday, with none of the travel lag of previous
end-of-summer holiday weekends, and a whole stack of warm memories as well.
Maybe there’s a moral here. Choose your road trips carefully. Consider taking a look around the hometown for some entertainment before making plans to drive hundreds (or thousands) of miles, especially on a holiday weekend. Save gas, save
wear and tear on your hot rod, save your sanity and, above all else, HAVE A GREAT TIME! R&R
Rodding Journal
The “Hunnert Car Pile-Up”
If there’s any show at all that will be on next year’s “Must Go To” list, it is the
Chrome Czars Motor Club’s “Hunnert Car Pile-Up” in Morris, Illinois. We surely
missed a good one...but fellow hot rodder and Lane employee, Jim Kubash,
and his lovely wife, Linda, did not. We’ve got Jimmy’s photos here to prove it!
Started in 2002, the “HCP” is held in mid-October every year and is dedicated to preserving the traditional hot rod. Translated, this means that a rod
that shows up at the gate in all of its non-traditional “billet” splendor will end
up parking elsewhere (Mundelein, maybe?), because the Czars like chrome and
paint or primer only. I think these guys invented the term “...getting the gate”,
an expression that means getting booted out of a place.
One thing is certain. After viewing all of Jim’s photos, it’s apparent that the
once rebellious “rat rod” is undergoing a metamorphosis and developing into a
highly traditional hot rod with some
outstanding (and well concealed)
engineering touches.
Just when you think you’ve seen ‘em all, something like this much-modified ‘50 Studebaker
Starlight Coupe comes along!
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Chopped Model A, chopped “Deuce” shell, finned
flathead, “beehive” oil filter and matching air
cleaner scoop, white naugahyde...shades of 1958!
Phone 269.463.Lane • Toll Free 800.772.5266
What kind of truck is it? We’d guess a 1927 Heinz (as
in 57 varieties)! One thing’s for sure...it has a genuine
Dodge Red Ram Hemi under the hood.
We made this photo black and white to show that it
could have been shot in 1962 just as easily as in October
2007. Backgrounds with all period perfect cars that will
allow this are scarce...there’s usually a 2001 Neon hiding somewhere back there!
Lane Happenings
Eighth Annual Cub Scout Fun Day A Success
Ever since we first hosted the Cub Scout Cubmobile Rally in 2000 we have
eagerly looked forward to the next year’s event. In what has to be every bit
as dramatic and exciting as any other automotive type event, the Cub Scouts
and their “scout powered” carts race over a pre-measured course in an orderly
(somewhat) display of teamwork and physical exertion. The ultimate winner of
each contest is the team that can orchestrate driver and pusher exchanges at
the end of each leg of the race and get across the finish line first. Four separate age groups compete only within their category and prizes are awarded to
the winners in each. The four groups are Tiger Cub (first graders), Wolf (second
in addition to the traditional Cubmobile Rally, ...
graders), Bear (third graders) and Webelos (fourth and fifth graders).
This year, the event was held on October 13 and was expanded to include BB
gun and archery safety classes, crafts and an obstacle course in addition to the
Cubmobile races. The idea behind this event was to present a preview of what Cub
Scout camp would be like. Over 200 scouts from Southwestern Michigan registered
to take part in all the events. R&R
...and learned the finer points of archery.
...area Cub Scouts target practiced with BB guns, ...
...ran a pretty intense obstacle course ,...
Grace Christian Kindergarteners Visit Lane Automotive
Lane Happenings
For the past seven years or so we
have hosted a tour for as lively a
group of car enthusiasts as you
will find anywhere. They already
know a lot about cars and hot
rods...and they are all barely five
years old! Again this year, Mrs.
Karen Carey brought the Grace
Christian Kindergarten class
and several parent chaperones
to Lane Automotive for a walk
around look at our facility.
Highlights of the tour included
visiting the Art Department,
checking out the vast collection
of Exact Detail models, looking
at the hot rod paintings, walking
through the huge warehouse,
trying on helmets, and testing
the comfort factor of racing seats
in our showroom.
Éach student received a goody
bag with a color group photo, a
frisbee, a Lane race car coloring book and a Lane drink cup. R&R
Fall 2007 11
Part No. 410 • Limited Edition
Only 1,098 Made
Due Late August - $119.95
METICULOUSLY HAND ASSEMBLED
FROM OVER 225 INDIVIDUAL PARTS
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2007
LIMITED EDITION • PART NO. 710 • $109.95
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8833 0 0 La
Lane
ne D r ive • Wa te r v llie
ie t , MI
M I 49
4 9 098
098
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tde tail.co m • in
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ta il. co m • To
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l l Fr
Free:
e e: 8800.772.2682
0 0. 7 72 . 26 8 2 • Fa
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8300 Lane Drive Watervliet, Mi 49098
Phone 269-463-LANE • Toll Free 800-772-5266 • Fax 800-772-2618
CAT109.4