The AutoZone Super Chevy Show Tour XXV came to Pomona Raceway at the tail end of April, and wouldn't you know it, we were there. The 4-day event was perfect at fulfilling our need to smell burnt rubber and race fuel. The show is predominantly full of classic cars, but there is a group of hard-core truck nuts that go to show off their style of custom and maybe take a full-throttle pass down the 1320.
There was plenty to do at the show when you weren't in the stands watching the races. Vendors row, or should we say rows, was a proverbial mechanic's candy store. You could hit up GM Performance Parts for the new 572 big-block or trip over to Meguiar's and score a bottle of Quick Detailer.
The show-'n'-shine area wasn't too shabby either. With 128 classes covering almost 60 years of iron, there was something for everyone, unless you wanted to see a Henry Ford product, that is.
After going through tech and...
After going through tech and being put into class, the racers got to work changing jets, checking tire pressure, and setting the timing-all in hopes of running a consistent elapsed time.
These events have something we hold dear to our hearts-Drag Racing, 1,320 feet of pure right-pedal excitement. The participants are given a few passes to try and determine their dial-in for the bracket racing classes, then it's time for the Nitro Coupes.
These suckers are stuffed full of 526 cubic inches of alcohol-burning, nitro-eating, and tire-smoking powerplants. Coming in at a wee 2,600 pounds and producing 2,500-3,000 hp, these cars bail down the strip in the low 6-second range at 230 mph. After a few rounds of those, the bracket classes lined up and went for it. We weren't surprised as much by the Chevy LUV trucks running in the 9s as we were the lifted big-block Suburban on Super Swampers dialing in at 12.48.
If you want to show off your Chevy's killer paint or if you have something to prove on the quarter-mile, check out the site and see if the show is coming to a town near you. The Super Chevy Shows are presented by Autostar Productions, so for specific information about the shows, including ticketing, rules, drag racing, and so forth, check out www.superchevyshow.com, or call (800) 692-6230.
The Airborne Express came...
The Airborne Express came out and demonstrated how to run a 10-second pass on the back tires.
A wicked 572 cubic inches...
A wicked 572 cubic inches of pure big-block muscle-need we say more?
Part function (to heat up...
Part function (to heat up the tires) and part fun, big gratuitous burnouts happened all day.
A show guy might hide all...
A show guy might hide all this stuff under a tonneau, but this racer proudly displays the components, almost saying, "Come get some."
Here is our hero of the day:...
Here is our hero of the day: Super Swampers, four doors, and about 6,000 pounds still couldn't keep this big-block truck out of the mid-12s-talk about surprising.
There were plenty of classics...
There were plenty of classics to drool over, like this mid-'50s Stepside.
The owner of this Blazer wanted...
The owner of this Blazer wanted every type of flames; traditional, negative, and reversed panel are all in this scheme.
When your class was called,...
When your class was called, it was time to get in line and once again check everything before slipping on the helmet.
Our best-engineered award...
Our best-engineered award has to go to this mini. All the components of a fullsize pro-street, such as a small-block, big converter, and a 9-inch, are stuffed in this wee package. Can you say Mr. Toad's Wild Ride?
How's this for a pair? The...
How's this for a pair? The fullsize dials in at 12.40, where the little cousin is tripping the lights at 10.44, both trucks are running small-blocks.
There were even lifted classes...
There were even lifted classes to participate in. This Silverado features a healthy dose of airbrushed skulls in between the black and silver.
This was one of the cleanest...
This was one of the cleanest '86 El Caminos we have see in a long time-full cage, big slicks, and polished welds. Mmm, mmm, good.
Huntington Beach Body Works...
Huntington Beach Body Works was there to sell cool cloths and show off its killer painting skills. Rich Evens' Ford, besides being the only one there, was completely covered in airbrush work by Terry Stephens. Look for a full feature as well as some tech on how they did it in an upcoming issue.