CLICK IMAGES TO VIEW FULL SIZE
Spokesperson of our generation, Floyd Lippencotte Jr., alias Bob Muravez. But everyone knows him as Nancy. (Photo courtesy of Floyd Lippencotte Jr.)
Multiple personality drag race hot shoe Floyd Lippencotte Jr. once said, "For every thing, there is a season". Or maybe someone else said it. Whoever said it was probably from California, since that's where all the famous quoters, like Lippencotte, live. The obvious irony is that you need a weather man to know what season it is in California (you also need a road map to know when one town stops and another begins). Californians are big on irony. Of course, Lippencotte was obviously referring to the hot rod event season, which, like towns, have no beginning or end in California, while strict cutoff dates are enforced in the rest of the country. Unfair, sure. But hey, what are ya gonna do?
The 2014 season was one for the books. This edition boasted the usual high drama and last second surprise endings, but most notable was the volume. Never before have we witnessed such a number of events to choose from, and each one looked like a total kick in the pants. We ranked the 2014 events so you don't have to. You're welcome. With no travel budget and no time to gamble on hitch hiking this year, we sat out the entire season. Of course, that didn't stop us from judging all entries via an innovative new points system: Each photo we received depicting an event earned one point. It's an admittedly tough system, but that's just how media exposure works. Nobody rides for free, baby.
The universally recognized start date for the hot rod season is the Winternationals at Pomona, also known as February. We can't recall who sent this shot, but it probably represents the event pretty well. One point. (Photographer unknown - we're sure they'll let us know)
*
Kleet Norris had to cover the March Meet without me this year. He did just fine. For haters of the Big Show, March Meet marks the beginning of the real season. (Photo courtesy of Kleet Norris)
SGE fan fave Eily Stafford did double duty all season, wheeling her wildly popular "Strange Brew" Comp Coupe and the Crower A/Fuel dragster, starting at the March Meet. Three points. (Photos courtesy of Mark LaCiura and Ellen Fisher)
*
In its sophomore year, the initial novelty has morphed into more of a leisurely "scene" at Colorado's Hot Rod Hill Climb. But man, what a scene! I still plan to attend ASAP with the SGE Model A. But I'm secretly hoping that by the time I get there, entrants will be running all out, on dirt. I have a dream. Three points (would have been four, but I forgot to post the fourth photo). (Photos courtesy of Driving Line and Hot Rod Hill Climb)
*
Still the most enticing street race event going, Hot Rod Magazine's 2014 Drag Week has been accused of being too fast (read: $$$) for its britches, yet retains its blue collar ethos, thanks to funmobiles such as the "Poison Gas" A coupe, Brad Dyer's helium-nosed Nova, and Jeffrey Lutz (son of '57 Jeff) and his twin leafblower-supercharged Monza. Voted Best Event by SGE every year since its inception. Three points. (Photos courtesy of HRM and Dragzine)
*
Eagle Field has established itself as THE wildcat track to run your outlaw race car on, aptly illustrated here by the latest iteration of Rich Guasco's "Pure Hell" nitro altered...
... the Blackbird (sorry, we have no info, but dig the car and photo)...
... and the premier of Pat Ganahl's 20-year restoration of Ike Iacono's Jimmy six digger. Four points. (Photos courtesy of One Pic At a Time and Kleet Norris)
*
This Don Ewald shot is from a previous Bonneville Speed Week, but it perfectly captures the essence of 2014's most anticipated event...
... which became the world's most disappointing cancellation, instead. Danny Thompson (above) and the rest of history's largest field of potential 500 MPH aspirants could only take advantage of the unique photo op. Hot Rod magazine's Brandon Gillogly was assigned the unenviable task of writing a feature on the event that wasn't. Tough gig, but he handled it. Two points - pretty strong for a non-event! (Photos courtesy of Don Ewald and Holly Martin)
*
East coast watersport fans can take great pride in the success of the Race of Gentlemen, now in its third year of tearing up the Jersey shore. SGE dispatched Spike Kilmer and Peter Vincent to provide blog coverage, but have yet to hear from them, but for the above anonymous snap of Spike and his dog, sniffing out the true meaning of the event. Three wicked soggy points. (Photos courtesy of Tim Sutton for Driving Line, Marc Gewertz, and Mr. X)
*
You know the end is nigh, when the California Hot Rod Reunion swings the gates open. The social event of the season can't help but become a bit heated when the nitro starts to flow, creating a best-of-both-worlds scenario. And shenanigans are abundant: That's Eily Stafford again, cackling the Cook & Bedwell digger in a motel parking lot at an obscene hour. Five tough-to-beat points! (Photos courtesy of Don Ewald, Dan Kaplan, Bob Brown, and Draghead Photos).
*
The fix has been in since the match race madness of the 60's. But never have pre-arranged wins been as blatantly in-your-face as at this year's NHRA World Finals, when Don Schumacher Racing issued team orders that ultimately saw two of their (previously respected) drivers hoisting Championship trophies on camera. Ugly. Zero photos (we inserted this artist rendering, just to fill the space), zero points, zero respect.
*
From the land of utes and Vegemite comes a joker in the deck: The Castlemaine Truck Show, in Victoria, Australia. It's healthy to cleanse the cultural pallet occasionally with exposure to a different breed, and this gig fits the bill. Two points. (Photos courtesy of Simon Muntz)
*
While in Victoria, don't miss the Mount Tarrengower Hill Climb, near Malden! Yeah, the course is paved, but the entries are racier than the Colorado climb, and the drivers are - well, Australian - they do everything wide open, especially at the wheel. Highly recommended (based on these photos, anyway). Three points. (Photos courtesy of Simon Muntz)
*
You know the U.S. season is really over when custodians start sweeping up after the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The orgy of neon spark plug wires and corporate logo'd ballpoint pens was invaded this year by ace parts counter guru Chris Kearney (the tall one in the above photograph, officer) and a band of loony southern Oregon street racers that included most of Chris Darland's Dive Bombers club. They managed to snap these three photos before being excused from the event. Three points - good for Honorable Mention Runner-Up! (Photos courtesy of Chris Kearney)
*
And the winner of the SGE 2014 Best Hot Rod Event Award is... (damn, these envelopes are a pain to open)...
The Tieton Grand Prix Cycle-Cart Races, put on by an un-named group of artist types in north central Washington. It's real racing, with a heavy vintage vibe, yet is affordable and friendly (at this early stage of the game, anyway). Honda GX 200 engines, constant-variable transmissions, and 17" Moped wheels are mandatory, but the rest is up to the builder's imagination and skill set. This concept is right on time, and we're still as stoked as when we ran a feature on the event, earlier this year. Details at: http://www.drivingline.com/2014/09/cycle-kart-racing-2014-tieton-grand-prix/#. More of this, please! Coming in at SIX colossal points (just look at all those photos - look at 'em!), it's an unprecedented landslide! (Photos courtesy of Chris Shelton for Driving Line)
Congratulations, and a tip of the SGE helmet and goggles to all of the competitors who made 2014 the best year ever for genuine hot rod shits and giggles. You are heroes, one and all, and you earned this award fair and square. But the Tieton Grand Prix earned it more than the rest of you slackers.
*
SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX
Finally, something positive in the news! Or in this case, on a phone pole. But still...
Another positive sign. The crown jewel of Kiwi Kev's Proto collection is the Blue Point Supreme box at left, die cast from zinc. Ever seen one before? We haven't, either. (Photo courtesy of Kiwi Kev)
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Our salute to the people's superstar, Floyd Lippencotte Jr, continued...
*
Multiple personality drag race hot shoe Floyd Lippencotte Jr. once said, "For every thing, there is a season". Or maybe someone else said it. Whoever said it was probably from California, since that's where all the famous quoters, like Lippencotte, live. The obvious irony is that you need a weather man to know what season it is in California (you also need a road map to know when one town stops and another begins). Californians are big on irony. Of course, Lippencotte was obviously referring to the hot rod event season, which, like towns, have no beginning or end in California, while strict cutoff dates are enforced in the rest of the country. Unfair, sure. But hey, what are ya gonna do?
The 2014 season was one for the books. This edition boasted the usual high drama and last second surprise endings, but most notable was the volume. Never before have we witnessed such a number of events to choose from, and each one looked like a total kick in the pants. We ranked the 2014 events so you don't have to. You're welcome. With no travel budget and no time to gamble on hitch hiking this year, we sat out the entire season. Of course, that didn't stop us from judging all entries via an innovative new points system: Each photo we received depicting an event earned one point. It's an admittedly tough system, but that's just how media exposure works. Nobody rides for free, baby.
*
*
*
*
...Adam and Justin Brennamin's 170 MPH A/FXers...
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
And the winner of the SGE 2014 Best Hot Rod Event Award is... (damn, these envelopes are a pain to open)...
*
SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX
Our salute to the people's superstar, Floyd Lippencotte Jr, continued...
*
