(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) – I’ve got mixed feelings about going in early to this show. We missed most of the folks standing around their cars and having some good conversations. Our plan was to get done with photos by mid-afternoon and leave before the football game traffic picked up. Last year we stayed nearly till closing time and got to talk to all sorts of folks. Might have to stay later next year. We did get to see familiar faces at the Gravelrama booth and caught some of the competition vehicles in a rare state – clean.
Some interesting stuff in here-
Torino done up in LSR trim
Couple of really nice fresh air Ts sharing a space
Wild straight-axle Impala
Plenty of slick Corvettes
Enjoy
The black Lsr torino is a 1969 mercury cyclone spoiler II nascar model. The extended front end, flush grill, custom fabricated rear bumper on front and rerolled side rocker panels make this a nascar aero warrior back in the day. This September the plan is to drive it out to Bonneville and race it down the salt flats at the u.s.f.r.a. meet. How fast will this warmed over 351 cleveland, toploader 4 speed, 2:75 detroit locker equipped run on 2 1/4 miles of salt, only one way to find out.
To tell the truth we didn’t even look at the sign past the location and wondered why we never saw it at the Ohio Mile. It seemed to be the only LSR-inspired ride there and we checked out the engine compartment and the interior more than anything. No one was around it so we moved on. I only assumed it was a Talladega clone. Hopefully the salt will be in good shape this year.
I have run at Ohio mile several times with my previous car. I purchased the merc last spring from LA Cal. And flew out and drove car back to cincy. Then worked on car getting the bugs out and making car legal for usfra. Drove to Woodward and got invited to Cavacade. Then bonneville got cancelled. Drove down to talladega for aero reunion at wellborn. Hot Rod Thom Tayor rode with me to track Sunday morning. He said merc was the best sorted rattle free old muscle car he ever rode in. Got to lap track before race. Thanks.
It is a sweet ride. Kudos for having one of them actually out there beatin’ the streets.