(Words and Photos by Joe Grippo) – Well, it happened again. Jody Aberts, Doug Bender and Beaver Bob McCardle pulled off another fantastic weekend of Drag Racing and Car Show actioffeaturing nothing but the venerable Ford FE. With a slight bump in attendance from the 2013 inaugural event as close to 175 FE powered machines filed into Beaver Springs Dragway in Pennsylvania. It was pure hardcore Ford nirvana.

FE folks are surely fanatical when it comes to their chosen powerplant. And they showed it by coming from every corner of the country for this one of a kind Race and Reunion. I saw tags form Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Michigan, Iowa and even Canada! Tom Lucas from FE Specialties made the longest tow, 2700 plus miles from California, to claim the long distance award.

And the cars they brought with them were some of the most drool worthy pieces I have ever seen. An I’ve seen a lot. 4 of the original 50 68 1/2 Cobra Jet Mustangs were in the house. Mustangs, Galaxies, Torinos, Fairlanes, a few Fox Body Mustangs and tons of other vintage Ford iron were represented. Thunderbolt style Fairlanes had a shoot out of their own with Paul Adams and his NHRA record holding SS/B example taking the win at 9.04. Bracket classes were split between Cool FE (13.00 and slower) and Hot FE 12.99 and quicker) along with a quick 8 class, Pro FE (bump was a stout 9.71).

Drag Racing results:

Cool FE – Don Nowak, 67 Fairlane, Angola, NY

Hot FE – Brian Merrick, 64 T-Bolt, Dellroy, OH

Pro FE – DW Hopkins, 64 T-Bolt, Tupelo, MS

FE Bird Race – Don Fotti, 68 1/2 Mustang, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA

The Car Show was an event in itself with perfect restos alongside highly modified street machines, trucks of all sizes, cool patina covered survivors and more. Add in a swap meet plus a manufacture mid-way and there was always some FE stimuli grabbing your attention. Thanks to great sponsors like Jesel Valve Train, Survival Motorsports and Carl’s Ford Parts, this event was a massive success. Dates are already set for next year, so see you back at the Beaver on April 24 & 25 2015.