(Words and Photos by Troy Thomas) There will always be tight knit “hardcore” enthusiasts within the automotive community which go beyond your stereotypical brand loyal fan. This is not simply that guy or gal that says he or she only likes Ford, Mopar or Chevy brand vehicles. Nope, I’m talking about the enthusiast that latches onto a deeper aspect of a brand. A component, a characteristic that gives the machine we call the automobile its soul. Capable of giving you goose bumps, increasing your heart rate and making even the most senior enthusiast feel like a kid again. That’s right, the engine, the heart and soul of these amazing vehicles we place so high on a pedestal of automotive high performance history. I’m referring to the engines that were at the forefront of the Super Stock wars. Chevy fans had the W engines, Mopar fans had the Max Wedge, Pontiac had the Super Duty, and Ford had the FE. Ahhh yes, the Ford Edsel engine, the engine that powered the larger than life 1964 Thunderbolt to countless victories, 1320 ft at a time.
Every April, rain or shine, die hard FE fans set out on a pilgrimage to pay respect to and experience all things FE, at the FE Reunion at Beaver Springs Dragway in Pennsylvania. Hosting some of the best FE powered Super Stockers, Jr. Stockers and muscle cars in North America. Regardless if you are an FE fan or simply a fan of nostalgia drag racing, this event is a must see, or shall I say experience.
It’s one of the best events to watch these machines stretching their legs in their natural habitat, the quarter mile! Here are some photo highlights from this year’s event that will hopefully get you excited about attending in 2019.
Fantastic looking Maverick!
I flew all the way the West coast of Canada for this event, and had an absolute blast! I have been drag racing for 45 years, and I can`t think of a cooler event for the FE or even \”regular\” Ford fanatic. I just hope to be able to make the 3000 mile (each way )tow there soon.