by John Bisci

Featuring: NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Drag Racing Series, Bo Huff's Ultimate Garage Party & Car Show, pin-up superstar Sabina Kelly, Jason Beam's pinstriper showdown, tattoo showcase and the ultimate burn-out contest.

Friday, May 28 � Day 1
The Strip at LVMS (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) � NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Test 'n' Tune.

Neon Garage at LVMS (5 p.m.-2 a.m.) � Bo Huff's Ultimate Garage Party kick-off
and car show, featuring: nine consecutive hours of live bands, vendor displays, cruising, flame-throwing.
Neon Garage is located in the infield of the 1.5-mile superspeedway.

Saturday, May 29 � Day 2
The Strip at LVMS (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) � NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series qualifying and Nitro Funny Cars.
Swap meet, car cruise, pinstriper showdown (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), rockabilly DJ and live music, tattoo artists and tattoo showcase. $2 draft beer all weekend long!

Neon Garage (5 p.m.-2 a.m.) � Bo Huff's Ultimate Garage Party & Car Show.
The bands keep it cranking, pin-up contest at 10 p.m. ($1,000 to win!), guys� pompadour contest, car show judging (5 p.m.-Midnight), vendor displays, and much more. $2 draft beer all weekend long!

Sunday, May 30 � Day 3
The Strip at LVMS (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) � NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series final eliminations.
Car cruise, car show awards ceremony (2 p.m.), swap meet, hot rod runs, burn-out contest (3 p.m.), rockabilly DJ and live music.

Spectator admission:
3-day adult super pass (all 3 days at The Strip and both nights at Neon Garage): $49.
3-day kids� super pass: $15.
Single-event segment tickets: $25 for adults, $7 for kids. Kids 5 and under are free.

Vehicle passes: $75 (includes full-event ticket to the show, one car show entry and one pass down the drag strip on Sunday).

Camping: $75 (located at LVMS drag strip�s "Burn-out RV" lot) Move-in Friday at 11 a.m. and stay until 11 a.m. Monday.

Swap meet: $45 (10' x 20' space on Saturday and Sunday at The Strip).

Tickets are on sale at: www.LVMS.com and Ticketmaster.

Additional event info: (702) 632-8213.

Event website: www.RockabillyRodReunion.com.

Online information at LVMS.com: http://www.lvms.com/strip/media/news/553965.html

Directions from Las Vegas: I-15 North to Exit 54 Speedway Boulevard (15 miles north of downtown Las Vegas).

Powerama Motoring Expo is returning for a 26th year, with Pete Chapouris of SoCal Speed Shop as celebrity guest.

This year's show is scheduled for April 23, 24 and 25 at Edmonton Expo Centre, formerly known as Northlands AgriCom. The show will be in Halls A, B and C and will not use any of the recently opened new halls in the Expo Centre.

Although Liz Oglu stays on as show manager, Powerama now is owned by the Electric Garage, a collector-car auction company based in Red Deer.

This year's Powerama will consist of the car show and swap meet, Oglu said, but a collector-car auction is a possibility for future years. Expo Centre offers the opportunity for the show's growth.

The goal is to "make sure the show stays on a solid footing and has a long future," she said.

Chapouris has been involved in the design or construction of a number of well-known cars such as the 1934 Ford coupe known as the California Kid and the ZZ Top Eliminator owned by Billy Gibbons.

Tickets, which will be available through Ticketmaster and at the door, will be the same as last year, with a price of $13 for adults.

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

 

Three teens in a roadster took to the Mother Road more than 60 years ago, and the experience remains vivid in their memories today, reminding them of those innocent years, a time of freedom reserved for the young.

Fred Johnson, a resident of Covina for 45 years, tells his story in such a poignant manner that I must share it with you in his own words:

"Back in 1947, at the age of 17, and not familiar with any part of the country but Los Angeles where I was raised, I had an opportunity to go on this trip. You see, one of my buddies named Bill who was from Deming, New Mexico, wanted to return there to visit family and asked me to go along. Another buddy, also named Bill, joined us.

"Back then most of the guys had hot rods and Bill was no exception. He had a 1930 Ford Roadster with a Ford flat-head engine, no fenders, no top and no hood. Nowadays it would be called a `rad-rod.'

"My knowledge of traveling was nil and my entire wardrobe for the trip was a clean pair of socks and a pair of shorts.

"The three of us in the hot road headed east on Route 66 and when we got to Pomona the car stopped running. The culprit was a bad coil so we found a parts house and soon we were on the road again. By the time we got to Phoenix (thanks Glenn Campbell), the sun was coming up and it was getting hot driving through the desert.

"To stay awake, we stopped at every wigwam and hot dog joint along the way for pie and coffee, which was all we could afford. My girlfriend, Dawn, now my wife of 61 years, baked us cookies to eat along the way.

"Well, the hot rod and the three of us made it to Deming. Back then Deming had one stop sign in the middle of town and all the side streets were dirt. When we left Deming, we headed south to Columbus, New Mexico, to get a little history on Pancho Villa.

"Let me tell you, that day was really hot. About half way to Columbus, in a field there was a well that pumped water into a big tank. The water ran over the top of the tank so the cattle could have water to drink. Well, you guessed it! We stopped, ran over, took off our clothes and jumped in. Man did that feel good! Not to worry there was no one around in the middle of nowhere. Looking back that was a lot of fun. I think the cattle thought we were a little crazy.

"After visiting El Paso and Carlsbad Caverns, we were back on Route 66 and drove straight home. All three of us were hot, tired and sleepy but Route 66 got us home.

"This was an adventure we will never forget. Now that I am older, Bill and I still talk and laugh about our kicks on Route 66.

"Today I have my own hot rod, a 1929 Ford Roadster with a big block Chevy motor, and oh yes, it has a top, fenders and hood. On some Saturday mornings, my wife and I cruise Route 66. We even stop and have pie and coffee. Some things you just love to do at any age."

Their story is a keen example of why Route 66 is more than a road. It has powers beyond a mere highway, reminding oldsters they were once youngsters.

Address correspondence for Claudia Heller to the Weekly Star, 1210 N. Azusa Canyon Road, West Covina, CA 91790. You can also reach claudia via e-mail at famheller@msn.com or call 626-962-8811, ext. 2669, to leave a message.