Fri, 10 Oct 2014, 17:04 PM New England Hot Rod Reunion

By Steve Reyes Photo copyright 2014 Steve Reyes

September in the Northeast is time for cooler weather with the advent of the leaves changing color and of course, the NHRA New England Hot Rod Reunion at Epping, New Hampshire. This was the second year for the NEHRR and the hope for better weather was the prime topic going into the weekend. Last year the first NEHRR got off to a rough start with two of its three days rained out. This year was different with rain dampening only Saturday racing at about four in the afternoon. Of course, being its second year the event still has a lot of growing to do. The event did feature a small but mighty array of retro top fuel, funny, and gas coupe cars.

This year's Grand Marshall was Bob Frey, one of the all-time greatest announcers ever to pick up a mike. The Five honorees were Gil Coraine, funny car hero Al Hanna, Pennsylvania's George Weiler, John Healey and rounding out this stellar group was the legendary Jungle Pam Hardy. On Saturday, this robust group of legends had over an hour long meet and greet with New England drag fans. Cameras were busy and autographs were obtained by legions of drag fans.

Yes, they had a Cacklefest which was postponed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon due to the rain. It wasn't as large as CHRR or BBHRR but it was a nice gathering of quality cackle cars. Leading the group was the restored King & Marshall top fuel dragster owned by Ray Helger Jr., and driven by his son Cody Helger. The freshly restored Jim and Alison Lee Great Expectations top fuel car cackled with veteran driver Art Marshall at the helm.

The rain on Saturday afternoon couldn't dampen that New England racing spirit! Sunday was a beautiful New England day and the fans and racers enjoyed the racing action. Maybe this race wasn't the biggest or even the best but it does have the potential to be one of the best quarter mile nostalgia events on NHRA's schedule.

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Part of the Cacklefest and race car show were the following top fuel and funny cars;
The Comanche AA/FD, The Freedom Machine AA/FD, The Whipple & Mr. Ed and Country Girls.

Alison Lee was on hand with the all original Great Expectations top fuel car, now owned by Brian Beattie.
Along with her husband Jim they were a big name in top fuel racing during the 1960's and early 1970's.

The last time I saw this car race it was 1967 at Fremont Raceway in Fremont, California.
That day Beswick lost a match race to Jungle Jim Liberman's new 1967 Nova.
Forty-seven years later here is the same car with fresh paint and engine.

Move over Barb Hamilton, there is a new female driver in the Gasser ranks.
Michele Feil was behind the wheel of Rocky Pirrone's Big John Mazmanian AA/GS.
Michele cranked out a best of a 5.68 eighth mile.
When Michele wasn't driving, she helped Pirrone back up his ride, the Frantic Ford funny car.

Nostalgia funny car action saw the Candies family 'Cuda battle Crazy Jake Crimmins.
Crazy Jake took this pairing.

One of the really cool races of the weekend saw John Grinwald and his Golddigger A/FX
take on the Beswick GTO S/SX. Grinwald delighted the fans with his wheels-up starts.

Highlighting the Gasser section was Dave Hales and Larrry and Wanda Blanchett's Pork Zartman Willys.

Gassers on the race track put on a great show.
Here Michele Feil drove the Big John Willys past the Scott Rods Anglia for a Saturday win.

It was great to see Californian Howard Haight behind the wheel of the Mr. Boston AA/FA Fiat.
Unfortunately, handling issues slowed the mighty Fiat down.

Rocky Pirrone boiled the tires in his Frantic Ford nostalgia funny car.
The car broke something in the rear and the crew repaired the car in the rain on Saturday evening.

Cody Helger was at the controls of the all original King and Marshall AA/FD.
Cody's dad Ray Helger Jr. now owns the car and it can be seen at many events in New England.

The Cacklefest was moved to Sunday afternoon because of rain on Saturday afternoon.
It wasn't huge but the fans and racers enjoyed the noise and nitro fumes.

One of the best looking retro funny cars was the Hard Guys driven by Mike Smith.
Mike's dad is funny car veteran owner/driver Paul Smith.

Right now this is the guy to beat in the Heritage top fuel class.
Tony Bartone took home top fuel honors at 5.73, 236 mph.
Bartone is this year's Heritage top fuel overall champion.

The Phenomenon AA/GS Willys did Chi-Town style burnouts and wheels-up launches
making it a crowd favorite for the weekend.

Dave Cobb and his Finders Keepers AA/GS Willys was also a fan favorite in the exhibition gasser class.

Hope vs. Hope, it's Ryan Hope driving Rich Guasco's Pure Hell AA/FA defeating his dad
Ron Hope driving his Rat Trap. Ryan thundered in the low 6's at 244 mph.
The Pure Hell gang was fresh off the boat from racing at Santa Pod in the U.K.

It seems like you can't have a Hot Rod Reunion without TV Tommy Ivo race cars at the event.
These two were beautifully restored race cars.
Ivo's custom trailer was also spotless and detailed.

The car show was packed with cars from New England and Canada.

Greer and Jodoin's Instant T Altered was a classic.
It was in storage for forty-three years before having the cobwebs cleaned off and displayed.
A great piece of the good ol' days of drag racing.

One of the East Coast Gasser clan was David Grubb's beautiful candy green Willys gasser.
His smoke filled burnout's and wheels-up launches drew cheers from the crowd.