We never really got to the apple pie, but we did get right in the middle of the drag racing, show cars, and ice cream. If you haven't been to Norwalk, Ohio, and haven't had the extra large portion of vanilla ice cream, it's worth the trip just for that. Of course, we expect it will be in the middle of a Super Chevy weekend, so there's much more than just ice cream.
The local racers show up about two days early and stay until the last light is out on Sunday. These are hard-core drag racers. The car show folks stick it out through fair weather and foul (which we had a slight touch of), and the spectators are all over the Midway, keeping the vendors busy. There's even a cool campground under big shady trees, right next to the show and swap meet. When the festivities at the drag strip and car show slow down, there are a couple of cruise nights at local drive-ins. This is a town that waits all year for Super Chevy to come to town and doesn't waste a minute once the show is there.
Norwalk is the last stop in three weeks on the Super Chevy summer kickoff. It wraps up the swing through this part of the country. What is remarkable is that many of the folks we see at Norwalk have been with us for all three weeks, starting at Indianapolis, then going to Maple Grove, and some even made it to the Trim Parts open house the Tuesday after Indy. It's a very nice way to spend a summer vacation, and we thank them for the company.
|
It's hard to beat this extensively customized '51 Chevy pickup, which is why Bud and Betty Brechbill, E. Canton, OH, took home the Outstanding Classic Truck Award from Classic Trucks magazine. |
Mike Barker of Milford, MI, is the proud owner of this clean and beautiful '72 Malibu. He now owns an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award to go with the car. |
In the foreground is Jerry Kovacek's '39 Chevy which he brought from Medina, OH, and which took home the Outstanding Street Rod award from Street Rodder magazine. Jerry's competition was fierce in that category, as can be seen from the nearby contenders. |
David Whitchurch from Englewood, OH, brought his '54 Corvette to Norwalk and took home the Trim Parts Best Corvette Award, given in association with Vette magazine, for his super '54 Corvette. |
Jeff Pilliod's '66 Nova caught our eye because of its cool beige (at least that's the color we called it) paint and overall quality. Jeff took an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award home to Swanton, OH. |
Mark Nielsen and his Nitro Coupe Camaro came to please the crowd, which they certainly did. Gary Irving and his team made it interesting all the way through Nitro Coupe qualifications and eliminations, turning some low 6s and getting in to the finals. In one of the closest last-round races, Gray lost out to Dan Nickelson, turning 222.00 mph in 6.384 seconds, to Dan's 6.256 e.t. at 226.81 mph. |
How many '42 Chevys do you see, and how many of them are sedan deliveries? Not many, we guess, and Paul Jonela of N. Royalton, OH, did such a good job on this one that he took home the SUPER CHEVY Magazine 30 Year Anniversary Award. |
Scott Walker came from Moon, PA, with his '71 Nova. He went back to the Moon with an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award. |
Gary Goodin came over from Indianapolis to show his fine '69 and took home an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award. |
Jim Matusek didn't really Pro Street a Yenko, but it came out something like that. The Tonawandy, NY, car took home an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award. |
 |
These car show award winners are almost as good-looking as their cars. Well, almost, but at least the kids are. |
 |
 |
Drag racers enjoy their day in the sun, or shade, as the case may be. |
 |
Here are nine the Editor's Choice Top Ten Drag Car award winners from Norwalk. It's getting difficult to decide if some of these cars should be in the show grounds or on the racetrack. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |