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.
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.
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.
2002 Norwalk Super Chevy Show Stats
Saturday Awards
Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Cars
Mike Barker, Milford, MI, '72 Malibu
Gary Campbell, Sheffield Village, OH, '70 Chevelle
Jim Centifanti, Sheffield Lake, OH, '69 Camaro
Gary Goodin, Indianapolis, IN, '69 Camaro
Don Hendrickson, Medina, OH, '69 Camaro
Jim Matusek, Tonawanda, NY, '69 Camaro
Corey Orweiler, Bucyrus, OH, '76 Monte Carlo
Jeff Pilliod, Swanton, OH, '66 Nova
Scott Walker, Moon Twp, PA, '71 Nova
Lisa Wilt, London, OH, '64 Chevelle wagon
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.
Specialty AwardsBest Interior
Mike Zayas, Youngstown, OH, '69 Chevelle Pro-Street
Best Paint
Mike Oginsky, Warren, MI, '67 Camaro
Best Engine
Jim Gallant, Brian, OH, '67 Camaro Pro-Street
Best Detail Sponsored By Racing Communications, Inc.
Jeff Betz, Macomb, MI, '77 Camaro
Best Workmanship Sponsored By Waterloo Industries
Larry Marquart, Findlay, OH, '35 Ford
Best Achievement Stock
Carl Wilson, Medina, OH, '57 convertible
Best Achievement Street
Dennis Mascari, Allison Park, PA, '57 Nomad
Best Achievement Modified
Chris Smith, Tiffin, OH, '67 GMC truck
ESPN2 Award Of Excellence
Jim McLaughlin, Cambridge, ON-Can, '71 Monte Carlo convertible
"Transport Award" - Featherlite Trailers
Roger Wellman, Galion, OH, '86 S-10 Pro-Street
"Graphics Award" - American Colorscans, Inc.
Rick & Phyllis Schubert, N. Royalton, OH, '70 Camaro Pro-Street
ISCA "Award Of Excellence" - ISCA
Randy Meacher, Cleveland, OH, '65 Impala
Suzuki "Outstanding 4x4" Award
Ronald Oeschger, Webster, NY, '95 Truck
"Outstanding Street Rod" Award - Street Rodder Magazine
Jerry Kovacek, Medina, OH, '39 Chevy coupe
"Outstanding Classic Truck" Award - Classic Truck Magazine
Bud & Betty Brechbill, E. Canton, OH, '51 Chevy
Super Chevy Magazine 30 Year Anniversary Award
Paul Jonela, N. Royalton, OH, '42 Chevy sedan delivery
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. | 
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. |
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. | |