The Waco Street Machine Mini Nationals is a bonafide Southwestern street machine institution if there ever was one and the longest-running outdoor car and truck show in the Lone Star State. Three years ago it was dispossessed of its Memorial Day Weekend "home" after 24 years.
The immediate problem, of course, was where to hold the 25th Anniversary Memorial Day Weekend event: Over the past 25 years, the Mini Nats has brought MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS into the Waco economy. Fortunately, event founder/promoters Bobby and Dale Ramey came up with nearby Cameron Park East (CPE), a mere 4 miles west of the previous site at Ft. Fisher.
At the outset, CPE proved to be somewhat primitive in many respects, but it was far superior when it came to the amount of space available for cars, trailer parking, highway access, etc. Abilene, Texas, co-promoters Steve and Deana Longmire from C&C Productions (who purchased control of the event from Bobby and Dale Ramey last year) have sought to improve the event and overcome new location "teething problems" as quickly as possible. For example, this year, participants (there were over 300 entries at the '02 Mini Nats from all over Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Louisiana) entered at the west boat ramp gate. This not only allowed easier access but also enabled trailered cars to unload, pull right into the Texas Showcar Association judging line, gas up, clean up, and get ready for judging.
And speaking of judging, "Team C&C" also streamlined Mini Nats judging classes, or if nothing else, pared the show car categories down to a more manageable twenty-five. This, of course, tightened up the competition, but then competition has always been tight at Waco. Moreover, it allows for a more manageable show and gets cars through the judging line quicker.
When it came to top-quality Chevrolets, the 27th Annual Waco Mini Nats had a TON of them. Winner of the Outstanding Engineering Award was Earl and Melinda Randall's white, blown '69 Pro Street Camaro. You want to talk about detail? This baby has a ton of it!
Transmission specialist Rickey Bright and his blown Magenta '66 Chevy II were the big winners in the Outstanding Engine class with the car's highly detailed blown small-block, and Junior Kristner's '65 Chevrolet Impala won Outstanding Un-Finished Car honors.
There were other big winners at Waco. In reality, though, everyone in attendance was a winner because the event now has a new home for keeps, and a 27-year-long Southwestern street machine tradition will live on. Next year, C&C Productions will present the Waco Mini Nats 1st Annual Texas Pro Street Reunion! That ought to be a barnburner!