Hot Rod Reunion - local Ohio rodders

Ohio Rodders Heading to 5th Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, June 15-17

Hot rodders from Cincinnati and other cities are driving to Father's Day weekend event at National Trail Raceway

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- (June 8, 2007) -- Ohio hot rodders are revving up their cars and hitting the highways with one destination in mind: the 5th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by SoffSeal. The Reunion runs from June 15-17 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

According to Josh Shaw, who owns Shaw Shop, a hot rod store in Cincinnati, all points lead to the Reunion for Ohio rodders. "We've got guys coming from all over Ohio -- Cincinnati, Sharonville, Georgetown, Harrison, Batavia, Lebanon and other cities," said Shaw. "I know of at least 19 cars that will be making the trip."

Shaw, 30, said the reason he and all his hot rod pals are heading to the Reunion is simple: "It's the best event I've been to. I used to go to all the shows, but now I just go to the Reunion. I've been to every one of them. It's soooo good."

Tony Thacker, executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, which produces the three-day family fun event, understands why the Reunion is so important to Shaw and other Ohio rodders. "Basically, they're a bunch of hot rodders and drag racers pulling old race cars out of barns and garages because they love this stuff and they love the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion."

Among the Ohio rodders coming to the Reunion are: Mike Hilton of Sharonville, who is bringing five cars; Wade Hughes, Cincinnati; Brian Ward, Georgetown; Jason Green, Lebanon; Scott Webb, Hamilton; Brian Tarter, Fairfield; Joshua Shaw, Cincinnati; Mike Whitney, Harrison; Ryan Pope, Batavia; John Gilligan, Milford; Dan Shaw, Milford; Brad Ellis, Cincinnati; Doug Coldiron, Milford; and Jim Wilkins, Brookville Ind. Incidentally, Jim's 'Vette, which he recently pulled out of a barn, ran at the 1964 NHRA Nationals and has been "lost" ever since.

The 5th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by SoffSeal, is part of the museum's Hot Rod Heritage Series which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture.

Unique among motorsports events, the Reunion honors some of the top names in hot rodding from the past and features a fabulous array of cool drag cars, street rods, classics, customs and muscle cars of the historic and present-day hot rod eras.

Daily general admission tickets/pit passes will be available at the National Trail Raceway gate, 2650 National Rd. SW, Hebron, Ohio 43025; phone: 740/928-5706; www.nationaltrailraceway.com. Cost per person: Friday, $20; Saturday, $20; Sunday, $15. Children 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. The first 1,000 spectators through the gate on Sunday (Father's Day) will get a free Hot Wheels by Mattel.

-credit: museum.nhra.com