2003 GTOAA East Coast Regionals

Friday, August 22nd, 2003, met the northern New Jersey-area Pontiac fan with gorgeous mid-70-degree weather--the "purrrrrfect" conditions to hold a tiger get-together and kick off the '03 GTOAA East Coast Regional Meet, hosted by the Garden State GTOs club. Don't let the title fool you. The event was open to more than GTO-badge-wearing Pontiacs, as evident by the Bonnes, GPs, and even a former HPP feature Can Am.

While our senior hosts, club president Harold Murray, vice president Charles Miller, and tech advisor Mike Spizziri, were quite busy running around to ensure a flawless event, hundreds of visitors and participants took the time to check in the hotel, take in the sunshine, and/or enjoy the dozens of arriving spectacular GTOs.

Over 160 classic Pontiacs were in attendance at the biggest East Coast regional show yet. Attendees were received by the Hanover Marriot Hotel, located easily enough on Route 10 in Whippany, New Jersey. A marked changed from the previous events' venue, Harold Murray proudly says, "From its gorgeous marble-adorned lobby to the indoor-outdoor pool, our newfound facility made a car show into a mini-vacation." Later into the evening, in accordance to tradition, a parking lot party took place that included a live band. Ensuring no no-gooders spoiled the weekend, the Garden State GTOs arranged for the Roxbury Explorers, a local youth group, to provide overnight security for the sleeping Tigers when the party ended.

With tents, tables, and parking area laid out, by Saturday the club members were well rehearsed and ready to go live! A DJ was on hand to provide nostalgia-appropriate music and Marriott had a hot dog and burger vending cart amidst the parking lot, so attendees could satisfy their hunger without missing a sight or beat. Additionally, you didn't need to have a car in the show to win something. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, awesome prizes like complete Sony sound systems were picked up for the mere cost of a raffle ticket. On the show field the competition was fierce but friendly as concours judges earned their keep poring over some of the most beautiful GTOs ever made that were restored to perfection or at least near perfection. It was the judges' job to decide, which Pontiacs were worthy of gold, silver, or bronze accolades and which didn't make the cut.

On the popular vote side, the mood was a bit lighter as there is a lot less pressure since your GTO is voted on by peers instead of trained judges, but quality was there as well. Best of Show Popular Vote was bestowed upon Nolin Dutta's '62 Tempest and Ray DeCrescenzo took home the Best of Show Concours award with his fantastic '70 Orbit Orange Ram Air IV Judge, which had also won HPP Editor's Choice at the GTOAA Nats a month or so before this event.

Saturday evening brought the sold-out award presentation banquet ceremonies. A hundred lucky participants wined and dined while being enlightened by special guest former Pontiac engineer John Sawruk. After Mr. Sawruk's tech session, trophies, door prizes, and the President's Award were presented.

It had been almost a decade since yours truly had been to a regional, single-marque car show and it was wonderful having that unique feeling again of being around total strangers who feel like family. One could pick any GTO and strike up a warm and friendly conversation with its owners. It was a feeling that made you just long for slow, warm, breezy days like this to never end.

Sadly, however, the day of the show had to end as we rolled into Sunday, the day of rest, but some say rest is for the weary. So perhaps Fords and Chevys were lazily sitting in their garages, but Sunday, August 24th, meant racing for Pontiacs! Performance Years sponsored the Race Day at Great Meadows' own Island Dragway and with mid-70-degree weather continuing into race day, holding a nice 9-mph wind with zero precipitation, there were sweet racing conditions. Performance Years owner Chris Casperson also mixed it up with the competitors on race day with his '67 GTO post coupe, but the GTO racers had their hands full this year as a couple of non-GTOs worked their way into the winners' circle. Tom Kilroy battled through the field in his 9-second wheelstanding '73 Firebird taking out all competitors on his way to a class victory in Super Pro and then he took the Hoffman Racing Big Chief King of Hill title. By the end of race day, all the participants went home satisfied and probably began planning for next year.

For more info on '04's East Coast Regional show contact Garden State GTOs, P.O. Box 45, Mt. Freedom, NJ 07970, www.garden-state-gtos.org, (201) 405-1158.