As far as summer gatherings go, Pontiacs At The Grove-the high-energy race/show/swap held at Maple Grove Raceway near Mohnton, Pennsylvania-is an event that seems to flourish no matter what. In 2002, that "what" was a 92-degree day, a ton of humidity, and a heat index that boiled past 100. To step out of an air-conditioned vehicle into a sunny sauna like that will test your dedication to the hobby-and we weren't even the guys laying near hot headers and wrenching in a sun-drenched engine bay. Of course, they were driving fast Pontiacs and we had a minivan, but anyway...
The party unofficially started on Friday, July 26 with some all-makes grudge racing. Saturday brought one of Maple Grove's Money Trail ET Bracket events, but as an added incentive to get Pontiacs into the winner's circle, Jim Butler Performance threw in an extra hundred bucks if any of the four class winners ran Ponchos. But Sunday was the big day for Pontiac fans. Tons of racers and showers, special matches like the showdown between Arnie Beswick's Tameless Tiger and Mike Garblik's and Eric Larsen's Grocery Getter, and a spectacle involving Rich Hanna's flame-throwing Pontiac funny car would be enough incentive to entice us out of the Road Warrior and toward a dehydration-driven nirvana.
The turnout was a good one on Sunday-nearly 350 show and race buffs registered to display works of art and works in progress, and to tear up the strip at PATG VIII.
A few passes through the grassy show field is always needed when the young and old display such quality young and old Pontiacs, and there was also the nearby swap meet to consider. Sponsors Jim Butler Performance and Performance Years, along with a good helping of other vendors, gave the crowd a nice selection of parts. As any Pontiac widow can testify, these treasure hunts are never good for the checkbook-good luck keeping us away, honey. (Is that a Trans Am steering wheel?) Many vendors were doing good business that day, and there seemed to be a constant flow of bargain hunters circling the area. Of course, it takes quite a lot to pull us away from OEM goodies, but racin' beats parts like scissors cut paper. Or as an old parts hound might say, "Ooh, those cars run!"
Sunday's entrants brought tons of hi-po Pontiacs out to race, and there was a good variety of classic stock, classic modded, and late-model iron among them. As a crowd estimated near 2,120 cheered them on, each driver heated up the balonies, staged, and let a roar echo through the valley. Seeing a good run on slicks or drag radials is great, but watching a four-speed Poncho powershift to 13-second times on Redline tires is damn impressive. After the time trial guys and gals gave it a shot then popped a cool top in the pits, the bracket brawl was on. The young and old drove Catalinas and new GTPs; they funneled up to the line; chirped a tire or pulled a moon shot; and had an absolute blast. When all of the exhibition runs were done and many warriors had been cut down, Paul Spotts, Jerry Loan, Roger Miller, and Don Hess were left standing to receive the approving applause that rolled down from Maple Grove's bleachers.
Maple Grove Raceway is busy preparing another humdinger for 2003, which will be taking place on July 27. Questions about the event can be directed toward Richard Jenkins at 610-856-9200.
Pontiacs at the Grove VIII Show ResultsClass 1 Full Size '08-591st Belva Hartman '51 Catalina2nd Tim Britton'59 Bonneville
Class 2 Full Size '60-661st Noel Pecunia '63 Grand Prix2nd Tom Moorhead '66 Catalina3rd Dave McLaughlin '63 Grand Prix
Class 3 Full Size '67-771st Robert Kantner '73 Grandville
Class 4 Full Size '78-921st George Hirn '80 Grand Prix
Bracket I final