For history buffs, a round table with John Sawruk, Jim Wangers, Arnie Beswick, and Milt Schornack was scheduled, with Paul Zazarine moderating. Beswick also did his own seminar, as did Sawruk, and Schornack and Zazarine signed their respective new books. Merle Green discussed the Tin Indian, and Art Fitzpatrick tackled the Wide Track image.
As has always been a GTOAA practice, fun was not reserved for Pontiac nuts alone. Scheduled and classified "for the ladies" by the GTOAA were a Longaberger basket presentation, a Pampered Chef presentation, a Chic Pursenality presentation, and a scrapbooking class.
 A Concours judge's job is...  A Concours judge's job is never done. |  The GXP promises spirited...  The GXP promises spirited front-drive performance from its 303-horse, tranverse-mounted V-8. Keeping the front tires from going up in smoke will be a problem. |  Perennial Pontiac fan favorite...  Perennial Pontiac fan favorite Arnie Beswick makes another young Pontiac lover's day. He also displayed a nearly finished Tameless Tiger II. |
Kids and parents alike could enjoy a trip to a local waterpark, the model car show, the Ames Performance reception, the St. Louis Zoo, the ice cream social, the valve cover races, and the kids' pizza party. Grownups could partake of the Anheuser Busch tour and a winery/Daniel Boone cruise. Speaking of cruises, there were plenty--to Hooters, Historic Route 66, and to dinner at Culpeppers.
All this buildup, of course, culminates with the Saturday Concours judging and popular vote balloting, which are certainly the main events. Concours judges risked heat stroke working their way through a sea of some of the most perfectly restored, perfectly modified, and perfectly preserved GTOs you'll see anywhere. Popular vote participants hustled in a last minute effort to get their Goats as detailed as possible, hoping to catch the passing eye of their piers. Owners waited with bated breath for the results that would follow at the awards banquet and ceremony that evening. Then it was time to think about next year.
 Here is Dave Foglton's "Best...  Here is Dave Foglton's "Best Restored" Liberty Blue '69 Ram Air IV GTO. There are no power steering or brakes under that hood--just motor. |  There were deals to be made...  There were deals to be made in the swap meet area on just about any prized part. |  So many GTOs were equipped...  So many GTOs were equipped with the A.I.R. system that you might think they were actually easy to get parts for. Hey, did you realize the hole in the aluminum alternator bracket on your GTO was there to accept A.I.R. system plumbing? |
The '06 GTOAA International Meet will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 11-15. For further info, log onto www.gtoaanationals.com.
SPONSORS
- Pontiac-GMC
- Gateway Area Pontiac Dealers
- Jim Wangers
- Arrowhead Performance
- Performance Years
- Ames Performance Engineering
- LS1GTO.com
- Quality Pontiac
- Homestead Financial
- Ram Air Restorations Enterprises
- Classic Car Rental
SPECIAL AWARDS
Best of Show
- Edward Ball, Blue '69 Hardtop
Best Original - Kyle Krause, Red '69 Judge
Best Restored - Dave Foglton, Blue '69 Hardtop
Best Modified - Rick Last, Burgundy '67 Convertible
WINNERS' CIRLCE (Previous Year First-Place Winners)
- Paul Weinstein
- John Delore
- John Campbell
- Jim Stern
- Ron Cozzo