Jim Emmel 22nd Annual Trans Am Nationals

Like most any food product made with corn or wheat, Firebirds, Formulas, and T/As have also become part of a balanced mid-westerner's diet thanks to the T/A Nationals-the largest Firebird event in the world.

The Dayton Chapter of the Trans Am Club of America, through a dedicated volunteer staff of members headed by Chairperson Sue Emmel, hosts the three-day shindig in late August each year. For 2006, over 420 registered examples of Pontiac's famed F-bodies made the trek to the Dayton Airport Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, for the arrowheaded love-fest that is the T/A Nats.

It's certainly the place to see more SD-455, 455 H.O., and 400 Ram Air models than any other venue in the country. The event also houses a gaggle of Birds from all generations in classes ranging from stock to mildly modified and completely off-the-hook customs.

If that weren't enough, the wealth of information that can be gained from this event by looking at the models is astounding. If you need to know the correct textures under the hood of a '70 Ram Air IV T/A, you need only walk out the front doors of the hotel to find a concours-restored one. Like to compare and contrast the detailing of the 455 H.O. and SD-455 engines? Multiple examples were lined up next to each other awaiting perusal. Have to find out if 19-inch wheels with steamroller tires will fit on your Fourth-Gen? There was bound to be more than one so equipped on the show field.

This year was just as chaotic weather-wise as years past, with many a participant primping and polishing their expressions of personal transportation between stray raindrops on Saturday. In the swap-meet area, vendors were doing their best to service customers and keep their wares dry during the passing showers. That night however, the annual pilgrimage to Tipp City went off as planned and was well attended under threatening skies. For Sunday, the weather cleared up nicely, and we walked rows upon rows of intoxicating examples of Pontiac's Pony Car, which even spilled over into the surrounding parking lots.

On the show field, 33 states and Canada were represented (there were even spectators from Australia and France), so you can imagine how fierce the competition was. Some traveled from as far as Florida for the event, and for one Floridian, it was well worth the trip-Loren Sheffer's '7011/42 Trans Am won Best of Show. Not surprisingly, this stunning Pro Touring T/A built by "Bird Doctor" Artie Philipp is this month's cover car. You'll quickly realize why this T/A received such accolades when you read about it.

There were many deserving Bird owners who were recognized for their efforts at the awards ceremony. One of them was Mike Kozar for his '77 Fire-Am, which won HPP's Editor's Choice and is pictured in this story. Other activities at the T/A Nats included Scott Scheel's interesting seminar on the history of the Firebird, kids' crafts and games, the mini-nats featuring diecast Firebirds and T/As, and a dinner buffet on Friday night for club members and workers.

Worthy of discussion amongst all this Pontiac talk is the fact the T/A Nats also raises money for A Special Wish Foundation each year. This year's tally was $4,665. In gratitude, A Special Wish Foundation, Dayton Chapter, presented the Lowell E. Baker Outstanding Organization Award to the Trans Am Club of America Dayton, Ohio Chapter. The club's continued support through the Annual Trans Am Nationals Car Show has raised more than $28,000 over several years to aid fulfilling children's wishes.

If you can't get enough Firebird excitement and want to aid a worthy cause, then the Trans Am Nats is a must-attend event. This year's dates are August 24-26, 2007. For more info, visit www.tanationals.com.

Major Sponsors
303 Products
78TA.com
Bandit Trans Am Club
Dayton Airport Hotel
Dayton International Airport
Dayton Airport Police
G&T Fiberglass
High Performance
Pontiac magazine
Jeg's
National Parts Depot
Phoenix Graphix
Pontiac Division
Pontiac Historic Services
Restore A Muscle Car
TNT Trophies
TCA Graphics