Some say you can't go home again. I say, yes, you can-if not figuratively, then literally. It just so happens I lived in Spearfish, South Dakota, when I was a kid, and I've been trying to find an excuse to get back there ever since. POCI provided a great one-its '08 convention.
With the majestic Black Hills rich in gold and steeped in Indian folklore as the backdrop, more than 230 Pontiacs, GMCs, and Oaklands from all over the country descended upon the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center in Spearfish to take part in the 36th Annual POCI Convention.
The event ran from Monday afternoon, July 7, through Saturday, July 12, and was hosted by the Minnesota-based Tomahawk Chapter, headed up by convention co-chairs Dave Bennett, Paul Bergstrom, and Jim Felker. With so many historic sites to see and so much to do, the parking lot of the hotel was rarely flush with Pontiacs, as most were out enjoying the area attractions. They included Black Hills cruising, 1880 train shopping tours, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore lighting tours, Wall Drug and Badlands tours, an Oakland breakfast tour, and a Caves and Buffalos tour.
For the kids, there were the model-car contest, coloring contest (results of both are posted on www.highperformancepontiac.com), a kids' Bear Country and Reptile Gardens tour, and a kids' pizza party.
 |  Bill Meyer laid down a smokescreen...  Bill Meyer laid down a smokescreen on the Sturgis Dragway starting line enroute to a Warrior bracket win at the Fifth Annual POCI Drag Day. |  Jim and Claudia Martinson's...  Jim and Claudia Martinson's '78 Macho T/A is not only a cool disco-era tuner T/A, but also an unrestored original that still wears its factory and DKM paint. See where the overspray is when we feature the car in a future issue. |
What to do for evening entertainment wasn't a concern at this event either: Wednesday, Ames Performance Engineering's Night Out; Thursday, POCI Chapter Night banquet; Friday, Performance Years' Night Out; and Saturday, outdoor BBQ and Rockabilly concert. All featured live entertainment and food.
In addition to the concours and popular-vote shows and drag racing, the Pontiac-related activities included seminars from Jim Wangers, "How Pontiac Invented Performance Advertising"; Robert White of the Ethanol Promotions and Information Council on biofuels; and one from John Sawruk by way of video and telecommunication. There was also a modest swap meet behind the hotel, featuring the parts needed for show-goers to forward their projects.
While concours judging progressed back at the Holiday Inn on Friday, the POCI Drag Day was held at nearby Sturgis Dragway. Local racers and those from the surrounding states lined up to compete for bragging rights and cash/prizes. Spectators enjoyed hours of fierce competition under beautiful, sunny skies and strong winds.
On Saturday, the entire event changed venue as Main Street in Spearfish became the home of the popular-vote show. Amongst a carnival atmosphere, some of the best Pontiacs on the planet flaunted their attributes on this warm and sunny Saturday. Local eateries were packed to capacity with hungry Poncho lovers, and the event drew spectators from miles around to see the town transformed into a Pontiac paradise. Most of the cars were there for the popular-vote show, but there were some concours Pontiacs in attendance as well.
Though this event may have been a bit smaller than past POCI conventions-mostly due to high fuel prices-the quality and variety of the Pontiacs certainly weren't lacking. There were a great many that you don't normally see when the event is further east or west, and there were also plenty of interesting and rare models, and/or color and option combinations, as you can see in the photos.
It was enjoyable to visit a place that holds so many wonderful childhood memories for me, and I'm confident many event participants made warm and fuzzy memories of their own at the 36th Annual POCI Convention. Where else can you experience some of the greatest Pontiacs in the world, the grandeur of the Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, the beauty of Spearfish Canyon, the sights and sounds of old Deadwood, the great expanse of the Badlands, and the tourist kitsch of Wall Drug in just five days?
 Jeff Mooney drove all the...  Jeff Mooney drove all the way from Poky, Idaho, in his unrestored '56 Pontiac. Aside from a minor issue with the water pump, the car performed surprisingly well given its age. |  There was no shortage of great...  There was no shortage of great Grand Prixs on the streets of Spearfish. |  Victor Weitzel's Pro Touring...  Victor Weitzel's Pro Touring '69 Firebird convertible was a standout among the First-Gen Firebirds, with custom paint and trick suspension. Its supercharged 400 and modern interior didn't hurt, either. He trailered it all the way from Ahwahnee, California, to participate in the event and have his Bird photographed for a future HPP feature. |