Though there were a few empty...
Though there were a few empty areas on the show field, the variety of Firebirds and T/As was breathtaking. Also note the SE turnout, seen here in the fourth row from the bottom.
Every year in late August, Dayton, Ohio, is overrun with Firebirds congregating for the Trans Am Nationals, an event that has taken on a life of its own.
This gala of all things Pontiac F-body is hosted by the Dayton Chapter of the Trans Am Club of America and has grown to become the longest-running and largest show dedicated to T/As and Firebirds. In its 24th year, however, the show faced rising fuel prices, an injured economy, and the knowledge this was to be the last event at the Dayton Airport Hotel as it is scheduled to be torn down. Despite these hardships, the '08 installment of this fine festival, held August 22 through 24, still had a strong turnout.
"We had a great show," says Chairperson Sue Emmel. "Thirty states, Canada, and Australia were represented, and we had at least one car from every production year '67 through '02." Event sponsors proudly brought out their new products and projects, including an ultra-modern, YearOne, Burt Reynolds Edition "Bandit" Trans Am. We saw multiple representations of several rare cars, such as a pair of Sunset Orange Metallic '01 Formula Firehawks. There was a wide variety of classes for Firebirds to compete in, giving everyone a chance at winning a trophy.
Cars, food, and fun sums up...
Cars, food, and fun sums up the show. Hosted at the Dayton Airport Hotel for the last time, the T/A Nationals was well organized and the hotel served as a haven from the scorching heat.
While last year's weather was pleasant and dry for the most part, this year was different. Heat and humidity were up, and everyone was hoping for some relief. Our hopes were answered in the worst way possible as rain fell on Sunday. It held off for most of the day, but by the time the award ceremony began, a massive weather system was making its way over the Dayton Airport Hotel area. Nevertheless, many braved the rain to hear their name called and pick up a well-deserved trophy.
Despite the water works hosted by Mother Nature, the event was a blast for everyone involved. The live auction was a comical spectacle, as guests had their chance to bid on everything from model cars and cleaning kits to giant blankets and posters. According to Sue, the event raised more than $5,000 for A Special Wish Foundation.
Even though last year's tally of 429 registered cars was not bested, a respectable 427 vehicles made their appearance this year. For this economic climate, that's a victory in itself. The Tipp City Cruise-In also saw a great turnout with 363 Pontiacs participating.
For 2009, the location will change to the Dayton Marriott Hotel due to the demolition of the Dayton Airport Hotel. Information for next year's event can be found on the official website, www.tanationals.com. See you next year!
 David Brown's '69 "Blackbird"...  David Brown's '69 "Blackbird" is nothing short of stunning. This purpose-built convertible exhibits amazing attention to detail. |  Under its hood is an LS engine...  Under its hood is an LS engine with a supercharger and lots of brightwork. This Pontiac was deserving of its Best of Show award. |  Here's a rare site-a '90 Firebird...  Here's a rare site-a '90 Firebird Bandit II. These cars were converted by Chattanooga Custom Center for dealers around the Tennessee area. The final production numbers are unknown, but each car was given a build badge. Todd Christian's is number 85 of the proposed 600 for that year. |
 The Sky Bird Esprit Firebirds...  The Sky Bird Esprit Firebirds seemed to be aimed directly at female car enthusiasts, and that describes Debby Manning, owner of this fine '77 model. It still retains the original Lombard Blue paint, decals, and spare tire, and has only 20,000 miles on the odometer. The powerplant is a 350 backed by a Turbo 350 automatic. |  Here is Darrell and Kim Flannery's...  Here is Darrell and Kim Flannery's '01 Formula Firehawk. SLP converted only 70 Formulas into Firehawks for '01, making this car particularly rare. Its color of Sunset Orange Metallic also adds to its rarity. |  Eric Esper's SD-455 equipped...  Eric Esper's SD-455 equipped '73 has tons of paperwork to prove its pedigree. |
 The late-model Trans Ams were...  The late-model Trans Ams were worthy carriers of the performance torch for the final years of Firebird production. These owners have modified their LT1s and LS1s for even more power, and applied striking upgrades to the exteriors. |  Winner of the Editor's Choice...  Winner of the Editor's Choice award, George Berg's '78 Trans Am is an all-around gem. The paint is flawless, even after over 10 years. It wears "T/A 6.6" on its Shaker scoop, alerting everyone to the W72, 220-horse Pontiac 400 under the hood. It was one of the cover cars for the Jan. '09 issue, so you can find plenty of photos there or at www.highperformance pontiac.com. |  If you think there's something...  If you think there's something different about Micheal Messer's Light Blue Poly '81 Trans Am, you're right. The car has been converted to a convertible, an option not available on any Second-Gen F-Body. |