Sittin' 'round and havin'...
Sittin' 'round and havin' fun. The Trans Am Nationals is a great place to meet friends and share the passion for these classic American cars. Brian Balash's '99 T/A draws attention with its Medium Blue Metallic hue paired with silver graphics.
With the possibility of somber overtones thanks to Pontiac's recent dismissal, the 25th Anniversary edition of the Trans Am Nationals, hosted by the Dayton Chapter of the Trans Am Club of America, kicked off at its new location, the Dayton Marriott Hotel on Friday, August 28. Early Saturday morning, the show field appeared to be a ghost town at first. Would this be an indication of the weekend's turnout? Would Pontiac event attendance drop as a direct result of the economic turmoil and the demise of the Division?
Our concern subsided as the day filled with sunshine and the show field filled with Firebirds. There were returning vendors and a few new ones in the manufacturers' midway, and there were swap-meet vendors as well, but the count did drop off a bit from years past.
Inside the hotel, crowds gathered for seminars with Design Chief of Pontiac Studio 2 (retired) John Schinella regarding his tenure at Pontiac, PHS President Jim Mattison on collectability and the state of the hobby, and Judging Chairman Scott Scheel on judging preparation. "The turnout for the seminars was great," says Scott. "The room had 60 seats in anticipation for the seminars and 40 to 60 additional seats were brought in, and even those still weren't enough. It was fabulous."
Terry and Tracy Best won the...
Terry and Tracy Best won the High Performance Pontiac Editor's Choice award with Tracy's red '77 Formula and Terry's '77 Trans Am pictured behind them.
By Saturday afternoon, the show field was filled to near capacity, and the attitudes of the participants and spectators were optimistic, despite GM's failings, gas prices, and the woes of the economy. Everyone was looking forward to the unveiling of the Kevin Morgan Concept T/A. The design was once a fantasy dreamed up on his computer, but grassroots support was strong for the idea. Once Kevin teamed up with Trans Am Depot and Todd Otto, the project took flight.
The chant, "Bring it back!," which echoed off the slab-sided Jerry Reed tribute trailer, intensified the anticipation. What would it look like? Are we really about to see what should have been? A 2010 Pontiac Trans Am?
All questions were answered as the car trailer door was lowered and Kevin's beautiful creation rolled out. The raucous crowd went absolutely nuts. It's clear to the author that everyone at that show wants to see a Trans Am back in production.
The concept T/A set the mood for the remainder of the weekend. Everyone started to realize that even though Pontiac as a brand may no longer exist, these classic and late-models still do, and it's now up to all of us to carry the torch.
Happily, attendance was up from last year! A total of 441 Firebird owners made their way out to the Dayton Marriott Hotel to show off their rides, compared to 427 last year and throughout the event, the silent and live auctions drew support money for A Special Wish Foundation from participants and spectators.
Given the turnout, the generosity, and the passion of these hobbyists, there is no doubt that they will keep the memory of Pontiacs alive.
The 26th Annual Trans Am Nationals will be held on August 27-29, 2010. For further information, visit www.78ta.com/nats or call Becky at (937) 233-9504 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Steve Hamilton is an all-around...
Steve Hamilton is an all-around nice guy. Even nicer is his collection of Firebirds that exceeds 80 cars. Here we see four of the lucky ones he took to the show in Dayton. From right to left: a '69 Trans Am, a 10th Anniversary T/A Pace Car, a '74 Buccaneer Red SD-455 Trans Am, and a matching SD-455 Formula.
The owner's tag for this well-executed...
The owner's tag for this well-executed '84 KITT replica reads "Chris Del Cotto" from Lexington, Ohio. We could have sworn the owner was Michael Knight.
Tod Warmack from Trans Am...
Tod Warmack from Trans Am Depot in Tallahassee, Florida, brought out his immaculate '78 Martinique Blue T/A.
It's always great to see something...
It's always great to see something a little different. Ron McCracken from Batavia, Ohio, added some custom touches to his '68. Notice the shaker-style rear-facing 'scoop covering the 428 Pontiac under the hood.
Here's something you don't...
Here's something you don't see everyday; a pair of '71 Formulas. The Lucerne Blue Formula is owned by Layna Gunderson, and the Formula on the right is owned by Brad Haber.
Robin Zfenix's '91 Trans Am...
Robin Zfenix's '91 Trans Am had a split personality. On the outside it was painted pink and blue, split right down the middle. Inside, the theme was carried over in reverse to the outside. It certainly grabbed our attention and was always surrounded by curious show goers.