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2011 Ames Performance Tri-Power Pontiac Nationals - The Pontiac Nationals Turns 20Part I: The Car Show and Celebrities From the June, 2012 issue of High Performance Pontiac By Christopher R. Phillip Photography by The Author
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What's the summer's biggest... What's the summer's biggest Pontiac event without an appearance from the '66 GTO Monkeemobile? Its owner (at the time) described it as an authorized re-creation, approved by Hollywood car-customizer Dean Jeffries. The Ames Performance Tri Power Pontiac Nationals, held annually at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, continues to band together a brand that refuses to fade away. The soiree’s 20th anniversary show—held last August—confirmed that Pontiac hobbyists are as loyal to the Performance Division as they’ve ever been. The pilgrimage kicked off on Friday, August 5, 2011, at 9 a.m., when event coordinators Pete and Andi Woodruff of Super Duty Promotions opened the gates to cars and spectators. Over the course of the three-day event, 487 Pontiacs displayed on the show-car field; 182 vendors sold new and used Pontiac parts, automotive nostalgia, and other retail items on 327 swap-meet spaces (a new show record); dozens of classic and late-model Pontiacs were offered up for sale in the car corral; and 11,759 spectators walked through the gates. This year’s Nationals marked High Performance Pontiac’s debut sponsorship of Pontiacs on Parade. According to Editor Thomas A. DeMauro: “HPP was eager to participate in this premier Pontiac gathering on its 20th anniversary, and sponsorship of Pontiacs on Parade was a perfect fit. What’s so enticing about it is that hobbyists are able to display their Ponchos on the show field without the pressure of being judged. As a result, spectators had access to many unique vehicles that may not have participated otherwise. Pontiacs On Parade cars ranged from clean drivers and weekend cruisers to feature-quality machines. For example, Eric Emmerich’s ’65 GTO convertible, which was featured in the Mar. ’12 issue, was a Pontiacs on Parade participant.” A ’64 Grand Prix owned by... A ’64 Grand Prix owned by Jim Werley leads off High Performance Pontiac’s Pontiacs on Parade car display. The Nationals also marked the return of Knafel Pontiac’s race-car display, sponsored by Merle and Mike Green’s 1A-Auto, and featuring restored examples of the dealership’s famous race cars. On hand were Keith Curry’s ’61 SD Catalina, Bill Hemperly’s ’62 SD Catalina; Tim Benko’s ’63 LeMans “Running Bear”; Merle Green’s ’66 GTO “Tin Indian (No. 5)”; and Gary Kuch’s ’70 GTO Judge. The Little Indians Chapter of POCI also hosted a ’61-’63 Tempest reunion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the technologically advanced “ropeshaft” transaxle cruisers. It drew cars from as far as Arizona. From the start to the climactic conclusion on Sunday, Pontiac excitement ran high. “The biggest moment of Friday was an exhibition pass by the GM Futurliner,” Pete says. “It was such a huge success that we brought it back out for another pass on Saturday with Summit Motorsports Race Director Nettie Damron on board.” Speaking of Saturday, despite a rain forecast, the day was blessed with the unannounced arrival of a recreation Monkeemobile, which drew throngs of onlookers. Pontiac celebrities were on hand, too, including GTO ad-man Jim Wangers, legendary Pontiac dragcar racer Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick, PHS Automotive Services historian Jim Mattison, retired Pontiac historian and motorsports director Fred Simmonds, and former Knafel Pontiac drivers Akron Arlen Vanke and Larry “Doc” Dixon. Many of them spent their time signing autographs and re-telling stories of Pontiac’s most famous days. Whether your definition of... Whether your definition of Pontiac performance is an ’06 GTO, like this appealing Brazen Orange example owned by Denny Jaeb or a ’58 Bonneville coupe, like this Tri-Power treat owned by Walter Scott, Pontiacs on Parade celebrated Pontiacs from all generations. On Sunday afternoon, Pete and Andi handed out 163 car-show trophies inside the Ames Performance hospitality tent. “We were really pleased at the amount of out-of-state car-show winners,” Pete says. “We had winners from out of our core area of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, including from as far away as Pennsylvania and Arizona.” The 21st Annual Pontiac Nationals will be held August 3, 4, and 5, 2012. For more information, visit www.pontiac nationals.com. Next month we’ll bring you all the exciting, tire-smoking, Pontiac-only drag-race payout action. Don’t miss it.  Leading off with this Atlantis...  Leading off with this Atlantis Blue ’79 Trans Am with 15x8-inch, color-keyed Snowflake wheels, there were plenty of pristine Second-Gen’s on hand in the Pontiacs on Parade display.  This ’73 Grand Prix SJ owned...  This ’73 Grand Prix SJ owned by Troy Tackett is 1 of 20,749 top-of-the-line GPs produced for the model year. Though not rare, this cool custom treatment of the front end, featuring the elimination of the bumper and the addition of an airdam and foglights, makes for a particularly attractive combination.  Don Vrabec is the current...  Don Vrabec is the current owner of this rare ’70 Hurst Grand Prix SSJ, which he recently restored. According to him, it originally came with a Hurst-optioned telephone and television, though both are no longer with the car.
Ames Performance Best In Class |
| Full Size |
| Jim Crawford |
1963 Catalina |
| Grand Prix |
| John Elliott |
2006 Grand Prix GXP Sedan |
| GTO / Judge |
| Lee Barnes |
1965 GTO Convertible |
| Firebird / Trans Am |
| Jerry Brushaber |
1976 Trans Am |
| Open |
| Rod Boyer |
2007 Solstice GXP Roadster |
Editor’s Choice Awards |
| High Performance Pontiac |
| Keith Collier |
1961 Tempest |
| Smoke Signals |
| Gary Beemer |
1961 Tempest Wagon |
| Hemmings Classic Car |
| Joe Wheat |
1953 Chieftain Station Wagon |
| Hemmings Muscle Machines |
| Dave & Denise Armstrong |
1969 Firebird Convertible |
| Long Distance Award |
| Keith Collier |
Drove his 1961 Tempest |
| Show Special |
| Jim Hedges |
1966 GTO Monkeemobile |
 The event’s swap meet featured...  The event’s swap meet featured a plethora of rare and unusual items—hope you saved your 8-track collection from back in the day.  Going for the stealth look,...  Going for the stealth look, this matte-black ’68 LeMans owned by Tony Allbery features modern LS power, wheels, tires, and brakes, and a custom interior.  The Little Indians chapter...  The Little Indians chapter of POCI put up their teepees on the show field and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Tempest, including this pow-wow of ’61s…  And this nation of ’63s. Counting...  And this nation of ’63s. Counting show and race cars, HPP was told that there were over 50 ’61-’63 Tempests and LeMans at the event.  Here’s a Pontiac that needs...  Here’s a Pontiac that needs no introduction—a ’65 GTO convertible in Starlight Black. Owned by Lee Barnes, this one took Ames Performance Best in Class GTO/Judge.  Brian Niemann shows off his...  Brian Niemann shows off his ’95 Firehawk convertible, which is one of only two Medium Red Metallic ’Hawks made that year. It nested amongst the fellow SLP-modified Firebirds and Trans Ams that attended the Firehawk Association of America’s (FAOA) 17th Annual Rally, which is held at the Pontiac Nationals every year. The car corral is in the background.  Jim Semon’s ’86 and David...  Jim Semon’s ’86 and David Stidd’s ’85 Fieros lead off this contingent of Pontiac’s sporty two-seater.  Legendary Pontiac racer Arnie...  Legendary Pontiac racer Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick gives a pint-size show-goer an autograph to remember.  A pair of ’73 Grand Ams lead...  A pair of ’73 Grand Ams lead off this show-field row. Check out the NACA hood on the one in the foreground, which is owned by Tim Workman. The brown one is owned by Jamey Gladden.  Keith Collier and his ’61...  Keith Collier and his ’61 527,000-mile Tempest were the lucky recipients of the HPP Editor’s Choice Award and featured in “It’s a Driver” in the May ’12 issue. Keith Collier and his ’61... Keith Collier and his ’61 527,000-mile Tempest were the lucky recipients of the HPP Editor’s Choice Award and featured in “It’s a Driver” in the May ’12 issue.
Class Winners |
| P-0 Pontiac Pre-War 1926 - 1942 |
| 1st |
Donald Winner |
1933 Sport Coupe |
| P-1 Pontiac Post-War 1946 - 1954 |
| 1st |
Joe Wheat |
1953 Chieftain Station Wagon |
| P-2 Pontiac 1955 - 1960 |
| 1st |
Rick Vanlerberghe |
1960 Ventura |
| P-3 Pontiac 1961 - 1965 |
| 1st |
Mark Tilson |
1964 2+2 Convertible |
| P-4 Pontiac 1966 - 1970 |
| 1st |
Richard Larabee |
1967 2+2 Convertible |
| P-5 Pontiac 1971 - 1986 |
| 1st |
Jen & Jon Saulnier |
1978 Bonneville Brougham |
| P-6 Pontiac 1987 to End of Production |
| 1st |
Charles Cordle |
2008 G8 GT |
| GP-1 Grand Prix 1962 - 1968 |
| 1st |
Mike Guiliano |
1963 Grand Prix |
| GP-2 Grand Prix 1969 - 1972 incl. Hurst SSJ |
| 1st |
David Risner |
1969 Grand Prix SJ |
| GP-3 Grand Prix 1973 - 1977 incl. 50th Anniversary |
| 1st |
George Madej |
1975 Grand Prix LJ |
| GP-4 Grand Prix 1978 - 1987 incl. 2 + 2 |
| 1st |
Mike Young |
1986 Grand Prix 2+2 |
| GP-5 Grand Prix 1988 - 1996 incl. STE, GTP, Pace Cars |
| 1st |
Lloyd Stoker |
1990 Grand Prix STE Turbo 4-door |
| GP-6 Grand Prix 1997 - End of Production incl STE, GTP |
| 1st |
John Hilson |
2002 Grand Prix GTP 40th Anniversary |
| GT-1 GTO 1964 - 1965 |
| 1st |
Bill Brunker |
1965 GTO |
| GT-2 GTO 1966 - 1967 |
| 1st |
Ken Swint |
1966 GTO Convertible |
| GT-3 1968 - 1970 |
| 1st |
David Toth |
1968 GTO Convertible |
| GT-4 GTO 1971 - 1974 |
| 1st |
Stephan Locker |
1971 GTO |
| GT-5 GTO 2004 - 2006 |
| 1st |
Marcus Hooley |
2004 GTO |
| JD GTO Judge All |
| 1st |
Jack Scott |
1969 GTO Judge Convertible |
| FB-1 Firebird 1967 - 1969 |
| 1st |
David & Denise Armstrong |
1969 Firebird Convertible |
| FB-2 Firebird 1970 1⁄2 - 1981 incl. Formula |
| 1st |
George Berg |
1973 Firebird Formula |
| FB-3 Firebird 1982 - 1992 incl. Formula |
| 1st |
Brian Beckort |
1991 Firebird Formula |
| FB-4 Firebird 1993 - 2002 incl. Formula |
| 1st |
Nathan & Kristen Call |
2002 Firebird Formula |
| TA-1 Trans Am 1969 - 1974 |
| 1st |
Ken Gosbeth |
1972 Trans Am |
| TA-2 Trans Am 1975 - 1981 |
| 1st |
Janice D’Egidio |
1975 Trans Am |
| TA-3 Trans Am 1982 - 1992 |
| 1st |
Wayne Peters |
1986 Trans Am |
| TA-4 Trans Am 1993 - 2002 incl GTA |
| 1st |
Robert Landrum |
2000 Trans Am Ram Air |
| FH-A Split Firehawk 1993 - 1996 |
| 1st |
Brian Niemann |
1995 Firehawk Convertible |
| FH-B Split Firehawk 2000 - 2002 |
| 1st |
Rick Keller |
2002 Firehawk |
| CTA Comp T/A All |
| 1st |
Kevin Shar |
1996 Comp TA |
| F-1 Fiero Coupe/SE |
| 1st |
Ken Miller |
1984 Fiero SE 2M4 |
| F-2 Fiero GT |
| 1st |
George Johnson |
1985 Fiero GT |
| GA-1 Grand Am 1973 - 1980 RWD |
| 1st |
Tim Workman |
1973 Grand Am |
| GA-3 Grand Am 1993 - End of Production incl. G6 |
| 1st |
Ashley Varner |
2006 G6 |
| GM-2 GMC All 1973 to Current |
| 1st |
Dorman Scott |
2008 Envoy |
| RC Race car, any Pontiac-bodied Competition car |
| 1st |
Joseph Puma |
1961 Catalina |
| SD Super Duty, Authentic 1962 & 1963; Stock appearing or as raced |
| 1st |
Ken Colacino |
1963 Catalina Super Duty Sedan |
| SOL Solstice All |
| 1st |
Mark Pfeiffer |
2007 Solstice GXP Convertible |
| SP-A Split Tempest / LeMans 1961 - 1963 |
| 1st |
Herman Ruple |
1963 LeMans Convertible |
| SP-B Split Tempest / LeMans / Can Am 1964 - 1977 incl. Beaumont |
| 1st |
Pete Rust |
1977 Can Am |
| SU Aztek, Transport, Montana, Vibe, Torrent — All years |
| 1st |
Joanne Nott |
2001 Aztek |
| ST-1 Street Full Size Pontiacs |
| 1st |
Jack Notarianni |
1962 Catalina |
| ST-2 Class was split seven ways |
| ST-2A Split Street Tempest / LeMans / thru 1965 |
| 1st |
Gary Beemer |
1961 Tempest Wagon |
| ST-2B Split Street Tempest / LeMans / T-37 / GT-37 1968 - 1973 |
| 1st |
Bill Twigger |
1973 LeMans Sport Coupe |
| ST-2C Split Street GTO 1964 - 1965 |
| 1st |
Orvil Osche |
1965 GTO |
| ST-2D Split Street GTO 1966 - 1967 |
| 1st |
Jim Eyer |
1966 GTO |
| ST-2E Split Street GTO 1968 - 1969 |
| 1st |
Ginny & Jim Zeek |
1969 GTO |
| ST-2F Split Street GTO 1970 - 1974 |
| 1st |
Rick Greene |
1970 GTO |
| ST-2G Split Street GTO 2004 - 2006 |
| 1st |
John Hoffman |
2006 GTO |
| ST-3A Split Street Firebird / Trans Am 1st & 2nd Generation |
| 1st |
Benjamin Workman |
1968 Firebird Convertible |
| ST-3B Split Street Firebird / Trans Am 3rd & 4th Generation |
| 1st |
Terry Greenleaf |
2000 Trans Am WS6 |
| ST-4 Street Grand Prix |
| 1st |
Richard Goe |
1968 Grand Prix |
| ST-5 Street Open |
| 1st |
Rick Laney |
1986 Fiero SE |
| C-1 Custom / Pro Touring Full Size Pontiacs & Oaklands |
| 1st |
Bud & Carole Schiefer |
1960 Catalina Sedan |
| C-2 Custom / Pro Touring GTO / Judge / Tempest and LeMans until 1981 |
| 1st |
Don Edler |
1964 GTO Hardtop |
| C-3 Custom / Pro Touring Firebird & Trans Am |
| 1st |
Dave Dammeyer |
1985 Trans Am |
| C-4 Custom / Pro Touring Open |
| 1st |
Troy Tackett |
1973 Grand Prix SJ |
| PRO Pro Street vehicles cars & trucks |
| 1st |
Dave Stidd |
1985 Fiero SE |
 Irvin Arter’s “Safari Sport”...  Irvin Arter’s “Safari Sport” is a one-of-none tribute to the Pontiac prototype sport hauler, which was developed in ’78. It features an ’81 front end, and an ’82 Grand Prix dash and running gear.  Ames Performance Best in Class...  Ames Performance Best in Class winners pose for a group photo. From left, Jim Crawford (Full Size), Jerry Brushaber (Firebird/Trans Am), Rod Boyer (Pontiac Open), John Elliott (Grand Prix), and Lee Barnes (GTO/Judge).  The Knafel Pontiac display...  The Knafel Pontiac display presented by Merle and Mike Green’s 1A-Auto featured some of the rarest Pontiac race cars of the ’60s to come out of Akron, Ohio, as well as meet-and-greets with race-car drivers Arlen Vanke and Larry “Doc” Dixon.  The National Automotive and...  The National Automotive and Truck Museum in Auburn, Indiana, displayed its ’38 GM Futurliner No. 10, which is 1 of only 12 made. These behemoth-sized buses were showcased at GM’s Parade of Progress public events in the late ’30s and again at GM Motoramas in the early ’50s.  Weighing in at over 30,000...  Weighing in at over 30,000 pounds, powered by a 145hp GMC “302” Straight-6 engine, and limited to a top speed of 45 mph didn’t deter the Futurliner from making exhibition quarter-mile passes on the Summit Motorsports dragstrip.  It wasn’t quite a strip scorcher,...  It wasn’t quite a strip scorcher, but it’s 41.19 second e.t. at 28.94 mph brought the crowd up for a standing ovation. According to John Webb, admissions director at the museum, “As far as I know, it’s the only time any Futurliner has ever made a quarter-mile pass in their 74-year history.”
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