Camaraderie. It's the one word that can best describe the atmosphere at The Gathering II '98. People were as nice as they could be and were all willing to help each other out. Held in Atlanta this year, The Gathering II turned out to be the best event yet for the host club, the Mid-Atlantic F-body Association (MAFBA). There were more than 200 F-bodies in attendance, and each one was as nice as the next.
According to the club's officers, "The MAFBA is comprised of F-body enthusiasts from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, with one common interest-GM F-bodies. MAFBA is not about who has the fastest car, it's about people getting together for car shows, charity events, and just plain having fun."
MAFBA was formed in 1997 by Ken Collings, the proud owner of a '97 Comp T/A. Talk about F-body die-hards-his wife drives a '97 Hawk. When the group started out, it numbered in the teens. It now has a strong following in the hundreds, with several subsidiary clubs adding to that figure.
And here it is at last: the...
And here it is at last: the SLP Firehawk for '99. About the only difference between it and the canceled '98 version is the lack of exposed headlights. It's stunning nonetheless.
The Gathering II was originally arranged by Mike Cataldo and was supposed to be a Camaro SS congregation, but turned out to be a meeting place for all Camaros and Firebirds, of all vintages. Everything from first-generation Ponchos to fourth-generation Bowties was on hand. This being the case, we decided to drive our '96 Formula test car to the event, to gain the full effect. The 2,000-plus miles we put on the Bird were well worth it, as the trip was beyond entertaining.
Jay Fisher, a name that has appeared in this magazine on several occasions, was responsible for getting us acquainted with the MAFBA convoy to Atlanta. We met up with a small group of the club members in West Virginia and drove the rest of the way to Georgia in a convoy of around 30 cars. The wildest moment of the trip down came when Louis Puscucci almost lost control of his Impala SS/25th Anniversary T/A towing combo, when the brakes on his trailer failed, causing it to swing from left to right no less than seven times at 70 mph. If it wasn't for Louis' driving, the combo would have been a total write-off.
To say The Gathering II was a total hit would be a serious understatement. If you weren't having a good time, it was your own fault, because there was more than enough to do, people to talk to and cars to look at. The event was held on the grounds of Road Atlanta, a track that is all too well-known for its super-quick twists and turns and beautiful scenery. If the cars weren't enough to hold your attention, there were plenty of displays to look over, including a couple put on by Pontiac and Chevrolet.
Both of the divisions had some of their best showpieces out for all to see, including the twin-turbo, 195-plus mph '92 Trans Am from Pontiac and the fabled 572-cube, 10-second big-block '95 Z28 from Chevy. SLP, one of the show's major sponsors, also had one of the more popular displays, which flaunted the company's new '99 Firehawk. This Navy Blue Bird sure drew its share of attention. Reggie Harris, Jim Mattison and David Hamburger were all on hand to dis-cuss the company's Camaro SS and Firehawk tuner cars. There was even an appearance by Scott Settlemire, assistant brand manager for the Marketing Camaro Team. Scott gave a great seminar and seemed to have a bright outlook for the F-body's future, which made us all feel a bit easier about the car's possible cancellation in 2002.
Along with all the displays and super-sweet F-bodies, on both Saturday and Sunday there was show competition and parade laps around Road Atlanta. The judging was popular vote-based, hoping to keep things on an equal level. Sal Zaino of Zaino Bros. car care products was on hand to make sure everybody's F-body looked its best.
There was also the opportunity to wring out your Camaro or Firebird at the nearby Atlanta Dragway at night. It was then and there that you could have lined it up against fellow ponycar owners, or some of the locals and their Brand X iron. No official winners were posted; it was just some good folks having a good time at the strip.
The Gathering II was a definite blast and when the plans are made for The Gathering III, you can bet HPP will be on the attendance list.
If you think you're looking...
If you think you're looking under the hood at just another '92 Trans Am, think again. This is the one-off twin-turbo T/A built by Pontiac and TDM. Its performance is spectacular, with a top end of over 195 mph, and ETs in the low 11s. Beyond the engine, the car also has an independent rear that brings its handling up to par with its straight-line performance.
Pontiac raised its tent and...
Pontiac raised its tent and placed a fine assortment of F-bodies under it. From a one-off 25th Anniversary T/A, to a bright orange Formula convertible that flaunts the outrageous color from PPG, Pontiac had a great collection of performance Indians on hand.
This is the sight that greeted...
This is the sight that greeted most drivers on the way from Virginia to Atlanta. More than 30 F-bodies were part of the eight-hour convoy, and most of them were Ponchos. Just blink every time you see a Camaro.