2016 Show Results Showcase The “Best of The Best” In Henderson, NC!

Shown from the opposite end of the nearly one-mile stroll down Garnett Street, this photo shows only a small part of Saturday’s 2016 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Car Show drew more than 25,000 spectators.  

Story by Jim Hill

Despite Hurricane Matthew, the 2016 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Weekend was completed as scheduled, Oct., 14-15-16! In fact, the 15^th Anniversary ECDT Hall of Fame Weekend turned out to be another grand slam for Vance County Tourism Executive Director Nancy Wilson and her band of merry men, women and pranksters.

The three-day event, held in and around historic Henderson, NC, and Kerr Lake, was completed just one week after much of the Southeastern U.S. struggled to dig-out and dry-out from Big Matt’s soggy visit. Fortunately, Henderson’s North-Central NC location was spared from significant damage via wind and water. Word quickly went out and the cars, fans and spectators flooded the streets with humanity, eager to see the Saturday car show’s 1,200+ entries. Some 25,000+ fans jammed Henderson’s Garnett Street and side streets for the nearly one-mile display of flashy cars and folks.

Best Standard Paint award was taken by Dick Bairo’s flawless, bright yellow, 1970 Buick Skylark GS Stage 1. Skylark’s were often overlooked as muscle cars but packed a potent punch with their 455 CID engines!  (Jim Hill photo)

“Our event has enjoyed a 15-year run of flawless weather for our Saturday car show, but we were really worried that the destruction in other regions and states would drastically hamper our turn-out. Thank God our prayers were answered and by mid-week the sun was out and we were ready to welcome our usual crowds. We did lose some of our car show entries and spectators due to road closings and flooding elsewhere, but the event was as big and boisterous as ever!”, reflected Nancy Wilson.

Euclid, Ohio’s Gene Schwartz poses with his Best In Show Altered, ’51 Chevy DeLuxe Gasser. Schwartz was a 2016 inductee in the ECDT Hall of Fame. He and brother Glenn are globally known as blues and rock guitarists having played with groups such as Joe Walsh, Jimi Hendrix, PG&E and many others. Gene is also an NHRA E/Gas Nationals Class Champion. He now runs the screaming, 10,000 rpm Chevy at Nostalgia Gasser events across the nation. (Jim Hill Photo)

Following are the results from the 2016 Show, Shine, Shag and Dine Car Show. Congratulations and thank-you to this year’s winners, especially those who blew-off Matthew and came to Henderson for sunny weather and a great time! Be sure to note October 20-21-22, 2017 will be the 16^th Annual East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Weekend, and make plans to attend.

Best in Show Mopar – A Body1965 Plymouth Valiant Barracuda –

Joe & Patsy Overby, Buffalo Jet, VA

 

Best in Show Mopar B-Body – 1962 Plymouth Savoy –

Barry Ward – Denver, NC

 

Best in Show Mopar muscle car -1969 Plymouth Road Runner –

Roger & Mary Jo Gaultney, Cordova, MD

 

Best in Show Mopar E Body – 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T – Russell B. Morgan –

Blounts Creek, NC

 

Best in Show Ford, smaller- 1965 Mustang GT –

Jason & Brigette Ellis, LaCrosse, VA

 

Best in Show Ford Mustang – 1964 Ford Glaxaie 500 –

James M. Walker, South Hill, Va

 

Best in Show Ford, muscle car – 1969 Ford Shelby Mustang,

Carl Bynes, Tyrone, GA

 

Best in Show Ford – 1967 Mustang Shelby GT 350 (reproduction) –

Steve Rickman, Red Oak, VA

 

Best in Show Ford – 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 500 continental kit,

Randy Haywood, Rahway, NJ

 

Best in Show Ford small truck – 1963 Ford Fairlane,

Ron Reaves, Virginia Beach, VA

 

Best in Show Mercury, All – 1937 Chevrolet –

Charlie Collins, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Chevy muscle car – ’65 Chevrolet Malibu,

Harry & Donna Troxler, Knoxville, MD

 

Best in Show Chevy, smaller – 1969 Chevy Malibu L/S –

Garry Houchins, Prince George, VA

 

Best in Show Chevy, 1955 –

Charles Bowman, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Chevy, 1957 –

Terri Blackburn, Durham, NC

 

Best in Show Engine – 1955 Chevy Bel Air –

Larry West, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Pontiac, 1956 Safari,

Warren Daniels, Stem, NC

 

Best in Show 1957 Oldsmobile –

Elke Watkins, Louisburg, NC

 

Best in Show, Orphan Class, 1961 Studebaker Hawk –

Wayne Dills, Roanoke Rapids, NC

 

Best in Show, Pre-1940 antique, original –  1931 Graham –

Jimmy Sidney, Apex, NC

 

Best in Show antique, original –  ’58-67 Chevy –

Marian S. Shearin, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show antique, original, 1970 Chevy –

Tyrone Jones, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Street Rod closed thru ’34, 1930 Ford –

Robert Maddox, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Street Rod thru ’34 closed – 1936 Chevy 4 dr. sedan,

Henry Hammond, Clinton, Md

 

Best in Show Custom pre ’76 – 1940 Pontiac,

Whitehouse Station, NJ

 

Best in Show Pro Street – 1965 Chevy Nova –

Randy Overacre, Virginia Beach, VA

 

Best in Show Street machine 1949-76 – 1963 Chevy Nova Hard Top SS –

Danny Rocklenberry, Carson, VA

 

Best in Show Super Stock – 1965 Dodge Coronet, 426 Hemi

Charlie & Denise Caldwell, OH

 

Best in Show truck thru ’54 – 1946 Chevy C3100 Truck –

Tena Crook, Wake Forest, NC

 

Best in Show truck ’55-76, 1964 Ford Truck –

Marcus Smith, Brandywine, MD

 

Best in Show Rat Rod – 1966 Chevy C10,

Corey Shornak, S. Chesterfield, VA

 

Best in Show Kit Car – 1965 Cobra Replica –

David Ward, Halifax, VA

 

Best in Show Foreign Car – 1974 MGB-GT,

Mary Beth, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Altered – ’51 Chevy,

Gene Schwartz, Euclid, OH.

 

Best in Show Competition Drag Car – AFX ’65 Dodge, 426 Hemi

Steve Moths, NC

 

Best in Show Dragster – Jim Walther’s “Special Edition” AA/FD,

Penny Flammia, Owner-Restorer, Chesterfield, VA

 

Door Slammer Drag Car – ’68 Camaro,

Brian Seate, VA

 

Best in Show Custom Paint – 1965 Chevy Malibu,

Harry & Donna Troxler, Knoxville, MD

 

Best in Show Standard Paint – 1970 Skylark GS Stage l,

Dick Bairo

 

Best in Show Gasser – 1948 Ford Anglia –

William Thomas Wilson, Charlotte, NC

 

Best in Show Lincoln Continental – 1962 Continental,

Robert Bynes, Piscataway, NJ

 

Most Unique – 1969 Ford E-100 Van –

John Owney, Virginia Beach, VA

 

Best in Show Engine – 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air,

Larry West, VA

 

Best in Show Foreign truck – 1976 Toyota Land Cruiser,

Bob McNeill, Dillsburg, PA

 

Best in Show Rat Rod – pre ’66 – 1958 Chevrolet Apache,

Cole Williams, Dinwiddie, VA

 

Best in Show 4X4 -1970 Chevy 4×4 truck,

Carl James, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Father and Son Effort – ’41 Willys,

Michael Blackmon, Roanoke Rapids, NC

 

Best Engine Truck Award – 1948 Anglia,

Jimmy Johnson, Elm City, NC

 

Best Interior – 1948 Ford,

Ron & Lori Marcks, Henderson, NC

 

Best in Show Judges Choice – 1969 Chevy Cararo,

Tony Merilic, Yorktown, VA

 

Best in Show Chief Judges Choice – 1970 Buick GSX,

Thomas K. Parrish, Smithfield, NC