Last year we were impressed with the number of quality Impalas and Bel Airs at Dallas and thought we probably wouldn't see such cars again. We were wrong, but it was only when we returned to Dallas that we saw more. The '02 Super Chevy Show had old Impalas, late-model SS Impalas, and some great early-model Bel Airs. Then of course, there are all the great Tri-Fives, trucks, and Pro-Engineered cars. And what's with all the Corvettes? We haven't seen that many in one place since Bloomington! Big cars and big sky, we loved it at Dallas.
We saw the cutest '55 Bel Air. It was the classic Coral and Midnight Grey, and it looked like it had been given lots of attention. When we talked to the owner, Mike Reeves, of Burleson, Texas, he said he bought this car when he was 16 years old with money ($550) saved from shining shoes. Mike drove it through high school, college, and the first year of a regular job. In 1973 the car went away during a divorce property settlement (anyone out there ever have that happen?). Still wanting an old car, Reeves began a search in 1983 for another '55 to restore. While in a junkyard, he found one he liked because it was similar to the old car. Why not? It was the old car! When Mike checked it closely, he noticed the gauges on the dash were unique, and they were the ones he had installed in high school. Is that great or what? He bought it back, restored it, and enjoys driving his wife, Sandra, around Texas, reliving his youth.
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 Charles and Tina Carlton brought...  Charles and Tina Carlton brought their '41 coupe over from Lafayette, LA, and we liked it so much it was awarded the Outstanding Street Rod Award on behalf of Street Rodder magazine. |
 Bright, shiny, and very well...  Bright, shiny, and very well done describes Jim Boyd's Cedar Falls, TX, '71 half-ton. It took home a well-deserved Classic Truck Magazine Outstanding Classic Truck Award. |
 Sitting "just right," Mike...  Sitting "just right," Mike Bayham's Dallas-based '68 Malibu got our attention. We gave it an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award. |
 Donnie Overton of nearby Waxahachie,...  Donnie Overton of nearby Waxahachie, TX, has worked long and hard on his '68 Camaro. He deserved the Editor's Choice Top Ten Drag Car award we presented him. |
 Casey Braswell and son of...  Casey Braswell and son of The Colony, TX, came to race and took an Editor's Choice Top Ten Drag Car award for their freshly painted '69 Camaro. |
 Mike and Sandra Reeves, Burleson,...  Mike and Sandra Reeves, Burleson, TX, took an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award for this fine '55. We mentioned this car, which Mike lost and then found again, earlier in the story . |
 Adam Chavera, San Antonio,...  Adam Chavera, San Antonio, TX, races this beautiful '64 Nova, and now he has an Editor's Choice Top Ten Drag Car award to go along with it. |
 Drag racing legends: Hayden...  Drag racing legends: Hayden Proffit, who made his mark racing everything from Super Stocks for Mickey Thompson to jet cars, poses with jet car pilot and President of Autostar, Roger Gustin, who's still making his mark on Super Chevy Shows. Both are NHRA Hall of Fame members. |
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 Hometown Nitro Coupe driver...  Hometown Nitro Coupe driver Jerry Hicks warms up his '63 Corvette for the final against Dan Nickleson's '94 Beretta. In one of the closest finals this season, Nickelson prevailed by recording a 6.255 e.t. at 231.36 mph against Hicks' 6.339 e.t. at 209.35 mph. We head into next week's event with Nickelson leading the Nitro points race by 10 points over '01 Season Champion Jim Nordhougen. |