Up In The Sky

Heading to Denver for the Super Chevy Show, we were in a brand-new Z06 Corvette, courtesy of the kind folks at GM, and we passed a trio of near-perfect '57 Bel Air hardtops: one red, one white, and one blue. Since we were quite a ways from Denver, we didn't figure they were actually driving these beauties there, but when we looked around the car show grounds on Friday, guess what we saw. The Dowd family drove their Tri-Five trio over from Grand Junction, Colorado, to show off part of their collection. Ben Dowd has 37(!) '57s around his shop, not all of which are as nice as the ones at the show, but the best part is that he builds them to drive, including the one for his wife, Lela, who garnered the SUPER CHEVY Magazine 30th Anniversary Award for her freshly built blue Bel Air.

Who says current technology isn't great? While we're griping about computers crashing and having to listen to endless answering machines, consider this: We met Tim Jackson of Grand Junction in the drag race pits when he had just finished his first run on Saturday, driving his Bracket 2 '68 Camaro. This was his first event following his 18-year-old daughter Erica's enrollment in college out of state, so she was not racing with dad. For many years the two have been constant companions, sharing the driving duties. Before he did his burnout, Tim dialed Erica on the cell phone and placed the phone in a cradle on the dash; she listened to the entire run, even commenting later on dad's shift points. It was apparent that dad missed his girl mightily, but this helped relieve some of that for the time being.

Fran Peppler has the style...        read full caption Fran Peppler has the style to ride around in a limo, but when one lines up next to her, she takes care of business. These two jets squared off in some exciting action at Denver.

Hometown hero Jim Nordhougen...        read full caption Hometown hero Jim Nordhougen is used to the altitude. He met John Scialpi in the finals and won when Scialpi's '57 Bel Air broke. Nordhoughen is staying close to the Nitro Coupe team of Dan Nickelson, trailing by only 10 points.

Over from Palmyra, NE, came...        read full caption Over from Palmyra, NE, came Larry and Marie Case. Their ultra-clean '68 Nova garnered an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award along with the class win for Nova '68 and Newer--Street.

Joel Fisher of Colorado Springs...        read full caption Joel Fisher of Colorado Springs is shown with his well-deserved Outstanding Classic Truck award, presented by Classic Trucks magazine. The '57 half-ton also took the class win for Truck'49-72--Modified and the prestigious Workmat Car of the Show award.

Norm Ron's '56 Bel Air had...        read full caption Norm Ron's '56 Bel Air had a look all its own. The Sioux Falls, SD, native earned an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award, as well as the Danchuk Best '55-57 trophy.

Dean and Leslie Tucker of...        read full caption Dean and Leslie Tucker of Arvada, CO, pose with their pride and joy, and a great '33 three-window to boot. The car earned the Street Rodder magazine award for Outstanding Street Rod.

Joe Kring's '69 Corvette from...        read full caption Joe Kring's '69 Corvette from nearby Littleton has been seriously updated. The car earned an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award.

Robert Verner of Colorado...        read full caption Robert Verner of Colorado Springs, CO, likes them big. His great, big '67 Impala convertible took an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award.

Dick Brazzell of Aurora, CO,...        read full caption Dick Brazzell of Aurora, CO, shows off his very cool '49 Chevy Fleetline which took the Outstanding Custom Rod award from Custom Rodder magazine.

Denver is Corvette country....        read full caption Denver is Corvette country. This outstanding example took home the Trim Parts Best Corvette award, given in association with Vette magazine. Bill Clatty of Trim Parts presents the award to David Boyce of Littleton, CO, for this outstanding '67 convertible. The car also earned the class win for Corvette '53-67-Stock.

This excellent '72 Camaro,...        read full caption This excellent '72 Camaro, owned by Rich Means of Littleton, CO, won an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car award.

We'd have to call this an...        read full caption We'd have to call this an editor's choice even though it didn't take home an award. SUPER CHEVY Editor Terry Cole is the proud owner of this '63 Nova convertible, heretofore known as the "Rusty Ragtop." Ronney Kissinger's R&R Restorations in Siloam Springs, AR, home to numerous Gold Class winners, built the car and debuted it in Denver. Look for this project car at other Super Chevy Shows and in the pages of future SUPER CHEVY magazines.

Another editor's choice, only...        read full caption Another editor's choice, only I had to give it back. GM lent me this brand-new Z06 (magazine work is tough!), and I did my best to keep out of the clutches of the highway cops between California and Colorado. I was successful, but mostly lucky, as this car is way too smooth and way too fast to baby. It certainly ranks as one of the fastest, if not the fastest, production cars ever made in America. Thanks, Chevy.