2004 Super Chevy at Bradenton, Florida

2004 Super Chevy Bradenton Florida Funny Jet Car

We just couldn't resist the play on words for our title. From what we saw in Bradenton, Florida (just a bit south of Tampa, by the way), the Super Chevy fans couldn't resist rolling out to the refurbished Motorsports Park for the season-opener. We had classics, customs, trucks, Camaros, Corvettes, stockers, modifieds, Pro Streets, rolling through the gates all day Saturday and Sunday. The show area was expanded two or three times, even that wasn't quite big enough. Add to that the swap meet and car corral participants who kept showing up early and late for 2 days, and the place was up for grabs! If you're going to have a problem, that's the kind to have. We can always find more room and the more the merrier.

The racers were in their element. If you know much about the go-fast folks in this part of the country, you know they have some awesome machines and they keep them running all year long. All the Chevy and Chevy-powered racers welcomed us back in a big way. The Bradenton track showed itself to be sticky and well prepared for everyone, including the Nitro Coupes. As expected, Gary Irving from Bolton, Ontario, Canada, opened up the season where he left off last year: FAST! His number one qualifying time of 6.152 e.t. at 222.49 mph left no doubt that his team is back to take it all in 2004. Of course there's always the competition to deal with, and they might have something to say about that.

We have several new teams for 2004 including Randy Adler in a beautiful '57 Chevy from Tinley Park, Illinois, Dave Tomasino from Holly, New York, in a great '69 Camaro, and two fellow Canadians who came south to race their countryman Gary Irving: Al Billes from Barrie, Ontario, and Carl Spiering in Corvettes, a '53 and '63 respectively. Returning favorites Mike Swinarski, Tommy Howes, and Bruce Boland will be with us this season also so we look forward to exciting races.

First time Nitro Coupe winner Randy Adler gets ready for his run against Gary Irving. Gary registered a .015 light; unfortunately it was a minus .015 "redball" allowing Randy's off-pace 7.752 e.t. to take home the win. Take 'em anyway you can, we always say.
First time Nitro Coupe winner Randy Adler gets ready for his run against Gary Irving. Gary
For all you Monte Carlo owners, builders, and just plain fans, you missed a good one if you didn't get a first class look at Lamar Johnson's '70. Down from Lithonia, GA, the car took the Workmat award for Best Monte Carlo in the show.
For all you Monte Carlo owners, builders, and just plain fans, you missed a good one if yo
We're looking forward to seeing this '63 Corvette again this year. Carl Spiering of Jordon Station, OH, cranked an impressive 6.276 e.t. to be the number two qualifier in Nitro Coupe-good start.
We're looking forward to seeing this '63 Corvette again this year. Carl Spiering of Jordon

Work, work, work. The Kitley family put in considerable elbow grease on Walt's '69 Chevelle. Probably helped the car to take a Top Ten Editor's Choice award.
Work, work, work. The Kitley family put in considerable elbow grease on Walt's '69 Chevell
Here's another example of a car that Camaro lovers flocked around just to see how it's done right when it comes to a near-perfect restoration. Christopher Norgall of Cumming, GA, took Gold Class-Stock honors from Street and Performance for his ultra-fine '67.
Here's another example of a car that Camaro lovers flocked around just to see how it's don
The swap meet, car corral, and show continued to grow all weekend until everyone was pretty much right next to each other. We'll leave more space next year but with the response to Super Chevy this year, who knows how much room will be enough? Get there early!
The swap meet, car corral, and show continued to grow all weekend until everyone was prett

No argument about this winner: Ft. Lauderdale's Rusty Preston earned the Rick's First Generation Camaro award for Best Camaro in the show with his beautiful '69 model.
No argument about this winner: Ft. Lauderdale's Rusty Preston earned the Rick's First Gene
Ron Smith from Sarasota, FL, volunteered to be our model showing off the "new for 2004" Class Winner apparel. Jackets are "yesterday's news" having been replaced by the bright yellow of the new awards.
Ron Smith from Sarasota, FL, volunteered to be our model showing off the "new for 2004" Cl
Shafer Reproductions from Tampa have been working on this '57 wagon for sometime so we were pleased it debuted in Bradenton. Get all the build-up details in our latest edition of Chevy Classics. The car was original when Shafer rescued it from being a parts car and now lives the good life.
Shafer Reproductions from Tampa have been working on this '57 wagon for sometime so we wer

Any wonder that Ted Johnson of Sarasota, FL, took home the American Colorscans Graphics award for his '68 Camaro? Very wild.
Any wonder that Ted Johnson of Sarasota, FL, took home the American Colorscans Graphics aw
These Corvettes pitted together and stopped traffic. Paul Joester of Clearwater, FL, in the '57 (at right in photo), and Mike Kreeb from Tarpon Springs in the '56, each took Editor's Choice Top Ten Drag Race Car awards for their great cars. Corvette purists should relax because both of these cars were built from basket cases and would probably have wound up as donor cars had they not been made into racers (although both are actually street legal).
These Corvettes pitted together and stopped traffic. Paul Joester of Clearwater, FL, in th
Taking the Waterloo Workmanship award was this 2001 pickup. Extensively modified by Kyle and John Larocque of Lehigh Acres, FL, the '57 fins, the Nomad-looking tailgate, and the jet pods on the hood make this hauler look like it rolled out in '57.
Taking the Waterloo Workmanship award was this 2001 pickup. Extensively modified by Kyle a

Must have items for the serious Chevy fans are over at Lonestar, and only at Super Chevy Shows.
Must have items for the serious Chevy fans are over at Lonestar, and only at Super Chevy S
Tommy Howes intends to be a factor in this year's Nitro Coupe points chase. At Bradenton he fought the "first of the season bugs" throughout the weekend but we've seen how competitive he and his team are to ever discount this bunch.
Tommy Howes intends to be a factor in this year's Nitro Coupe points chase. At Bradenton h
It's a far cry from the street of California where Barris customs cruised in the '50s, to the bright sun of Florida and a Super Chevy Show in Bradenton, but Barry Sterneck's '50 Chevy made the trip and seems to be flourishing. Barry's not doing bad either. Sterneck, as you may have guessed, is crazy about customs, especially Barris-built ones. He owned the '55 you see on his airbrushed sweatshirt for about 20 years. He sold it recently but he's not without another pride and joy. This fine little '50 coupe is said to have originally been built at the Barris shop in Lynwood, California, in 1957. It resurfaced some years after that and was restored by Bill Couch of Hamilton, Ohio, in 1982. Nicely done, we must say and the car took the Custom Rodder magazine Outstanding Custom Rod award.
It's a far cry from the street of California where Barris customs cruised in the '50s, to