National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, is about a good rock throw from the home of Autostar Productions, who produce the Super Chevy Shows. No surprise, then, that this show is one of the best of the season. A Friday night cruise, a Saturday night rock concert, along with great racing and car showing, and Jessie Harris in the Queen of Diamonds jet car, were all on the menu. Weather didn't help the Friday night cruise, but McGuffey Lane, a band that reminded us of the Eagles, came out to play on Saturday night, and the Chevys were racing and shining all weekend. We even had some Nitro Coupes running in the 4-second bracket (OK, so it was eighth-mile qualifying) and we had a full field of these ground-pounders on hand.
Fuel prices have wreaked havoc on some of the racers who have to travel from the Eastern U.S. or Canada to make it to some of the events, but we found all the regulars at Columbus. Dave Tomasino took low E.T. honors, but broke in the second round of eliminations. Wayne Torkelson had already clinched the season Nitro Coupe Championship, but he was out to win another event. Not one to slack off, Wayne drove hard but hit the wall, which pretty much did the car in. Wayne was fine but the car, which was due for replacement next season anyway, made an early exit. Tommy Howes and his fine '69 Camaro made it to the finals and, in one of the best races we've seen all year, were narrowly defeated by Ontario, Canada's, Larry Sinke's '67 Nova. Sinke ran an elapsed time of 6.547, with a 0.115 light, to Howe's 6.587 with a 0.096 light. If our math is correct, the margin of victory adds up to 0.021 secs.
 So how many great '70 Impalas...  So how many great '70 Impalas have you seen lately? Don Smith's version is primo and we gave it an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car Award to take back to Findlay, Ohio. |  Frank Lafolla is a local guy...  Frank Lafolla is a local guy from Columbus, and he owns this great '66 Corvette. We liked it so much we gave it an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car Award. |  American Colorscan's Graphics...  American Colorscan's Graphics Award went to Fred Hoyle of Pickerington, Ohio, and his well-done '97 Chevy pickup. |
 Very smooth is the word for...  Very smooth is the word for this '98 Camaro belonging to Mike and Rosemary Arn of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. It took an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car Award. |  Phillip Wirtz' '57 has an...  Phillip Wirtz' '57 has an original color but it's covered with pearl, making it quite an eye-catcher. We gave the Cincinnati, Ohio, car an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car Award. |  No doubting that Jerry and...  No doubting that Jerry and Mary Becker's '51 Fleetline from Alexandria, Kentucky, was the choice for the Custom Rodder Magazine Award. |
 |  Diane England's near-perfect...  Diane England's near-perfect '67 Camaro from Maynardville, Tennessee, took the honors for Outstanding Modified. |  Often overlooked for its value...  Often overlooked for its value as a show car is the later Monte Carlo. Larry Cheffer of Kewanee, Illinois, knew what he was doing when he set to work on this '84. It took the award for Best Paint and it had just the right look to be a traffic stopper in the show area. |
 To earn the ISCA Award of...  To earn the ISCA Award of Excellence, a car must look as good as Brent Clark's '55 Bel Air from Coshocton, Ohio. That explains why he took the award home from Columbus. |  We liked what they did, and...  We liked what they did, and so did a whole bunch of Super Chevy Show fans after the show on Saturday. McGuffey Lane is their name and the music is great. Hope to see them again. |  The Classic Trucks Magazine...  The Classic Trucks Magazine Award went to Jake Andrews from Coshocton, Ohio, for his '58 Cameo; maybe one of the best we've seen. |
 Camaro Performers Magazine,...  Camaro Performers Magazine, a publication near and dear to the author, presents an Editor's Choice Award and at Columbus it went to this fine '67 belonging to Gary Anderson of Cincinnati. |  Street Rodders love '38 Chevys,...  Street Rodders love '38 Chevys, and this one belonging to Jim Houston of Loveland, Ohio, is a dandy. It took the Street Rodder Magazine Award. |  You've got to love the straightforward...  You've got to love the straightforward looks of Mark Guyton's '67 Nova. That's why Mark took home to Gallaway, Ohio, an Editor's Choice Top Ten Show Car Award. |
 Wayne Torkelson's yellow Corvette,...  Wayne Torkelson's yellow Corvette, Randy Adler's '57, and Tommy Howes' '69 Camaro leave the line in a blur. Nitro Coupes haul! |  |  If you're going to run nearly...  If you're going to run nearly 300 mph, it doesn't hurt to pack your own drag chute. Jessie Harris, driver of the Queen of Diamonds jet dragster, takes care of business. |