It's a simple concept, which few clubs (let alone sanctioning organizations) seem to grasp--namely, have an event which includes a full day of drag racing, followed by both an indoor concours and outdoor show and shine competition based strictly on fun. That's right. No fancy trophies. No complicated points system. No outlandish entry fee.
That's the Yenko Sports Car Club's "Supercar Reunion" personified. And dig this. The event is open to all makes and models of vintage and contemporary muscle cars, including COPOs, Baldwin-Motion vehicles, Fred Gibb, Nickey and Berger Chevrolet products.
According to Supercar Reunion event organizer Tom Clary, "We welcome all makes and models of muscle cars, old and new." Edition 11 was held at Gateway International Raceway (Collinsville, Illinois, just outside St. Louis) on Friday, August 29, and the nearby Gateway Center in Collinsville, Illinois, the following day.
Event sponsors at SCR XI included MK Insurance, Nickey Chicago, the Super Car Workshop, Vintage Muscle Car Parts, D&R Classic Automotive, and Colin's Classic Automobiles.
Trackside, over 100 cars showed up for time trials. Standout cars included Kim Howie's ex-Dick Harrell/Fred Gibb Chevrolet '70 1/2 Camaro Pro Stocker, SYC Race Director Rob Clary's '69 Yenko 427 Camaro SC, officially the quickest and fastest Pure Stock Yenko in the country (as certified by the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags), Ken Barnhart's original owner '69 ZL1 Camaro, Tom Clary's ex-Bob Hamilton SS/DA SS454/LS6 Chevelle known as "Red Alert," Dru Diesner and Pete Gerling's 10-second Yenkos, Jeff Morocco's Jack Douglass Chevelle, and a ton of others.
On the car show side, 51 vintage GM muscle cars were entered in the air conditioned indoor concourse, and another 35 of the General's finest were entered in the Gateway Camaro Club-hosted outdoor show and shine.
Standouts included Tom Kusmiesz's '69 Fred Gibb 427 Nova, Brian Henderson's Cadillac Firemist '69 Yenko Nova SS396 (1 of 1), Annie Hartweg's '68 Fred Gibb COPO SS396 Nova, Ken Schoenthaler's '70 LT1 Yenko Deuce, Jamie James' '68 Motion Corvette, Ken Tibor's '66 427 Biscayne four-speed, Mark Hassett's '69 ZL1 Camaro and a slew of others.
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The battle of the 409s began early with Chuck Wilkinson (red car) going up against his fat
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Ashtabula, Ohio's Mark Hassett Jr. boils the hides in his Fathom Green '69 Yenko 427 Camar
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Last year's winner, Mike Ayers (Olds 442), goes up against Dan Hayes' Motion Corvette, whi
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Les Quam's '70 Baldwin-Motion Camaro SS454 goes up against Phil Borris '70 COPO "just for
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Kim Howie owns and races the unrestored, ex-fred Gibb/ Dick Harrell '70 AHRA Camaro Pro St
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Event co-sponsor Colin Comer had the rare opportunity to race his own car. That's Colin's
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Another member of the "attrition coalition" was Jon Cronkleton, who puked a driveshaft in
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The author's favorite car at SCR XI was Ken Tibor's 427/4-speed '66 Chevrolet Biscayne. It
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Kim Howie and MCR XI Event Organizer Tom Clary have a go at each other. Nice leave, Tom!
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For the first time, SYC club secretary Annie Hartweg showed off her '68 Fred Gibb Chevrole
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Novas were pretty popular at this event as this view of "Nova Row" will attest.
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Jeff and Dominic Morocco entered this Jack Douglass '69 Chevelle as part of a two-car team
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And here they go again! This went on all afternoon.
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In quieter surroundings, Kim Howie's '70 1/2 Dick Harrell Camaro Pro Stock and Ken Barnhar
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Benny Pfieffer warms up the M&H's on his '70 Nickey Nova, alias the "Flying Dutchman." The
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Event Tech Director Rob Clary routinely drives this Daytona Yellow '69 Yenko 427 Camaro SC
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Perennial favorite Ken Barnhart lets the clutch out on his original owner ZL1 Camaro, whic
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The ongoing rivalry between Dru Diesner (far side) and Pete Gerling continued at SCR XI, i