Super Chevy Show Ennis Series - Chevy Show Cars

Super Chevy Show Ennis Series Texas Motorplex

After a stellar event in Virginia, the Super Chevy Show series headed west for the wide-open spaces of the Lone Star State and the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, for the third show of the season. Gabrielle Stevenson and the crew at Billy Meyer's track had been working feverishly to promote the show, adding a two-day autocross, a Saturday morning cruise to the track, and a Texas-style barbecue and concert after the show awards Saturday.

A couple of days before the show opened a twister threatened to blow things away (quite literally), but Mother Nature loves Chevys and racing, so she spared us from disaster by her raging wrath.

There were some fantastic cars and racing action the whole weekend, but enough of my rambling! Let's let the pictures and Tech Editor Calin Head's autocross sidebar tell the story.

On Saturday morning, a group of local enthusiasts gathered in Arlington across from the GM plant for a cruise to Texas Motorplex. Coffee and doughnuts were provided by the Super Chevy promoters for the faithful, and a total of 48 cars made the 45-mile trek to the track. Here a couple of Bow Tie brothers discuss some ideas concerning this '69 Camaro.
On Saturday morning, a group of local enthusiasts gathered in Arlington across from the GM
All the proud car show award winners from the event (photo courtesy of BME Photography).
Shawn Moran brought out this ex-AHRA '67 Camaro racer for our Saturday cruise. An original 350/four-speed car, Moran's stepfather bought the car new and started racing it, having the car sprayed with this wild paintjob sometime in 1970. The car sat retired for 17 years before Moran brought it out of mothballs, updated the drivetrain, and turned it into a cruiser.
Shawn Moran brought out this ex-AHRA '67 Camaro racer for our Saturday cruise. An original

Another member of the Camaro contingent on the cruise was Fern Duron in his unrestored '69 Z/28. Duron bought the car from its original owner, who at one point had the original Cortez Silver paint clearcoated for extra protection. The factory 302 was given a mild rebuild at some point before Duron bought the car, but its M-21 is original. Even though it's unrestored, Duron drives the Z at least twice a week.
Another member of the Camaro contingent on the cruise was Fern Duron in his unrestored '69
Leading the local Tri-Five club on the cruise was Joe Ortega in his '57 Bel Air hardtop. Ortega bought this car back in 1971, when it was black and still powered by its factory 265 V-8. Now motivation comes from a '92 Corvette LT1 backed by a 700-R4 trans. We gave it an Editor's Choice Car Show award.
Leading the local Tri-Five club on the cruise was Joe Ortega in his '57 Bel Air hardtop. O
Texas Motorplex General Manager Gabrielle Stevenson led the way on the cruise in this decked-out Rally Yellow '10 Camaro on loan for the weekend from Allen Samuels Autoplex in Ennis.
Texas Motorplex General Manager Gabrielle Stevenson led the way on the cruise in this deck

Once the cruise got to the Texas Motorplex, things were really hopping in the car show area. Ronnie Anderson came out in his modified '57 Nomad with Ostrich leather interior, CPP brakes, Heidts control arms, and an Edelbrock Signature Series 383 crate engine. Anderson traded for the Nomad back in 1984.
Once the cruise got to the Texas Motorplex, things were really hopping in the car show are
This '58-vintage 348 was waiting for a lucky buyer in the swap meet area. It's cool to see the W-motors gaining popularity again. The sight of those W-shaped valve covers is a nice contrast to what we usually see when a hood's opened.
This '58-vintage 348 was waiting for a lucky buyer in the swap meet area. It's cool to see
In the Shoebox Shootout, Jim Leinart came out on top in his '55 210 sedan. Leinart's car has a long and storied racing history. The original owner was habitual drag racer Bill Alexander, who bought the '55 new, and dedicated it to drag racing starting in 1956. A factory Glacier Blue/Skyline Blue car, Alexander raced the '55 as the "Blue Goose," most of the time with a four-speed trans. Years later the car was converted to big-block power, painted red, and renamed "Goose Gone Red" until the car was parked in the mid-'80s. Five years ago, Leinart bought it from Alexander's brother, and has raced it ever since.
In the Shoebox Shootout, Jim Leinart came out on top in his '55 210 sedan. Leinart's car h

Another interesting show car entry was Bruce Mclaughlin's '68 SS396 Chevelle convertible. This SS was as base as you could get one in 1968, with a 325hp 396 backed by a column-shifted Powerglide (that's right, Powerglide!) trans, power drum brakes, manual top, bench seat, and (oddly enough) power windows. Mclaughlin had been trying to buy the car since the '80s from a good friend who's mother had owned the car. The Chevelle still wears its original sheetmetal.
Another interesting show car entry was Bruce Mclaughlin's '68 SS396 Chevelle convertible.
Two of the best deals in the swap meet were first-gen Novas. There was a '63 SS ragtop that was intact and in good shape for about $4,000, and this coupe with six-cylinder power that was pretty much all there and only had some minor issues.
Two of the best deals in the swap meet were first-gen Novas. There was a '63 SS ragtop tha
The drag racing action was hot all weekend, with the staging lanes full of cars every time the loud speaker squawked for the next round of runs.
The drag racing action was hot all weekend, with the staging lanes full of cars every time

MSD had some of their guys on hand at the event to not only show off their products on the midway, but also help out racers having spark issues.
MSD had some of their guys on hand at the event to not only show off their products on the
The Outlaw Fuel Altereds of America (www.ofaa.net) came to town to put the cherry on top for the weekend's racing action. Bobby Marriott in the Shockwave car took top honors in the final against Jack Hodgson in the Southern Outlaw car, running a 4.068 to Hodgson's 4.173 eighth-mile. (Photo courtesy of BME Photography.)
The Outlaw Fuel Altereds of America (www.ofaa.net) came to town to put the cherry on top f
In the True Street race, Jeff Kmosko ran his three dragstrip runs with bull's-eye consistency—two 13.03s and a 13.02 in his fourth-gen. The day before, Kmosko had Editor Campisano autograph his engine compartment, and we've yet to determine if that provided him the necessary edge to take home the True Street crown.
In the True Street race, Jeff Kmosko ran his three dragstrip runs with bull's-eye consiste

CAR SHOW AWARDS
EDITOR'S CHOICE TOP 10 AWARDS: DRAG RACE
Wiley Anderson - '78 Camaro
Rudy Ortiz - Lubbock, TX - '66 Chevy II
Robert Watson - Forney, TX - '71 Vega
Richard Watson - Forney, TX - '55 Del Ray
Laurie Vontur - San Antonio, TX - '66 Chevy ll
Heath Mitchell - The Colony, TX - '53 Pickup
Jeff Saldivar - Odessa, TX - '66 Chevelle
Danny Hatfield - Canton, TX - '63 Nova
Randy Perks - San Antonio, TX - '67 Camaro
Jeff Kmosko - Fort Worth, TX - '02 Camaro Z28
EDITOR'S CHOICE TOP 10 AWARDS: CAR SHOW
Gary Eller - Crowley, TX - '64 Chevelle
Russel Ely - Hutchinson, KS - '66 Chevelle
Joe Gonzales - Dallas, TX - '52 Chevy
Clark Kirby - Arlington, TX - '75 Cosworth Vega
Mitch Tate - Conroe, TX - '63 Nova SS
Mike Yale - Tomball, TX - '70 Camaro
Tony Dyran - Arlington, TX - '74 Z28
Cris and Emily Gross - Colleyville, TX - '69 Camaro
Joe Ortega - Grand Prairie, TX - '57 Bel Air
Mike Beerden - Emory, TX - '37 Packard

SATURDAY DRAG RACE - DALLAS
BONUS BRACKET RACE E
Champion: Neil Shary - e.t.: 8.113 - mph: 155.85
ELECTRONIC QUICK 8
Champion: Adaryl Hamlin Jr. - e.t.: 7.408 - mph: 178.71
BONUS BRACKET RACE NO ELECTRONICS
Champion: N/A
NO ELECTRONICS QUICK 8
Champion: Marcus Cervantes - e.t.: 9.347 - mph: 134.30

DRAG RACE RESULTS - DALLAS
FUEL ALTERED
Winner: Bobby Marriott "Shockwave" 4.068 at 185.77 mph
Runner Up: Jack Hodgson "Southern Outlaw" 4.173 at 168.91 mph
SHOEBOX SHOOTOUT
Champion: Gordon Roberts - e.t.: 12.974 - mph: 104.86
ELECTRONICS
Champion: Leon Philpot - e.t.: 8.520 - mph: 158.46
NO ELECTRONICS
Champion: Joe Boner - e.t.: 10.310 - mph: 123.63
DOT BRACKET
Champion: Laurie Vontur - e.t.: 11.061 - mph: 123.22
TRUE STREET CHALLENGE
Winner: Jeff Kmosko 13 seconds