1983 CarCraft Nationals
Photo Gallery 1


Car Craft again used these yellow vehicle credentials for participants in the 1983 Nationals. My number this year was lower -- because I used next-day mail to get it there ASAP. Apparently lots of people did the same thing.


This is the view of the Happy Hollow area of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. If you think it looks crowded now, it was still fairly early in the day. This is the view looking east toward Peoria Road. Click here for a map of the fairgrounds.


This ticket stub was what I would need to win the new 1983 Buick Regal that was the grand prize at the Nationals. Unfortunately they didn't call my number.

 


My 55 Chevy sits outside my father's garage in the Spring of 1983. I had just washed it after dropping the four-bolt main 350 back in after rebuilding it over the winter. The new motor ran well.


I installed two Carter AFBs and an Offenhauser intake on the car after getting it running. The carbs weren't adjusted right, and it was dumping too much fuel into the intake. I removed the setup with the intention of troubleshooting it later that year.


Here's another shot of the motor with the AFBs. There was plenty of room under the hood for the carbs and air cleaners. I have Mickey Thompson valve covers on it now. I never liked them and sold them later.


This green and white (and out-of-focus) 55 Chevy Bel Air two-door sedan drives down the road that led to Gate 11 on Sangamon Ave. The sidewalk here was a great spot to sit and watch cars rumble past.


These guys wisely brought their own shade to the Nationals. The Olds 442 has a nice personalized plate.


This two-tone 1956 Chevy Nomad was clean and straight. It was parked near where my Chevy was parked, but I never saw anyone near it.


This Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro SS was in the area of the fairgrounds that now is a campgrounds. Shade was not plentiful, and drivers claimed the best spots early.


If you've seen my other photo galleries, you might recognize this Camaro. I took a photo of it at the 1981 Nationals in Indy.


This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is no run-of-the-mill T/A. It is the 20th Anniversary Special Edition Trans Am, featuring special paint, wheels and yes, a special hood bird.


This (now especially) rare 1971 Mustang convertible allegedly was equipped with nitrous oxide injection. The car looked great as a factory stocker.


Another one of my favorite car is this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner. Check out the wheels, they're the same style the General Lee from the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show wore.


This black & white 55 Chevy Bel Air sedan had the hood and trunk shaved. I'm not sure what the personalized plate represented, but it was a very clean car.


Another favorite of mine was this jet black 1955 Mercury. I can't remember the engine particulars, but it was owned by a man about 20 years older than I who built it himself.


Here's a rear 3/4 shot of the Merc. It had a big hood scoop to cover the custom-built tunnel ram. Also note my girlfriend at the time, seated at left, is watching me take photos. We broke up about a week after this photo was shot.


The owner of the car welded up his own homebrew tunnel ram intake for this 55 Merc. The car was equipped with fenderwell headers, and had quite a rumble when it was running. My car is behind and to the right of this one.


The Pro Street movement was still in its infancy in 1983. The number of Pro Street cars could be counted on one hand. I was surprised to see this pro-streeted 1978 or 79 AMC Spirit hatchback.


This factory-fresh black 1964 Corvette didn't need anything -- it showed enough muscle in stock form!

This 1970 Ford Torino Cobra featured a plastic cobra perched on the hood scoop. I had never heard of a Torino Cobra, the only place I can recall seeing them is at events like the Nats. The plate reads "Z EATER."