THANKS!

When Club Rep Gene Catoe's health took a turn for the worse and he said, "I'm not going to be able to make it to the Reunion," the New York state team of GasserGal Gina and Kurtis Hicklin eagerly volunteered to work the club booth.  It wouldn't have happened without them.  If you were there, you know they were a hard-working, courteous, friendly and fun couple.  

Look for them at the upcoming GASSER Nationals!

Thanks Gina & Kurtis!

ISSUE 116 is in the mail!

May 9th:  Spring 2011 (Issue 116) is in the hands of the US Post Office.  If your membership is current, you should be receiving it very soon.  I think you'll like it.  This issue includes:

• Catoe's Corner by Gene Catoe
• Richie Coury's coverage of this year's 4Wide at zMAX
• Gerry Sevigny's gorgeous black '40 coupe
• The GG's Del Mar show by Ron Updike
• Jim Bleil's reporting on the Dr. George Car Show
• Jeff Cryan's article on the Cavalcade of Cars
• The SWC Swindler II by Richie Coury
• Tracy Pendleton's historic T-Bird Gasser
• Reunion & Nationals Updates & Hotel Information
• East Coast Gassers coming to Reunion by Jack Olcott
• Swap Meet (new listings)
• AND Vic Young's coverage of a cool GASSER Garage!

If you need to renew, now is the time to do it.  

You won't want to miss this issue!   

RACING BACK TO THE SIXTIES!

GASSER REUNION 2011

June 10-12, 2011:  It's been ten years since we held the first Gasser Reunion and this anniversary event shirt design takes us back in time.  'Big John' Mazmanian racing 'Ohio George' Montgomery!  Sadly, John is no longer with us but his son, 'Big Vic', will be at the Reunion along with 'Ohio George'.  The response to having the event at Beaver Bob's dragstrip has been unbelievable.  I have to thank Jack Olcott for 'encouraging' me to "Give Beaver Bob a call."

See you there!  Ernest

FIRESUIT PHIL: 1940-2011

Sadly, 'Firesuit Phil' passed away on Monday. Phil and his historic '46 Ford Gasser were a vital part of all of our events. I was stunned to hear of his passing.

On behalf of all the club members, I sent a stand of flowers to be displayed at his funeral service on Thursday. I included a note that in part read, "Those aren't clouds in the sky. That's Phil doing Heavenly Burnouts."

Ernest

ISSUE 115 (Winter 2011)

IN THE MAIL!

• Issue 115 is being mailed today (Feb. 2)!
  
• Gene Catoe's column starts us off and leads into...
  
• Richie Coury's article on a 'A Promise Kept'.
• Ken McIntyre & photographer Bob Wenzelburger have a great multi-page article on the 19th California Hot Rod Reunion.
• Bob WOW'd me with his 'Tale of Two Garages'...and the photos only hint at the cool stuff in the garages. I've been in one of the garages, Don Moyer's, and was in awe (OK, envy) of his collection.
  
• England's 'Nervous Nick' Brooke-Langham sent us his article on K.S. Pittman to reprint here in the states. You'll love it.
• Vic Young, So Cal Club Rep, had the joy of having his 'Bad News Travels Fast' Willys cast in Faith Granger's new hot rod movie, 'Deuce of Spades'. Vic wrote about his experiences and the World Premier that he attended. You'll definitely want to see the film!
• Eldon & Nancy Miller's 'Black Widow' was elegantly photographed and written-up by Charles Whetstone.
• Club Rep Jeff Cryan covered both the Jalopy Show Down and Sunday Niagara drags.
• Before you get to the Swap Meet section, get the 'Lowdown on Lowhorn, Part II' by Ron Updike.
• The beautiful cover photo of Jack Warren's 'Barn Find' Willys was shot by Ben Ryan. Thanks Ben.
  
• And thanks to all of you who contributed photos and write-ups for the Gasser Gossip section. I love reading your stories.

Ernest

Tucson Tragedy

Fellow Members: The Safeway store that was the scene of Arizona's terrible tragedy was my grocery store. It was only by chance that I was not there that morning. Chance was not so kind to Maureen's step-mom's friend and Maureen's sister's friend who both died that morning. Let us all remember our humanity, regardless of our political differences. See you at the races! Ernest

STUCK IN THE SIXTIES?

Is it just me?

I listen to songs from my high school years and am pulled back into those wonderful times. I remember feeling bad when I graduated high school in '64. I didn't know why, but I had the feeling that something joyous was now gone forever.

Memories: I was in Junior English when it was announced that Kennedy had been shot. Until his burial, nothing else was on the TV. The weird thing for me was that when he was elected in '60, a fellow freshman classmate said, "He'll never live out his term. He's going to be assassinated." Although my guess is that the kid was referring to the fact that Kennedy was Catholic, it was such a strange thing for anyone to say that it stuck with me.

Drugs in the early Sixties were things like Penicillin or polio meds (1962's Sabin Oral Sunday memories). Marijuana at that time was considered to be on the same level as heroin. Boy have times changed.

I can't say I like everything about those times. Racial hatred, the KKK and even religious bigotry were rampant.

However, I would LOVE to be able to go back to those years, attend once again the high school dances, and go drag racing. I did all that but would love to do it again and again and again.

Sorry, but I REALLY do miss the Sixties!

Ernest

FIRE IT UP!

We're going racing in 2011! Guys are coming from the 'Left Coast' to race at the 10th Annual GASSER Reunion (June 10-12, 2011). Left or West Coasters ask me, "Where the heck is Beaver Springs?" I tell'em, "Somewhere in the woods of PA." To us desert boys, all those tree states look alike (way too much green). LOL.

However, my East Coast racer friends LOVE Beaver Springs and Beaver Bob. They convinced me, as did Bob, to move the Reunion this year to Pennsylvania. So far, all the responses have been EXTREMELY positive.

And, it's not that far from our 9-year base in Clevleand. In fact, it's cheaper for me to fly into Cleveland, rent a car and drive 4-5 hours to Beaver Springs than to fly to any closer city in Pennsylvania, New York, Jersey or Maryland.

If you're an East Coaster, you're probably NOT taking your car out in the snow for a test run. You're doing the garage thing. Which reminds me, we have a phenomenal 2-page spread of two stupendous 'barn find' garages in Ohio in the next issue. You'll have car and parts envy for sure when you see them.

The best thing about doing what I do, is hanging with each of you at our races. Have a Happy New Year and I'll see you in Pennsylvania!!!

Ernest

Gasser Reunion 2011

See you There!!!

GASSER REUNION 2011!

10th GASSER Reunion

June 10-12, 2011
Beavers Springs Dragway
Beaver Springs, PA

It's 'official'. The tenth anniversary of the GASSER Reunion will be held at Beaver Springs Dragway. We debated moving the event out of Ohio, but when Beaver Bob called yesterday and said he wanted the event at his track...there was no debate. "The Beaver" has the historic look of a Sixties race track, a history of great events and will expose the Reunion to a new audience. As soon as I get back from Thanksgiving in San Francisco, I'll begin updating the EVENTS page of the website and include a list of hotels, entry forms, etc.

2011 GASSER Nationals! We love Ohio's fans so we're in talks with an Ohio track to be the home of the Nats. No date has yet been set. STAY TUNED!

Will there be a third GASSER Magazine event in 2011? Sounds great to me. I can't get enough of watching Gassers lighting the tires and blasting down the quarter mile. If you're in agreement, where would you like to see it? Email me with your ideas. GASSERGUY@gmail.com

Ernest

CRUISIN' TIMES AD!

Cruisin' Times. It's the Midwest's number one resource for cruises and car events. Flip open the current issue to the middle center spread and you'll see our eye-popping ad for the 9th Annual GASSER Reunion.

If you're a rodder, you'll notice that after paying your 3-day weekend admission, your car entry is FREE. Dash plaques to car show entrants. Celebrities will pick winners and award trophies.

If you're a spectator and can only come on Friday or Sunday, clip and use the 'super saver' $5 discount coupons. Two people can use one coupon and thereby save $10 between them! There's two coupons in the ad so you can give one to a friend.

At Reunions past, most of the racers and all of the rodders had to park on grass. That was cool as long as it hadn't been raining for a week or we were caught in sudden downpour. This year, that soggy bottom problem is over. All the racers and all the rodders will park in the paved pits. Even the Swap Meet will be on pavement.

If you're a racer, you'll love the FREE electric hookups. As far as how the show is going to be run, I've heard the wildest, crazies and totally wrong rumors. Here's the TRUTH. We're running it the same way we ran it for 8 years. Get into a staging lane and run, as many times as you choose. We'll only call cars to staging lanes when it's time for eliminations. Why change what works?

More later...it's Memorial Day weekend and we're headed out to lay flowers and a flag on a veteran's grave. Semper Fi

Ernest

Front to Back!

ART HISTORY 2010! This is how the back of the 2010 GASSER Reunion event shirt came into being. If you've collected any of the past Reunion shirts, you know that the back of the shirt always says PARTICIPANT. I'd always been taken with t-shirts that said in large capital letters on the back, STAFF, SECURITY or PHOTOGRAPHER. For the 1st GASSER Reunion t-shirt, I put PARTICIPANT on the back. To me, the word represented all those who participated in making the event a success. That included racers, rodders, vendors, track and magazine staffs, the photographers and most of all, the spectators.

Often, large Roman numerals were placed below the word to signify the number of the event. This year, it would have, should have and could have been 'IX'. But something happened on the way to the screen printer.

Ohio's Don Moyer has supported the event above and beyond the call of duty. He displayed his Rebel Reaper Willys at the Cleveland Autorama and has spread the word to all his friends and fellow racers. So, instead of the expected Roman numeral, I decided to thank Don by putting his car on the back and above our standard PARTICIPANT. I had the car artwork from the front of Don's GASSER Nationals shirt so it seemed an easy design change. All we had to do was put the old Front image on the new Back.

I emailed artist Earl Kendall a rough draft image of my idea. I told him that the only thing that concerned me was what color to use for the word 'participant'. Earl emailed me a sample sheet of my design with 9 different colors. He expected me to choose one that I liked and tell him the corresponding number. Instead, when I saw all 9, with their numbers, I saw a complete design that rivaled Andy Warhol's 'Campbell Soup Cans' artwork. His accidental choice of 9 colors was also a subtle reminder that this was indeed the 9th Annual GASSER Reunion. It said all I wanted and more.

I don't know what Earl thought when I emailed him what I wanted to do with his sample sheet. Being a Christian gentleman, he didn't tell me I was crazy, he simply turned his immense talents to giving me a work of art.

The result is what you see above and what you'll see full-size on the back of the 9th Annual GASSER Reunion t-shirts. If you're at the event when you get your shirt, have artist Earl autograph it. Don't look for an Andy Warhol look-alike. Earl will be the normal looking artist-guy hanging out in the club tent.
THANKS EARL!

Ernest

Issue 112 is in the mail!

Spring 2010 (Issue 112) is headed to mailboxes across America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. The cover features artist Earl Kendall's beautiful representation of Jim Wilkens racing at Summit Motorsports Park. The artwork will also be on the front of this year's event shirt.

My thanks to each of you who contributed to making this another issue worth reading again and again. Inside, you'll find Ron Updike's GRAND NAT’L ROADSTER SHOW and 10th DEL MAR NATIONALS articles, Bob Wenzelburger's photo feature on the CLEVELAND AUTORAMA, Vic Young's fascinating tale of exploring the DON GARLITS MUSEUM, Jim Squires' coverage of the KANSAS CITY WORLD OF WHEELS and his own '33 Willys, Don Moyer's great read on his REBEL REAPER Willys, Gregory Scott's story of bringing home a CANADIAN WILLYS, as well as photographer Richie Coury's terrific report on the 4-WIDE NATIONALS.

As always, Club Rep Gene Catoe and his family are out there, setting up the club display, making new friends and signing up new members. Gene was invited by the NHRA to bring his nostalgia GASSER to zMAX for the 4-WIDE Nationals. Catch his coverage in another of his warm CATOE'S CORNER columns.

My thanks to all of you. We're your magazine because you write the articles, take the pictures and tell your stories. I love it. It's like sitting on a stack of slicks in the corner of your garage and listening to a friend. What more could a car guy want?

"Yeah, I'll take another cold one. Thanks."

Ernest

JIM WILKENS is UP for the Reunion!

Jim Wilkens is coming to the Reunion! In addition to being a pedal-to-the-metal racer, Jim is known for his put-it-on-the-bumper wheelstands. I love the "No Wheelie Bars" sign he posts on his trailer at each event.

When you get to the Reunion, stop by Jim's pit and say hello. They don't come any nicer than Jim when he's out of the car. When he's in it--well, you don't want to be in the other lane.

Ernest

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

Thanksgiving Time--Each of us knows what we have to be thankful for in our lives. Family, friends and more.

Back in 1999, when Ken and I began running the club, neither of us knew what to expect. I knew how I wanted the magazine to look (still a work in progress) and we both had dreams of one day having a GASSER Reunion sequel to Barb & Greg's GASSER Gathering that they held in St. Louis in 1999.

In 2002, that dream was realized. Ken had met Thompson Dragway owner Bill Clemson the year before and made a hand-shake deal to host our GASSER Reunion in Ohio. A lot has happened since then. The event grew, through the wet and dry years, and will move next year to a bigger venue ~ Summit Motorsports Park in nearby Norwalk, Ohio.

The staff at Thompson became part of our extended family and many of them will be at Norwalk. It'll be a reunion for all of us. In addition, the club's founders, Barb & Greg, will be there as well. We've missed them and eagerly await their smiling faces. The GASSER Legends will be there signing autographs and talking to you about their early years in drag racing.

Hotels: Check out our new interactive list of motels w/rates. Click on this link. http://www.communitywalk.com/norwalk/oh/2010_gasser_reunion%E2%84%A2/map/449280

OK, time to have my second (or is it third?) cup of coffee.

Ernest

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friends Help Starter Start Again

Thompson, OH: TRP Starter Denny Kochever lost all his pets and possessions in a recent home fire. To know Denny is to love him. A nicer guy you won't find anywhere. Racers and friends recently stepped up with cash and more to help him through this difficult time. The club has sent shirts, Gene sent winter clothing and you can send cards, cash or whatever you wish to: Denny Kochever c/o Magic Customs, 15375 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, OH 44142.

SUNSHINE NATIONALS!

Who would have guessed that we'd have sunshine for both our 2009 GASSER events? Blue skies, cool air and hot cars made for a fun weekend. Don Moyer's Rebel Reaper and the Space Kadett are both AMC powered Gassers and both lift the front wheels on every pass. Don was in space even when his car was parked. Having your car on the event shirt means people want your autograph--something he blushingly agreed to again and again.

Club Rep Gene Catoe, and his brother Jacky, manned the club tent with their usual excellence. Everybody wants to meet Gene and check on his health. It was tough on him being there but he's a trooper (actually a retired North Carolina police officer).


Gene and Don Moyer matched raced each other. Gene was determined to give it his all, cut the light a little too close, saw red and yet still hammered the throttle. Don had the win light but he wasn't about to let up until he reached the finish line. Gene was at a disadvantage with street tires but word is that slicks are on his Christmas wish list.

Oh yeah, I got to make a pass in Gene's coupe. When the rear started to move sideways, I lightened up on the throttle and made sure I returned his coupe in one piece. It was my first experience in a nose-up Willys on the quarter mile. Visibility is less than I'd like but I'd do it again in a second.

Still working on the 2009 GASSER Reunion DVD...orders are piling up, so back to work I go.

Ernest

GASSER Reunion '09 Report

WOW! If you were at the 8th Annual GASSER Reunion, you know what I mean. If you weren't there, you'll hear about it from your friends who did attend. It was an amazing event. Three days of sunshine, twice last year's car count and thousands more spectators. Whether it was the weather, the track-record of seven great years behind us or something else, the result was undeniable. It was the biggest GASSER Reunion ever!

My thanks to the East Coast Gassers for their participation as well as the 409 and Stick Shift groups. We couldn't have done it without you. My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you.

The Mallicoat twins, Gary & Jerry, were this year's Grand Marshalls, and rightly so. They apologized for not having their restored coupe at the event but will do the best to get it done for the next Reunion. With or without a car, they're two of the nicest GASSER Legends you'll ever meet.

Speaking of Legends, Bones Balogh and George Montgomery spent the weekend signing autographs for their many fans. Sadly, Chuck Finders passed away a few weeks ago. Chuck loved the event and was a faithful attendee. He will be missed.

The S&S Racing Team was on hand and Fred Bear wow'd the crowd with passes in his car and others. Fred and guys like Bones Balogh are still active competitors after all these years. As Big John Mazmanian once said, "Don't let the white hair fool you."

I'm working on the next issue and the 2009 GASSER Reunion DVD. Now's the time to get your Swap Meet ads, GASSER Gossip pictures/words and car articles to me if you want them in the next issue.

Thanks! Ernest