As a young kid in the early ’70s living in Southern California, being raised by a father who was seriously into NASCAR but couldn’t care less about NHRA, it’s hard to explain where my fascination with early Funny Cars and Gassers (even more so) originated from. I’m sure the Hot Wheels “Snake & Mongoose” poster thumb-tacked above my bed or watching Two Lane Blacktop with my cousin had something to do with it. But nonetheless, here fortysome years later and the fascination still exists with the go-straight/go-fast cars rather than the roundy-rounds.
So as I made my way into Beech Bend Park for (believe it or not) the first time one fine August day, I found myself surrounded by more nose-in-the-air Chevys than I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing gathered in one place—that being the Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals in Bowling Green. But these glorious examples of my youthful fascination carried into adulthood were not simply on display, which in itself would suffice. No, these glorious examples of drag racing history were doing what they were meant to: the quarter-mile … and not in parade lap fashion, either. Smoky burnouts, front wheels in the air, pitched sideways out the gate, it was everything my dad disliked about drag racing—and I loved every minute of it.
And what’s better than a day filled with thousands of 1955-1957 Chevys on display (and on the racetrack)? Two days, obviously—two days practically unaffected by forecasted thunderstorms, that is, just the opposite of what some predicted would be the case this August weekend in Bowling Greeen, Kentucky. (The only features adversely affected by inclement weather were the inaugural Thursday night Under The Lights drag races—but Friday and Saturday’s track action seemed more than sufficient “consolation” for most!) As has been the tradition since its inception, the Tri-Five Nationals formally highlights each event with its Golden Star Give-A-Way car, this year’s being a rather stealth-looking 1955 Bel Air coordinated by event founder Woody’s Hot Rodz. The fortunate registered participant who left the historic raceway park with one more vehicle than they arrived with: Florida’s Philip Reedy.
Speaking of winning, STREET RODDER chose the Tri-Five Nationals as one of the 10 venues for its 2018 Top 100 sponsored by Painless Performance Products, one of whom, Charles Baxley, also took home Tri-Five of the Year honors for his incredible 1957 Chevy. Lokar Performance Products sponsored the Tri-Five Nationals Top 25 and the American Tri-Five Association presented the very first Preservation Award.
Top 100 Tech Tip:
Changing to a One-Wire Alternator from a Three-Wire Alternator
On early ’60s cars and trucks with an external voltage regulator, this change is a bit more complicated than later models. Disconnect the wiring from the voltage regulator and discard the wires going to the alternator. Leave the alternator output wire intact. Remove the ignition wire coming from the main harness to the regulator, usually a brown wire, from the regulator connector tape and secure. Discard the connector.
Caution: The factory output wire on the old alternator will probably be too small to carry the high-amperage output of the new alternator. An add-on charge wire kit like the Painless PN 30709 is recommended.
Note: A charge light can’t be used with a one-wire alternator system.
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