All GM Nationals weekend to remember
I personally counted some 77 GTO's and I am sure I missed a few. I didn't count the new age GTO's. Someone from CCGTO (A fellow GTO club from Washington DC/ Maryland area) I was told said they counted some 52 or so. The 04-06's were all lined up for some 100+ yards it was a sight to behold. I was the only one again with a car with the complete SAP.
All of the classics were drop dead gorgeous it was like being in GTO Heaven. I thought of Randy too on his question about the pin stripe on his as I saw one almost like it up close and with what looked like an identical pin stripe and it looked so sweet.
I was honored as my car was shown in the Pontiac Pavilion with the Firebirds, Trans-Ams, drifting Pontiac race cars, and some classic GTO's. I was thrilled to death to have my car invited over and shown under their tent, where right behind my car where it was parked Jim Wangers and Dave Anderson had their table where they were signing autographs all weekend. Jim signed my car in 2 places, the right fuel rail cover and under the hood as well as one of the Legend Magazines my car was featured in. I got to keep it parked there over night as Security had a table right beside my car. I talked with the chief editor and photographer of the magazine a few times, it was awesome, they got literature of our club and said they will plug SVGTO Tigers in the magazine, they took picture of me, our President, Andy68GTO our treasurer, and Russ, Macgto7004 our secretary under our club banner, we are hoping it makes it in the magazine. Our club sponsored the Tiger and as it sat under the tent, our club name was proudly displayed with it.
I have bokoo pictures of me and Jim Wangers and Dave Anderson, and a few of me with our arms around each other of Linda Vaughn at the drags. She looks nearly as gorgeous as she did "back in the day" and is as friendly,down to earth and personable as can be. I will be blowing the pic up to an 8x10 and I will be seeing her again in a few weeks and she will sign it and it will be matted and framed and placed with Jim, and Dave's once I get them done up too. I got a ton of pictures of the GEETO Tiger at the track as I was down on the track with them at the staging area as the National Anthem was then played, and posed at the starting line with 2 of our club members as they raced against Dave. I got to be in the trailer of the GEETO Tiger "hobnobbing" with Jim, and Dave listening to Jim's stories, talking with Robert Johnson the crew chief and watched as he and Dave were resetting the timing and working on the car between races. I purchased some time ago a 1:18 scale GEETO Tiger; Jim signed the top, Dave signed the rear deck and Linda signed the hood. 3 legends with pics and signatures to go in my GTO Nostalgia display area.
I invited Jim Wangers over to our tent to address our club and chat with us which he was more than eager to do. Both he and Dave posed with our club members who were present for a photo shoot where Jim was presented with one of our Club's T-Shirts with all of our signatures and type of car we drive on the back. He was touched and thrilled. I gave Jim one of our window clingy decals with our club logo on it to place on the GEETO Tiger which he eagerly took. I will try and get pics of the Tiger with our logo on it at the National Convention when I see them again.
Linda Vaughn was and still is a marketing icon for Hurst Shifter. She is Miss Hurst Golden Shifter.
linda vaughn - Google Image Search
If it weren't for Jim Wangers there may have never been a "Judge," as he was responsible for it, and if not for Jim we wouldn't be driving GTO's.
1966 Pontiac GTO - Featured Vehicles - Hot Rod Magazine
To top off the day, one of our club members was chosen by Pontiac Enthusiast Magazine as one of 4 finalists for their people's choice award. His 04' YJ took first place and will have a feature done on him and his car in an upcoming issue of the magazine.
Pictures are worth a million words and I will post pictures once I download the some 200 or so pics I got and go through them all.
If anyone gets a chance to meet Jim and Dave you will find you will never meet a friendlier, laid back down to earth couple of guys.
BIG BIG KUDOS and SUPER CONGRATS to Revsitup one of our GTO Forum Members and one of our club members. Brent showed 2 cars, one a gorgeous white 1968 and a stunning 1969 Palisades Green Judge (pic of it in his avatar). His Judge took 1st place in the 68-72 category.
Another fellow 05 GTO owner with a beautiful red GTO took 3rd place.
Out off all the GTO's 3 of our club members are taking home awards!!
