Street Beat

March 2010

Year XXXVI

Christmas Party

The weather delayed 2010 Christmas party/sweetheart party was held on Feb. 13^th at the Domtar Cabin in Colonial Heights, with a nice turnout. Approximately 60-70 people showed up and all seemed to have a good time socializing and B’SSING about important hot rod topics, grand kids, cold garages, etc. Thanks again to Daris and Nell Hartsock for arriving early (3pm), only to find a kitchen floor full of water. Daris mops pretty well for a retired engineer, must be the farmer in him. We also found the plates were locked, and luckily found Jim Collier still at Wal-Mart buying other party supplies. Dick Cartwright picked up the meat at Bone Fire, and after the earlier problems, all went well. Thanks to all the behind the scenes workers who helped to make for another successful party.

Members Machines and Gossip

Ronnie Larkins’ 57 Starchief

We hadn’t spotlighted a members’ project in a while, and were happy to find a new project that hardly anyone knew about. Pictured below is Ronnie Larkins’ 57 Pontiac Starchief 2dr. hardtop. Ronnie found this gem sitting in a pasture field 13 years ago, and talked the owner into selling for a reasonable price. Ronnie found the original running gear to be in good condition and took very little to have it running and moving under its own power. The Star Chief is powered by a 347ci engine rated at 270 hp at 4800 rpm. This was only used in the 1957 Pontiacs. The ‘58 Pontiacs were upped to 370 cubic inches. The 4 speed hydramatic transmission works well, and those Olds/Pontiac rear ends were like a beefy 9 inch Ford. The Star Chiefs had 124 inch wheelbase, which was 2 inches longer than the base Chieftain. Ronnie has recently got the Chief out of the paint shop with new emerald green paint with white trim. He plans to retain all the original exterior trim, original dash and interior trim, and use cloth upholstery to finish out the inside. Ronnie reports that he has all new glass ready for the Chief, and several repo pieces such as lenses are available. We hope to see the Chief on the asphalt sometime later this year. It will make a unique piece in which you are not likely to pass yourself coming toward you. Good Choice, Ronnie.

Speaking of ‘57 Pontiacs, that’s another reminder of NSRA’s new 30 year floating rule. The Nats South in Knoxville will be here shortly, and we can see for ourselves if it is filled with mini vans, boom boxes, imports, and wild teenagers as some have predicted.

Roy Reed has had his 33 Chevy 2 dr. repainted, and is back together. He also added Peterbilt stainless steel headlights with halogen bulbs, which Roy reports to have much better lighting. Don’t know if he added a Peterbilt horn, to match the headlights. He also added LED taillights while doing the other mods.

Tony Cable has another Fleetline Chevy almost back on the road. This one is a 47 and is almost identical, cosmetic wise, to his other 48. This one will be powered by a low mileage 96 Chevy LT1 with 4L60E transmission. Tony has done this work while having some significant vision problems in one eye.

Randy Bledsoe has new paint on his 36 Ford 2dr. sedan. Blue on the bottom and champagne (?) on top. Also, new tan ultra leather interior courtesy of his talented sister in law.

Mack Armstrong has already had his 40 Buick Coupe plastic media blasted. That removes the paint without fear of warping metal, and as everyone knows is generally less destructive to the metal. Mack reports finding really nice sheet metal after the paint was removed. He soon will be sending the 40 to his paint/body shop of choice.

Charlie Ball wants to thank everyone who helped him complete a KARC display of all our dash plaques starting from our first Rod Run. This display is used at our shows to showcase our clubs accomplishments. Now Charlie needs a few older plaques for his own personal collection. He needs:

Natural Tunnel Run 88, 93, 96, 97

Wal-Mart Supercruise 2002, 03, 04, 07

Thanks in advance.

James Armstrong is starting on a 50 Ford pickup. James must like those pickups, since he already owns a really nice Hudson pickup.

Daris Hartsock has been doing some re-do on his 36 Ford coupe. New brake tubing, fuel tubing, and several other things to personalize more to his taste.

Mike Smith has fallen victim to the; new parts don’t mean good parts syndrome. Mike caught a failing engine oil pump on his 68 442 just before it did any major damage. Of course the failing pump was a new one.

A hot topic at the Xmas party was the NO TIPPERS at our monthly club meeting. Your fellow club members are noticing and forming opinions. Nuff said.

North East State Cruise In

At the February KARC meeting member Dick Cartwright reminded everyone that this years cruise in/get together at Northeast State will be held for two days this year, April l5 and 16, from 9 am until 2pm. This is held in conjunction with high school senior day, in which area high schools bus in prospective students to check out Northeast State to hopefully continue their education. The KARC member cars are parked near the Automotive Technical building and hopefully will attract some students interested in an automotive career. Historically our club cars have been 90% of the show/cruise in. Hey, it’s for a good cause, and there is free pizza and drinks.

V S R A

As mentioned in a previous KARC newsletter, KARC member Jim Bledsoe is organizing and starting a new nationwide organization for pre 50 street rods. That organization is the Vintage Street Rodders of America. Jim has secured the Borla Industries grounds for their first major event. That event will be held on Sept. l7th and l8th, and on Saturday the l8th Jim has secured a section of the Meadowview Resort & Convention center. A dance will be held inside the center, with the top 25 picked rods also on display. The first 500 members will receive a free VSRA t-shirt with a charter member logo on it. Jim plans to be at our March meeting, if anyone has questions. Also info can be found on: www.info@pre50streetrodders.com

Ethanol/Gasoline

The newsletter staff uncovered two interesting stats concerning VA and TN state laws concerning labeling of pumps. In TN if there is l.5% or more ethanol, the pump must be so labeled. In VA if there is 1% or more ethanol in the gas, the pump must be so labeled. Good trivia stuff. Also the federal government and EPA laws and mandates do not require sale of E10, instead they’ve mandated a specific amount of ethanol be sold in each state. Source: www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol

Upcoming Events

Run to the Sun ---- March 18-20 ---- Myrtle Beach, SC (New location, see Pee Dee Street Rodders Web site)

Atlanta Police Dept. Cops and Rodders Car & Motorcycle Show ---- March 20 ---- Atlanta Expo Center, Atlanta, GA

Corvette Expo ---- March 26-28 ---- Sevierville, TN Events Center

Easter Rod Run ---- April 2-3 ---- Holiday Inn, Orlando, FL

Spring Food Lion AutoFair ---- April 8-11 ---- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC

NSRA Southwest Nationals ---- April 9-11 ---- State Fair Park, Oklahoma City, OK

Dixie Gas Swap Meet, Gasoline & Oil Collectables ---- April 15-17 ---- Hwy 41, 9 miles of Sevierville, TN (8 AM-5 PM Daily)

Northeast State Community Collage Car Show ---- April 16 ---- Northeast State, Blountville, TN (9AM to 2PM)

Bunny Run ---- April 16-18 ---- Jackson Fairgrounds Park, Jackson, TN

Spring Grand Run ---- April 16-18 ---- Pigeon Forge, TN

Cruise In at Ketron Middle School ---- April 23 ---- Kingsport, TN (NARA inspection available 6PM-?????)

NARA Appreciation Day ---- April 24 ---- Ketron Middle School, Kingsport, TN

Northeast State at Elizabethton Service Club Car Show ---- April 24 ---- Northeast State at Elizabethton, TN

NSRA Street Rod Nationals South ---- April 30 – May 2 ---- Chilhowee Park, Knoxville, TN

Club Picnic ---- May 9 ---- Dick Cartwright’s House, 258 Brown Circle Dr., Blountville, TN (Covered Dish)

F-100 Ford Supernationals ---- May 13-15 ---- City Municipal Parking Lot, Pigeon Forge, TN

Borla Spring Fling Auto Fest ---- May 21-22 ---- Borla Exhaust, Johnson City, TN

Goodguys ---- May 21-23 ---- Nashville, TN (Titans Stadium)

KARC Super Cruise ---- May 28 ---- Kingsport Town Center Parking Lot (Old Fort Henry Mall) , Kingsport, TN

(6-11 PM) Ronald McDonald House benefit

Wilderness Trail Rod Run ---- May 29^th ---- Downtown, Kingsport, TN

NSRA Street Rod Nationals East ---- June 4-6 ---- York Expo Center, York, PA

All Chevy Supernationals ---- June 11-13 ---- New City Municipal Parking Lot, Pigeon Forge, TN

Cherokee Spring Rod Run ---- May 14-16 ---- Cherokee Event Center at the Southern Entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains

Scott County Cancer Society Car Show ---- June 18 ---- Gate City High School Parking Lot, Gate City, VA

Camel City Rod Run ---- June 18-20 ---- Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, Winston-Salem, NC ( www.camelcitystreetrodders.com )

Wilber Wright Birthplace Festival Classic Car Show ---- June 19 ---- Wilbur Wright Birthplace, Mooreland, IN

World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival Car Show ---- July 11 ---- Collinsville, IL

National Corvette Homecoming ---- July 16-18 ---- Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green, KY

NSRA Street Rod Nationals ---- August 5-8 ---- Louisville, KY

Valley Classic Auto & Truck Show ---- August 26-28 ---- Maggie Valley, NC

Frog Follies ---- August 27-29 ---- Evansville, IN

Dixie Gas Swap Meet, Gasoline & Oil Collectables ---- Sept 9-11 ---- Hwy 41, 9 miles of Sevierville, TN (8 AM-5 PM Daily)

Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup ---- Sept 10-11 ---- Dollywood Splash Country, Pigeon Forge, TN

Fall Grand Run ---- Sept 16-19 ---- Pigeon Forge, TN

Food Lion AutoFair ---- Sept 26-29 ---- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC

NSRA Southeast Nationals ---- Oct 8-10 ---- Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL

Goodguys Southeast Nationals ---- Oct 28-31 ---- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC

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Next Club Meeting:

Golden Corral Restaurant on Eastman Road Kingsport, TN., March 11th, 6:30 PM