I had a bunch more from 85 to 87 but thanks to Hurricane Harvey the box they were in got flooded and pictures were ruined.
Here's my friend's Lime Mist '71 at the Nationals. He'd like to find it if anyone knows it's whereabouts. The car behind it may be the one w/the Verdemist painted top - Hard to tell.
Here’s a couple from the ‘90s (I think). One is Wild Bill’s four gear ‘63 Cat in the staging lanes behind John Everett’s ‘66 A9 dual quad Cat GS. The second photo is Nick Sloop’s ‘70 GS455, Bryan and Phyllis’s ‘69 Stage convertible, my old ‘68 GS400 and Bryan’s ‘68 Skylark race car. Patrick
Sorry-my bad. It was Bill’s and it is a ‘63 four speed-had the funky forward facing shifter! I’ll correct it! Thanks!
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1969-buick-gs-8/ looks like this one . Never thought back then $51,000 dollar car .
As noted, in '85 we shared Beech Bend with the first Supercar Showdown. After the dust settled, a match race between the two "top qualifiers" was in order. Dan Jensen, in the '71 455 HO T-37 had posted a best of 13.47. John Chamberlain owned low ET at 13.38. (If you do not already know the outcome, John's GS stumbled with "vapor lock...")
Perhaps a bit more “personal history…” But, I hope, apropos for Father’s Day… For 1985, future bro-in-law Rick and I repeated our travel plan from 1984, driving overnight from New Orleans. (While we had traveled to BG in ’84 in his very nice, $4,000, ’72 Cutlass convertible, we now drove his recently acquired ‘68 GS. [A few years ago he had “bo-bo’d” the ’72 GS in which he had initially “indoctrinated” me…]) Rick took Friday off from his job with Exxon. (Yes, he did get an employee discount on the 100LL we bought at the BG airport ), and came to pick me up at five-ish on Thursday. (I was in college, but Friday classes must have been “expendable…” ) At the last minute, as we were loading the car, Dad looked at each of us, and at Mom, and sheepishly asked “Can I go with them?” Mom agreed. Dad was the furthest thing from a “car guy” that you can imagine. But, he “got” that his kid had started to like cars. My first socket set came from Dad one Christmas. There could not have been a better year for Dad to join us. He loved the ’63 Polara. (I got the feeling that there may have been “unshared” associated memories… ) Dad did get a turn behind the wheel. Granted, he observed the speed limit. Happy Father's Day to All!!! (And my Dad. I miss him...)
As a father and owner of a ‘68 GS convertible, I’m quite proud of my son who occasionally gets to drive mine. Patrick (and Charlie).
Another “personal history” post, linking some above pics. (Hope you enjoy ) (Starting with top right in Patrick’s above post #154) When Patrick and I arrived at Beech Bend that year, for the first time we could not park in the “proper paved pits.” (The “trailer invasion” had become complete…) We spotted a yellow ’68 at the end of the bleachers, and settled there. We introduced ourselves to Bryan and Phyllis Woodworth from Maine, exchanging appropriate pleasantries. Later that day Patrick and I settled down to lunch, sitting in the grass enjoying sandwiches assembled from our morning trip to Winn Dixie. As we flicked ants from our potato chips (I honestly remember that like it was yesterday…), Phyllis invited us to join their clearly more “civilized luncheon.” (I hope we were polite enough to make her ask twice, LOL!) Although equally travelling on the four tires of a GS, they came to BG far better prepared than we. We became friends. Maybe even, also kinda, “family(?),” as in future years the Woodworths came to BG with the comforts of an enclosed trailer, and Patrick and I continued to drive a GS, supported by a cooler. Hence, I treasure the pic in Patrick’s post #144 as a “Bowling Green family portrait.” Phyllis, a photographer, gave each of us a large print of that pic she made as a gift.
Addendum I think a print of the “family portrait” remains among the pictures inside of Bryan’s trailer. (Sadly, Phyllis passed some years ago...) Opposite a wall-sized vinyl “Welcome Buick Racers” sign, which we may have liberated from the patio railing of a restaurant on Scottsville Rd….
Thanks Nicholas for the personal input. Never got to meet Phyllis but I have met Brian a few times. I agree "Family" is a good choice of words.....
Great stories and photos, Nicholas! My father attended the Nats with me and my friend Earl Talley back around 1990 or 1991. Each time I think about it, I regret not getting a photo of us there together. It was the only time I remember that he went to a car event with me.
