FROM RAW TO REALITY
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Light at the End of the Camaro
There are many reasons why the icon cars have achieved the lofty status they now enjoy, but one of the more obvious reasons is the simple fact that they were finished. Their existence and subsequent high-level exposure have inspired many a young lad to undertake similar projects, and for every famous car built in the early years, probably two others were started in an attempt to either copy or outdo it, but they never saw the light of day.
Extreme F-250
Stan Belcher didn’t start out like a man possessed when he bought his ’03 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab truck. But it didn’t take long for him to turn into one. Initially, the plan was to lift the truck enough to run a set of 44-inch tires. Stan liked the Super Duty trucks because of the straight axle, which made lifting it 12 inches a snap. Three weeks later he had the body lifted three inches. He actually drove the truck with the 15-inch (total) lift and the stock wheel and 30-inch tires for about a month and a half. After installing the 44-inch tires the truck looked perfect. Everything was great, and Stan loved the truck… and then Swamper comes out with a set of 49-inch Irok tires!
Are You Master of Your Terrain?
Ok, you’ve lifted your rig so you can put those big tires on, and you take it out on it’s maiden wheelin’ trip. The first thing you notice is how the terrain seems to guide the tires while fighting your biceps. If this sounds familiar then you probably have manual steering. Many of the older rigs on the trail only came from the factory with a manual steering box. There are several options to remedy the manual steering blues. Upgrading to a power steering setup is the most basic route, then there are a number of companies specializing in hydraulic ram setups. There are also many combinations using common power steering boxes in addition to a hydraulic ram assist. With the vast variety of power steering system components available, the possibilities are quite endless.
Spotlighter
THE YORK BEFORE YORK
The Central Pennsylvania Street Rod Association Filled Memorial Hall
Author
Gerry Burger
Story & Photography
Central Pennsylvania has long been a hot bed for traditional hot rods. When the N.S.R.A. moved the Nats East from Timonium, Maryland to the York County Fairgrounds in 1975, the town of York, and the associated York County Fairgrounds became synonymous with the NSRA Nats East. But wait, there was a good show in York before that happened.
Hot Rodding in Central Pennsylvania
Of course long before that big event came to town there was plenty of hot rodding, drag racing and oval track action in and around York. The Central Pennsylvania Street Rod Association was one of many hot rod clubs in the area and they produced a great local indoor car show. Similar events were produced across the country by regional hot rod clubs. We like to think of them as “Armory Shows” since the local armory often provided the perfect venue for that mid-winter Rod & Custom show.
Traditional Rods, Customs and Horsepower
My memories of early Pennsylvania hot rodding was a strong presence of traditional rods and customs. There was also an obvious love of horsepower, judging by the large number of blowers and big blocks. Of course Posies was cranking out his world class hot rods and customs not far away in Hummelstown, adding to the central PA mystique.
The 12th Annual Rod & Custom Show
We are fairly certain this 12th Annual Rod & Custom Show was held in 1986 and it filled Memorial Hall right there on the York County Fairgrounds. Rodder’s Digest Magazine was a sponsor of the show that year and we were proud to have the RD logo on the Roy Wetzel produced poster that has been hanging on my shop wall for over 45-years. Admission was five bucks, kids twelve and under-12 half-price. The show ran for three days… March 28-30. It was a blast.
ARTICLE SOURCES
Gerry Burger
Gerry Burger has been immersed in hot rodding since the early 1960s, building his first hot rods as a teenager after being inspired by local racer Bob Zorn. A chance meeting with Tom Medley in 1972 launched a distinguished career as an automotive photojournalist, leading to freelance work for dozens of magazines, the founding of Rodder's Digest, and editorial leadership roles at Street Rod Builder and American Rodder. Today, Burger continues to write, photograph, and build hot rods, remaining one of the hobby's most respected voices.
