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Las Vegas Super Chevy Show - The Gang's All Here!We Cruised Up To The Super Chevy Show In Las Vegas For A Very Special Spring Fling. From the March, 2010 issue of Popular Hot Rodding
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There have been Super Chevy Shows for almost as long as there has been Super Chevy magazine, and those shows have amassed a huge following over the decades. In that time, the promoters did a fine job growing the series in concert with Super Chevy magazine. For 2010, however, the Super Chevy Shows are under new management-a consortium of some of the biggest and best drag racing venues across the country. Among them are The Strip at Las Vegas, Virginia Motorsports Park, Texas Motorplex, Summit Motorsports Park, Maple Grove Raceway, Houston Raceway Park, Bandimere Speedway, Heartland Park, Bristol Dragway, and Firebird International Raceway. These guys really know how to put on a show because they're in the people-pleasing business. We discovered firsthand just how good the "new and improved" Super Chevy Show was when we caravanned up to the year's first event in Las Vegas this past March 19-21. Our adventure started with an early morning rendezvous on Friday at Original Parts Group in Seal Beach, California. We toured OPG's vast facility (thanks Gus and Tony!), then gathered with other Super Chevy Show attendees for the cruise to Las Vegas. Since our '75 Laguna had performed so well the previous weekend on the Phoenix trip to the Goodguys show, we once again had the big A-body under us, and it did not disappoint. Our caravan stopped for lunch at the world-famous Peggy Sue's diner in Yermo, Calfifornia, and we made it to The Strip at Las Vegas with plenty of time to spare. Fresh off the highway, we unloaded our junk in the pits, got teched in, and hit the dragstrip with our Laguna. During tech, we observed the tech inspector affix two tech inspection stickers on our Laguna-one for the dragstrip and the other for the bullring circle track. That was pretty funny, considering we never even considered running the circle track, and they just assumed that's what we wanted to do. I guess we sold the NASCAR look pretty hard, and they took the bait. Our Super Chevy Show adventure... Our Super Chevy Show adventure started at the headquarters of Original Parts Group (OPG) in Seal Beach, California. The author looks on while Super Chevy magazine editor Jim "Campy" Campisano sits in OPG's new Caddy project car and reminisces about his old mafia days in New Jersey. This guy can seriously recite every line from the movie Goodfellas. The following Saturday and Sunday, we bounced between the autocross, the dragstrip, the car show, and the swap meet. Let's just say it was a cornucopia of riches, and we participated in all of it. We ran a best dragstrip e.t. of 12.44/109 (yours truly driving), and a best autocross lap of 39.83 (photog Robert McGaffin behind the wheel). Not bad for a 2-ton tuna boat with street-legal rubber and 35-year-old brakes. (All our highway driving, drag racing, and autocrossing was accomplished on the same set of Nitto NT555R Extreme Drag tires mounted on Bassett D-hole steel wheels at all four corners.) We then loaded up the 'Guna and drove the four hours back home without a hitch. We even knocked down 14 mpg on the highway with our solid-roller 408ci small-block. I guess we'll have to save the bullring for next time. We have to give the new management of the Super Chevy Shows a big hand of applause for introducing their participants to autocrossing. And it wasn't one of those short autocross courses either-we were seeing speeds of over 60 mph. Many participants got their first exposure to this form of motorsports here in Vegas, and we hope they come back for more. We know we will!  Our first stop on the road...  Our first stop on the road tour to the Las Vegas Super Chevy Show was at Peggy Sue's diner in Yermo, California. Peggy Sue, the Hollywood actress, opened it in 1954 along Route 66. Just off Interstate 15, it's pretty much the midpoint between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and makes the ideal place for a lunch pit stop.  These simultaneous photos...  These simultaneous photos of PHR publisher Ed Zinke's '64 Chevelle and our '75 Laguna were taken on I-15 just a few miles from Las Vegas. We were pretty jazzed as we hit the Sin City border.  Do you think we hit the casinos...  Do you think we hit the casinos the first thing we got to Vegas? Nope, we hit The Strip at Las Vegas with our Laguna. We off-loaded our tools, gear, and bags in the pit, headed for tech inspection, and got into the staging lanes. We made just one run before the track closed, but got a 12.44 at 109 mph, tires spinning. We think the Laguna will go 12.20s with just more practice.  We got to the Super Chevy...  We got to the Super Chevy Show bright and early on Saturday morning to get teched by the SCCA folks. We planned on running the autocross as hard and as often as they would let us. Everything passed muster, so we handed the keys to photographer Robert McGaffin to wheel the beast through the cones.  Meanwhile on the dragstrip,...  Meanwhile on the dragstrip, Scott Bisel of Lake Havasu, Arizona, launches his '64 Chevelle during Bracket 2 time trials. Bisel's homegrown Chevelle is immaculate, and features a blown 555-inch Dart-based big-block in front of a Turbo 400. It puts out about 1,000 hp and has propelled the Chevelle to a best e.t. of 8.91 at 153 mph. And yes, it's a licensed and registered street car!  Total Cost Involved (TCI)...  Total Cost Involved (TCI) makes serious suspension components for first-gen Camaros, and to prove their stuff has what it takes TCI put together this '68 Camaro test car. This car has undergone serious testing, and gets used as a demonstration vehicle wherever first-gen Camaros meet in anger. This was one of those times. The best lap for the TCI Camaro at the Super Chevy Show autocross was a 39.96.  Robert McGaffin was getting...  Robert McGaffin was getting pretty good with the '75 Laguna on the autocross. He managed to score several timeslips in the 39-second range, with a best lap of 39.83. We're still using the 35-year-old brakes with 12-inch 1LE rotors and EBC Yellowstuff pads. (The rear brakes are stock rebuilt drums.) The bolt-on suspension pieces are by Global West. We've noticed that no matter where we race our car, nobody wants to let us use the number "12."  "The Chef" hails from Las...  "The Chef" hails from Las Vegas, and he wheels a 511-inch big-block-powered '68 Camaro with a Turbo 400, ladder bars, and 31x14 Hoosier slicks. He claims 780 hp at the crank, and a best e.t. of 9.91.  Everywhere we go, we see the...  Everywhere we go, we see the living snot getting beaten out of this '57 Chevy 210 wagon. Kyle and Paul Newman (Templeton, California) have done a great job transplanting the guts from a '92-96 C4 Corvette beneath the sheetmetal-including the LT1 engine and suspension. The Newmans did depart from the C4 running gear by selecting a T-56 transmission. The '57 blazed to a best lap of 39.11.  We love '68 Chevelles and...  We love '68 Chevelles and we dig satin paint, so when we saw Mike Martin's ride, we were on it like white on rice. Check out the satin nickel-brushed bumpers and brightwork. We wanted to do a full photo shoot on Martin's Chevelle, but ran out of time. We promise to shoot it next time we're in Vegas. Yet another 555-inch big-block resides underhood!  This is the nicest '62 Bubbletop...  This is the nicest '62 Bubbletop we've ever seen! Ron Parker of Kansas, Utah, built it in his garage, and it features the powertrain out of a donor '05 Pontiac GTO with a manual six-speed transmission. It got a Top 10 Editor's pick and an Outstanding Big Car award in Vegas. We shot it for a full feature-look for it next month.  I love swap meets, and hit...  I love swap meets, and hit pay dirt at the Las Vegas Super Chevy Show. I scored a genuine Snap-on power steering puller for a measly $25. As many power steering pump pulleys as we've had to install lately, that's a bargain.  Desert cars are famously rust...  Desert cars are famously rust free, and this '65 Chevelle two-door 300 Deluxe-sans motor-could be had at the Super Chevy Show swap meet for a paltry $2,500. We couldn't believe it had no takers.  Yeah, it's quirky, but we...  Yeah, it's quirky, but we love quirky! Dave LeVeck (Las Vegas) was rockin' the mid '70s with his Pro Street '75 Monza 2+2. LeVeck planted a blown 396 big-block where the hood ought to be, and it gives the baby Chevy a power-to-weight ratio of about 4 pounds per horsepower. LeVeck drives it regularly on the street and it's got a best quarter-mile e.t. of 9.83.  Gary Reust is an ironworker...  Gary Reust is an ironworker from Rancho Cordova, California, and he was really working the iron out on The Strip's quarter-mile. His homebuilt '55 Chevy was knocking down 9s on the track, but it could easily have cleaned up the trophies in the car show if Reust could be content sitting still that long. This thing is super clean, street legal, homebuilt, and filled with a pissed-off 555-inch Dart-based big-block with Brodix heads.
| SUPER CHEVY SHOW RESULTS • LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
| Saturday, March 20 |
| AUTOCROSS |
DRIVER: |
CAR: |
TIME: |
| Open Class Winner |
Mary Pozzi |
TCI Engineering '68 Camaro |
37.487 |
| Ladies Class Winner |
Deanna Marengo |
'67 Chevelle |
40.822 |
| Novice Class Winner |
Valerie Pichette |
'98 Pontiac GTA |
41.924 |
| BONUS BRACKET RACE |
DRIVER: |
HOMETOWN: |
CAR: |
DIAL: |
RT: |
E.T.: |
SPEED: |
| Winner: |
Robin Harris |
Las Vegas, NV |
'66 Nova |
10.54 |
.031 |
10.563 |
127.19 |
| Runner-up: |
Russ Stryker |
Truxton, AZ |
'66 Nova |
9.69 |
.151 |
9.698 |
135.08 |
| CAR SHOW AWARDS |
PARTICIPANT: |
HOMETOWN: |
CAR: |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Pete Ashlock |
Apple Valley, CA |
'61 Impala |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Ron Parker |
Kanab, UT |
'62 Impala LS2 |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Jerry Yoder |
Lake Tapps, WA |
'61 Corvair Rampside |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Misha Munoz |
Las Vegas, NV |
'56 Bel Air |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Gary & Vicki Bollered |
Highland Ranch, CO |
'57 Bel Air |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Richard & Debbie Gibbs |
Diamond, Bar, CA |
'66 Chevelle |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Dan Miller |
Scottsdale, AZ |
'65 Nova |
| Editor's Top 10 |
John Tsutski |
Hurricane, UT |
'70 Camaro SS396 |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Dave LeVeck |
Las Vegas, NV |
'75 Monza 2+2 |
| Editor's Top 10 |
Paul Tremblay |
Twentynine Palms, CA |
'54 Bel Air SP coupe |
| Featherlite Transport Award |
Richard & Cheryl Hospelhorn |
Normal, IL |
'32 Chevy sedan |
| ISCA Award |
Terri Gard |
Corona, CA |
'68 Camaro RS/SS |
| Trick Stick Award |
Deran Bosshardt |
Redwood, UT |
'69 Camaro |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Adam Montague |
Rialto, CA |
'76 Camaro |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Carl Cole |
Alta Loma, CA |
'55 Bel Air |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Keith Winters |
Las Vegas, NV |
'56 Bel Air |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Jim Naffziger |
Las Vegas, NV |
'67 Nova |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Phil Doughty |
Las Vegas, NV |
'63 Bel Air |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Roland Camayao |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Michael Berger |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Bruce Horrochs |
Vernal, UT |
'70 Chevelle SS 454 |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Barry & Cathy Dooley |
Bellflower, CA |
'64 Nova |
| Editor's Choice Race Car |
Vince Browne |
Clinton, UT |
'67 Chevelle |
| Sunday, March 21 |
| AUTOCROSS |
DRIVER: |
CAR: |
TIME: |
| Overall Quickest: |
Mary Pozzi |
TCI Engineering '67 Camaro |
37.093 |
| Open Class Winner |
Mary Pozzi |
TCI Engineering '67 Camaro |
37.093 |
| Ladies Class Winner |
Deanna Marengo |
'67 Chevelle |
39.916 |
| Novice Class Winner |
Greg Hubbs |
'02 Monte Carlo |
40.994 |
| BRACKET RACE |
DRIVER: |
HOMETOWN: |
CAR: |
RT: |
E.T.: |
SPEED: |
| DOT Street winner: |
Jason Brooks |
Upland, CA |
'69 El Camino |
.057 |
12.122 |
110.70 |
| DOT Street runner-up: |
Michael Hadtrath |
N. Las Vegas, NV |
'71 Vega |
.052 |
9.662 |
139.93 |
| Bracket 2 winner: |
Michael Jackson |
Las Vegas, NV |
'79 El Camino |
.041 |
11.329 |
114.43 |
| Bracket 2 runner-up: |
Carl Cole |
Alta Loma, CA |
'55 Bel Air |
.132 |
11.706 |
109.10 |
| Bracket 1 winner: |
Justin Lamb |
Henderson, NV |
'06 Racetech |
.031 |
7.745 |
162.45 |
| Bracket 1 runner-up: |
Angie Crosby |
Roy, UT |
'68 Chevelle |
.125 |
10.375 |
128.95 |
| Pro Street winner: |
Mike Maggio |
San Dimas, CA |
'03 Corvette |
.088 |
6.519 |
226.92 |
| Pro Street runner-up: |
Ross Hogenson |
Lethbridge, CAN |
'63 Corvette |
.051 |
10.278 |
94.55 |
| SUPER CHEVY SHOW RESULTS • LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
| CAR SHOW AWARDS |
| AWARD: |
PARTICIPANT: |
HOMETOWN: |
CAR: |
| Big car '49-54, winner, street: |
Paul Tremblay |
Palms, CA |
'54 Bel Air |
| Big car '58-89, outstanding, modified: |
Ron Parker |
Kansas, UT |
'62 Bubbletop |
| Big car '58-89, winner, modified: |
Pete Ashlock |
Apple Valley, CA |
'61 Impala |
| Big car '90-up, winner, street: |
Joshua Jones |
Caliente, NV |
'95 Caprice |
| Big car '90-up, winner, modified: |
Jim Walste |
Las Vegas, NV |
'96 Impala |
| Chevelle '64-67, outstanding, stock: |
Neil Anderson |
Nibley, UT |
'67 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '64-67, winner, stock: |
Michael Argaro |
Palm Springs, CA |
'67 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '64-67, winner, street: |
Jeff Howe |
Montclair, CA |
'65 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '64-67, outstanding, modified: |
Les & Danny Hoctor |
Litchfield Park, AZ |
'65 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '64-67, winner, modified: |
Richard & Debbie Gibbs |
Diamond Bar, CA |
'66 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '68-up, outstanding, street: |
Brad Miquelon |
Las Vegas, NV |
'72 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '68-up, winner, street: |
Dennis Akana |
Henderson, NV |
'72 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '68-up, outstanding, modified: |
Danny Richards |
Las Vegas, NV |
'70 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '68-up, outstanding, modified: |
Travis O'Leary |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Chevelle |
| Chevelle '68-up, winner, modified: |
Chuck "Taz" Morgan |
Mesa, AZ |
'72 Chevelle |
| El Camino, outstanding, street: |
Chris Plomp |
Montclair, CA |
'71 El Camino |
| El Camino, winner, street: |
Chuck Imnormian |
Apple Valley, CA |
'65 El Camino |
| El Camino, outstanding, modified: |
Jerry Jordan |
Apple Valley, CA |
'65 El Camino |
| El Camino, outstanding, modified: |
Steve Schreiner |
Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
'64 El Camino |
| El Camino, winner, modified: |
Lloyd Fellas |
Henderson, NV |
'60 El Camino |
| Pre-'39 conversion, outstanding, modified: |
Bob Dodge |
Las Vegas, NV |
'28 Ford Fire Truck |
| Pre-'39 conversion, outstanding, modified: |
Stacy Stewart |
Vernal, UT |
'32 Ford |
| Pre-'39 conversion, winner, modified: |
Dale & Rozanne Buck |
Mesa, AZ |
'28 Ford |
| 1940-'48 conversion, outstanding, modified: |
Jeff Hacker |
Las Vegas, NV |
'41 Willys |
| 1940-'48 conversion, winner, modified: |
Gary Bunker |
Las Vegas, NV |
'40 Ford |
| 1949-up conversion, outstanding, modified: |
Jesse Ferreira |
Las Vegas, NV |
'70 GTO |
| 1949-up conversion, winner, modified: |
Ron Rockwell |
Las Vegas, NV |
'78 Sanger Hydro |
| Early Chevrolet, pre-'35, outstanding, modified: |
Chuck Miller |
Las Vegas, NV |
'34 Chevy |
| Early Chevrolet, pre-'35, winner, modified: |
Richard & Cherly Hospelhorn |
Normal, IL |
'32 Chevy |
| Open, outstanding, stock: |
Joe Behites |
Las Vegas, NV |
'66 Corvair |
| Open, winner, stock: |
Jerry Yoder |
Lake Tapps, WA |
'61 Corvair |
| Open, winner, street: |
Lloyd Fellows |
Henderson, NV |
'62 Corvair |
| Camaro '67-69, outstanding, stock: |
Max Stewart |
N. Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, winner, stock: |
Dennis Smith |
N. Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, outstanding, street: |
Rocky Carron |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, outstanding, street: |
Arnel Gahotice |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, winner, street: |
Wesford Semaro |
Vernal, UT |
'69 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, outstanding, modified: |
Joe Domingues |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, outstanding, modified: |
Terri Gard |
Corona, CA |
'68 Camaro |
| Camaro '67-69, winner, modified: |
Jon Wisby |
Hailey, ID |
'67 Camaro |
| Camaro '70-81, outstanding, street: |
John Tsutsui |
Hurricane, UT |
'70 Camaro |
| Camaro '70-81, winner, street: |
Roger Bozarth |
Las Vegas, NV |
'71 Camaro |
| Camaro '70-81, outstanding, modified: |
Tim Morgan |
Lakewood, CA |
'78 Camaro |
| Camaro '70-81, outstanding, winner: |
Weston Bayles |
West Jordan, UT |
'70 Camaro |
| Camaro '82-92, winner, modified: |
Karen Sue Williams |
West Hills, CA |
'89 Camaro |
| Camaro '93-up, winner, stock: |
Vincent Tramont |
Las Vegas, NV |
'98 Camaro |
| Camaro '93-up, winner, street: |
Chris Latham |
Oceanside, CA |
'02 Camaro |
| Corvette '53-67, winner, street: |
Dave Arthur |
Las Vegas, NV |
'63 Corvette |
| Corvette '53-67, winner, modified: |
Jon Whittington |
Las Vegas, NV |
'64 Corvette |
| Corvette '83-up, winner, street: |
Michael Knight |
Las Vegas, NV |
'06 Corvette |
| Corvette '83-up, winner, modified: |
Ron Rockwell |
Las Vegas, NV |
'00 Corvette |
| Monte Carlo, winner, street: |
Dennis Jenkins |
Phoenix, AZ |
'72 Monte Carlo |
| Chevrolet '55-57, winner, stock: |
Gary & Vicky Bollered |
Highland Ranch, CO |
'57 Chevy |
| Chevrolet '55-57, winner, street: |
Frog Newman |
Henderson, NV |
'55 Chevy |
| Chevrolet '55-57, outstanding, modified: |
Randall Connell |
Las Vegas, NV |
'55 Chevy |
| Chevrolet '55-57, outstanding, modified: |
Keith Dalton |
Utah |
'57 Chevy |
| Chevrolet '55-57, winner, modified: |
Kenny Ong |
Las Vegas, NV |
'55 Chevy |
| Nova '62-67, outstanding, stock: |
John & Sylvia Piccola |
Las Vegas, NV |
'65 Nova wagon |
| Nova '62-67, outstanding, stock: |
Barry & Cathy Dooley |
Bell Flower, CA |
'62 Nova four-door |
| Nova '62-67, winner, stock: |
John & Sylvia Piccola |
Las Vegas, NV |
'65 Nova SS |
| Nova '62-67, winner, street: |
Tom Grayson |
Las Vegas, NV |
'68 Nova |
| Nova '62-67, outstanding, modified: |
Perry Antolin |
Las Vegas, NV |
'66 Nova |
| Nova '62-67, outstanding, modified: |
Rick Vanunen |
Ripon, CA |
'67 Nova wagon |
| Nova '62-67, winner, modified: |
Joe Dominguez |
Las Vegas, NV |
'66 Nova |
| Rat Rod, outstanding, modified: |
Bob Tollman |
Las Vegas, NV |
'32 DeSoto |
| Rat Rod, winner, modified: |
Lou Howard |
Lake Wood, CA |
'31 Ford pickup |
| Pro Street, outstanding: |
Arthur Benton |
Bullhead City, AZ |
'38 Chevy coupe |
| Pro Street, outstanding: |
Archie Kanele |
Las Vegas, NV |
'64 Nova |
| Pro Street, winner: |
Ron Bartolomet |
Newbury Park, CA |
'65 Nova |
| Pro Engineered, outstanding: |
Mike Marudas |
Las Vegas, NV |
'69 Nova |
| Pro Engineered, outstanding: |
Gary Reust |
Rancho Cordova, CA |
'55 Chevy |
| Pro Engineered, winner: |
Deron Bosshardt |
Redmond, UT |
'69 Camaro |
| Pickup '49-72, winner, street: |
Mike Campbell |
Las Vegas, NV |
'63 Chevy |
| Pickup '49-72, outstanding, modified: |
Paige Cluar |
Las Vegas, NV |
'65 Chevy |
| Pickup '49-72, outstanding, modified: |
Mark Blair |
Las Vegas, NV |
'72 Chevy |
| Pickup '49-72, winner, modified: |
Richard Harris |
Las Vegas, NV |
'52 Chevy |
| Pickup '73-87, outstanding, modified: |
Chuck Reddick |
Prescott, AZ |
'74 Chevy |
| Pickup '73-87, winner, modified: |
Kevin Maloney |
Las Vegas, NV |
'82 Chevy |
| Pickup '88-up, winner, stock: |
Rocky Carron |
Las Vegas, NV |
'02 Chevy |
| Pickup '88-up, winner, street: |
David Rich |
Las Vegas, NV |
'94 Chevy |
| Gold Class, winner, modified: |
G. Paul Ponell |
Upland, CA |
'54 Corvette |
| BEST OF CLASS AWARDS |
| Best Big Car: |
Pete Ashlock |
Apple Valley, CA |
'61 Impala |
| Best Camaro: |
Jon Wisby |
Hailey, ID |
'67 Camaro |
| Best Chevelle: |
Les & Danny Hoctor |
Litchfield Park, AZ |
'65 Chevelle |
| Best Corvette: |
Ron Rockwell |
Las Vegas, NV |
'00 Corvette |
| Best Conversion: |
Gary Bunker |
Las Vegas, NV |
'40 Ford |
| Best Open: |
Jerry Yoder |
Lake Tapps, WA |
'61 Corvair |
| Best Early Chevy: |
Richard & Cheryl Hospelhorn |
Normal, IL |
'72 Chevy sedan |
| Best El Camino: |
Lloyd Fellas |
Henderson, NV |
'60 El Camino |
| Best '55-57: |
Kenny Ong |
Las Vegas, NV |
'55 Chevy |
| Best Monte Carlo: |
Dennis Jenkins |
Phoenix, AZ |
'72 Monte Carlo |
| Best Nova: |
Joe Dominguez |
Las Vegas, NV |
'66 Nova |
| Best Pro Street/Engineered: |
Deran Bosshardt |
Redmond, UT |
'69 Camaro |
| Best Truck: |
Richard Harris |
Las Vegas, NV |
'52 Chevy |
| Award of Excellence: |
Richard & Debbie Gibbs |
Diamond Bar, CA |
'66 Chevelle |
| Club Participation: |
Golden West Chevelle & El Camino Club |
Diamond Bar, CA |
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