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Bowling Green Mayor 'Joyfully' Welcomes 3rd NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion to Town

Ribbon-cutting ceremony and city cruise with 150-plus cars highlight official opening of 3-day Father's Day Weekend Event

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - (June 16, 2005) - The love affair between the city of Bowling Green and the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, continues to prosper. Case in point: the pure exuberance of Mayor Elaine Walker as she checked out the 150-plus hot rods, muscle cars and classics lined up for the Reunion's annual kickoff event, the Thursday Night Cruise through the city. The Cruise is part of the opening ceremonies for the National Hot Rod Reunion, which runs June 17-19 at Beech Bend. The Cruise cars caravanned from the convention center parking lot at the Holiday Inn University Plaza, wound through the historic section of downtown Bowling Green and ended with a party at Racers World.

"Welcome back to Bowling Green," Walker enthusiastically told the drivers and families, some who had traveled from Texas and Missouri to attend the Reunion and the Cruise. "Thanks for coming."  Walker participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with Hot Rod Reunion Director Bob Daniels and Vicki Hawkins-Fitch, the new director of the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau (which sponsors the Cruise).

Mayor Walker and Fitch were also on hand to choose the evening's top vehicles. They'll present the owners with a trophy during a Friday night Reunion reception at the Holiday Inn University Plaza.

"Look at all the people here," Mayor Walker said. "The Reunion brings in families and kids. It's great because it brings people to our community and shows off our community."

The Mayor was also quite impressed with the cars and their owners. "I love these cars," she said. "The people have put a lot of heart and soul into them."

The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, is produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, located in Pomona, Calif. The National Hot Rod Reunion is part of the museum's "living history" philosophy, which works to bring to life the sites, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture.  The Reunion includes a wide variety of activities and events, including:

* NHRA vintage drag racing, featuring some the sport's most famous and historic cars and drivers, racing in such classes at Top Fuel, Supercharged Gassers, classic Funny Cars and Super Stocks

* Street rod "show and shine," presented by SoffSeal, with thousands of gleaming pre-1972 hot rods, custom cars, classics and muscle cars.  "Memory Lane" will have a display of nostalgic race cars.

* National Hot Rod Reunion Reception, held at the Bowling Green University Plaza Hotel convention center ballroom on Friday evening, June 17.  Open to everyone, it's a tribute to the Reunion's Grand Marshall and Honorees and a chance for fans to meet some of drag racing's heroes.

* Parish Heacock Pit Pass Barbeque on Saturday afternoon at the oval track.

* Concert by Gary Lewis and The Playboys, presented by GMP, on Sat., June 18, 5 -7 p.m.

* Cacklefest on Saturday evening, where nitro-burning historic, front-engine top-fuel dragsters and other classic race cars are push started just like in the "old days."

* Swap meet and Reunion Midway filled with manufacturer exhibits and demonstrations

* A separate amusement park with rides and games for all ages adjacent to the park.

Tickets are available for the third annual National Hot Rod Reunion (Friday through Sunday, June 17-19, 2005) at Beech Bend Park, 798 Beech Bend Rd., Bowling Green, Ky. For more information, visit http://museum.nhra.com .