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Show & Shine—Cut short by the weather, the car show in Michigan still attracted some stunning rides

Posted By: Steve Baur
2nd Annual Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival Presented by TorqStorm Superchargers
 
UPR Products Car Show

Written by Steve Turner
Photography by the FSC staff

 
Despite an iffy forecast, Saturday bloomed into a beautiful day at US 131 Motosports part in Martin, Michigan. The pits swelled with race cars and fans came out to take in all the action from the track to the bustling manufacturer’s midway. The UPR Products Car Show might have been a different story, as we know that the wet stuff is no friend to show cars.
 

However, you can’t keep dedicated enthusiasts down. As the day went on, the show field filled with a wide variety of muscle machines to suit the fancy of anyone in attendance. Though the weather, sadly, forced the cancellation of Sunday’s car show festivities and awards, there were plenty of cars there on Saturday to keep our cameras snapping and judges from the Western Michigan Camaro Club, which hosted the show, were busy handing out hardware for the best machines of the day.
 
As such, we captured some highlights from the shortened show here, but rest assured we are already looking forward to what sort of machinery might show at next year’s event. Until then, check out some of the beautiful hardware on display at US 131 Motorsports Park.
 


There was an abundance of Bow Tie performers on display in Michigan, but Eric Syren’s 1969 Malibu rose above the crowd to claim the Best GM Muscle. It sports a TorqStorm boosted LS under the hood. Beautifully painted, it rides just right over custom wheels framing large, cross-drilled aftermarket brakes.  
 

Representing the Mopar crowd in style was Lynn Hesselbach’s sharp 1968 Plymouth GTX, which drove away from US 131 Motorsports Park with the Best Chrysler Muscle award.
 


For fans of the Fox Mustang, Chad Sheerhorn’s 1989 Mustang checked all the boxes. Sporting a street/strip style and a ProCharged small-block under the hood, it rumbled away with the Best Ford Muscle.
 
Looking sharp and sprayed in copper paint, Andy Geelhoed’s 1933 Ford collected the Best Street Rod honors at the Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival Presented by TorqStorm Superchargers.
 


Being that its facility is near US 131 Motorsports Park and it was the presenting sponsor of the event, TorqStorm Superchargers invited a bunch of its customers out to the 2nd Annual Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival Presented by TorqStorm Superchargers. One such customer was, Sam Farr, whose 1979 Bronco is motivated by a TorqStorm-boosted big-block. He rumbled away with the Best Truck hardware.
 


While many of the vehicles on display were noteworthy because of their modifications, some stood out because they remained stock but stunning. A case in point was John & Mirjam Madges’ 1957 Chevrolet, which nabbed the Director’s Choice Conservative award.
 

It’s not often you see an AMC out and about, especially a nicely modded example like Dan Sweetland’s 1970 AMC AMX. Looking clean and sporting a Control Freak front suspension, Wilwood brakes, and a custom interior, this rare two-seater earned a Special Recognition award in Michigan.
 

If you do see a 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car, it is usually stock, in deference to the car’s rarity. You have to admit, however, that Andy Jackymiak’s example looks sharp rolling on those gold BBS wheels. The judges agreed, as it earned a Special Recognition award.
 


Another standout ’Stang was Justin Hewitt’s 1989 Mustang. Painted in teal, the Fox gives off Cobra vibes. Riding just right over Weld wheels, it is powered by a naturally aspirated small-block with a forward-facing throttle body and an MSD coil-near-plug ignition, his "Slow Fox," looks anything but slow.
 
2022 NMRA/ NMCA Car Show Awards Classes
 
SATURDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS
Special Recognition Awards:
1. Terry Welles    Granger, IN   1970 Chevelle
2. Josh Jameson    Plainwell, MI    2001 F150
3.  Pete Champnoise    Dorr, MI   1972 Chevrolet C-10
4.  Steven A.    Portage, MI    2020 Mustang
5.  Jeron W.    Kalamazoo, MI   2018 Chevrolet 
6.  Todd Weber   Grand Rapids, MI   2012 Camaro
7. Bryant Goldstone   Osceola, IN  1959 Chevrolet Apache
8. Rich Verbrugge      Belmont, MI   1972 Buick Riviera
9.  Eddie Rose    1999 Pontiac Trans Am
10.  Kent Bailey   Kentwood, MI    1996 GMC Sonoma
11. Rebecca A.    Bridgman, MI   2011 Ford
12. Pinky and Bones Hosford   Cedar Springs, MI    1957 Bel Air
13. Christine Hartmann    Winamac, IN    1993 Mustang 
14. Gene Miteff    Fort Wayne, IN   1955 Chevrolet
15. Kevin Noe   Richland, MI   2020 Mustang
16. Mike Fisk    Mattawan, MI   1971 AMC Gremlin
17. Andy Jackymiak    Burr Ridge, IL   1979 Mustang
18. Justin Hewitt    Paw Paw, MI    1989 Mustang
19. Scott Galloway   Goshen, IN   1968 King Midget
20. Dan Sweetland   Golden, MI   1970 AMC AMX
Directors Choice Awards:
·   Best GM Muscle
·   Winner: Eric Syren   Middleville, MI     1969 Mailibu  
·   Best Ford Muscle
·   Winner: Chad Sheerhorn    Zeeland, MI   1989 Mustang    
·   Best Chrysler Muscle 
·   Winner: Lynn Hesselbach    Ft. Meyers, FL   1968 Plymouth GTX  
·   Best Late Model
·   Winner: Greg Toman   Vicksburg, MI   2019 Shelby Mustang    
·   Best Truck
·   Winner:  Sam Farr    Sparta, MI    1979 Bronco   
·   Best Street Rod
·   Winner: Andy Geelhoed     Hastings, MI   1933 Ford
·   Best Traditional Hot Rod
·   Winner: Randy Cleaver   Kalamazoo, MI   1939 Ford
·   Best Pro Street/Race Car
·   Winner: Sharon Bogards   Jenson, MI   1977 AMC Hornet
·   Directors Choice Conservative
·   Winner: John and Mirjam Madges    Grand Rapids, MI  1957 Chevrolet
·   Directors Choice Modified
·   Winner: Bullet    Vicksburg, MI   1970 Monte Carlo    
       
 
 
 
 

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