East Neck Auto’s & HSBC Bank’s Hot Rods & Racecars Show II
(Long Island, N.Y.) Host John Careccia, Dennis Quitoni, George Snizek and his son, Scott, gathered another unique assortment of great cars and great friends for the 2nd Annual HOT RODS & RACECARS SHOW to support The Wounded Warrior Project on Sunday August 23, 2009 in West Babylon.
The event differs from most local car shows as its main focus is on
the auto racing subculture. A varied cross section of the racing crowd
is invited to display one or more of their creations at the show. A
goal of the organizers is to reintroduce interest to generations of the Long Island
community and help educate them about some of the people and cars that
have had a historical impact on the motorsports industry. It can be
likened to having Orville and Wilbur Wright bring their patented glider
to an air show. Although they were not the first to build and fly
experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent
aircraft controls that made fixed-wing flight possible. While they are
no longer with us, their impact on aviation definitely is. The same can
be said about some of the personalities who are connected to this show
and their impact. Some of them in their 70’s and 80’s were even there!
This year’s show featured legendary drag racers and East Coast Drag
Times Hall of Famers: Billy Lynch and his AA/Fuel Dragster, Coney
Island Ralph and his “East Wind III” B/Gas Anglia and The Pacers
Auto-CARS Magazine Racing Team’s ’57 Chevy Pickup which was always
paired to the record setting “Tasmanian Devil” AA/Altered and The
Pacers AA Fuel Dragsters.
Other featured racecars on display were Dennis Quitoni’s Old Goats Gang
“Plain Vanilla” A/Altered; Ed Haase’s ’95 Pro Modified Top Sportsman
Pontiac; Andy Randazzo’s Pro Stock ‘69 Nova plus Go Cart; Chris
Mirabella’s ’70 Challenger AA Funny Car; Ritch Gerbe’s Midget; and the
Wilko Bros.’ “Undercover Hemi” Wounded Warrior Outlaw Monza Town Coupe.
Over 100 custom cars were all driven to the event and included: a few
gorgeous Willys, a bevy of ‘50’s Chevys, some immaculate ‘30’s highboys
& lowboys, a ‘50’s Merc, a ‘61 Buick, some trick ‘50’s pickups,
some fine flamed ‘30’s Ford Coupes, an assortment of clean Chevelles, a
rare ‘66 Ford Mustang Ranchero (pickup), and a blown ‘47 Chevy Good
Humor Ice Cream Truck and many, many others.
East Coast Drag Times Hall of Famers Billy Lynch, Mike Sforza, Brian
Beattie, The Pacers’ Otto Qualliotine and George Snizek all attended,
and their partner, the late great “Charlie Dodge” Hagenmayer was
represented by his daughters, Nancy, Barbara, and Lisa and their
families.
Motor Mouth Radio hosts, Chris Switzer and Ray Guarino were on hand
(tune in 12pm every Thursday & Sunday on 90.3 FM to listen) and Top
Fuel drag racing legend, Bernie Shacker, inventor of the dragster rear
wing concept, stopped by for the main event-hearing Billy Lynch’s
gorgeous Top Fuel Dragster “cackle”. For those who know, it brought a
tear to many an eye and smiles all around.
For those who have never heard the unmistakable “cackle” of a
supercharged top fuel engine, you will have to either head to your
nearest racetrack, your closest cacklefest, or attend next year’s 3rd
Annual HOT RODS & RACECARS SHOW!
