June 1, 2009

AMERICAN GRAFFITI STARS AND CARS AT THE 7TH ANNUAL HOLLEY NHRA REUNION

Actress Candy Clark and couple of hot rods rev up pulses at the Dynamic Legends VIP Tent at Beech Bend Raceway, June 19-21

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.--Summertime cruising, drive-ins and rock ‘n roll sum up the cool era of hot rodding made famous in the 1970s movie classic American Graffiti. This Father’s Day weekend, Bowling Green will be asking, “Where Were You in ’62?” as some of the movie’s cars and stars arrive for the event of the summer, the 7th Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway Park.

Actress Candy Clark who played Debbie Dunham in the hit film, a role which garnered her an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress, will join the Reunion party along with tributes to two of the movie’s cars – the yellow coupe, probably the most recognized hot rod in the world driven by actor Paul Le Mat in the movie and the black ‘55 Chevy driven in the movie by actor Harrison Ford. Also on display will be a tribute to the ’55 Chevy featured in the cult movie Two-Lane Blacktop.

At the Reunion, stop by the Dynamic Legends VIP Tent by Dynamat at the track to meet Candy and other hot rod legends all weekend long. Get your autographs and photos taken with some of the weekend’s cars and stars. For more information about tickets, call 1-800.884.6472 or, visit our web site at museum.nhra.com.

The 7th annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion, June 19-21 at Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green, Ky., is a 3-day festival of speed, hot rods and American automotive enthusiasm. Produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California and located in Pomona, Calif., the Reunion is part of the museum’s “living history” philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture. 

Unique among motorsports events, the Reunion honors some of the top names in hot rodding from the past and features a fabulous array of cool drag cars, street rods and customs of the historic and present-day hot rod eras. Three-day spectator credentials are available for $55. Three-day spectator credentials include a pit pass, souvenir reunion program, dash plaque, and a commemorative laminated credential. Single-day tickets will be sold at the gate each day of event. Admission is free for kids 15 and under accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets are also available by phone at 800/884-NHRA.

The Reunion features a wide variety of activities and events, including:
• Hot Heads vintage drag racing, featuring some the sport’s most famous and historic
cars and drivers, racing in such classes at Nostalgia Top Fuel, Altereds, Supercharged Gassers, Classic Super Stock, Hot Rods and others.
• Street rod Show ’n 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.
• The Heacock Classic Reunion Thursday night Cruise at the Grounds at Hartland Park, next to the Holiday Inn, will bring back the good ol’ days of hot rodding back to
Bowling Green. Cruise ends at the Historic Railpark and Train Museum. While on the
cruise, hot rodder’s can get a great photo of their ride at the newly renovated Standard
Oil Company station.
• National Hot Rod Reunion Reception, held at the Holiday Inn University Plaza’s
Bowling Green Convention Center ballroom on Friday evening, June 19. Open to
everyone at no charge, it’s a tribute to the Reunion’s Grand Marshal and Honorees and
a chance for fans to meet some of drag racing’s heroes.
• Meet the Reunion’s Grand Marshal, honorees and other drag strip legends at the
Dynamic Legends VIP Tent, sponsored by Dynamat, all weekend long at the track.
• American Graffiti cars and stars! Actress Candy Clark, who played character in the 70s hot rod hit American Graffiti, will be revving up pulses at this year’s Reunion. Candy will be signing autographs and posing for photos with fans all weekend long at the Dynamic Legends VIP Tent.
• 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.” Check
out the Renegade Cackle Car display while at the track. Fans will get a double dose of
the Dixons when father and son team up to light up the night sky. Larry Dixon Sr. will
be cackling in his old Smirnoff car while Jr. fires up dad’s car The Rattler.
• The Reunion Midway is filled with manufacturer and commercial exhibits.
• A huge Swap Meet of used parts and other treasures.
• A separate amusement park with rides and games for all ages adjacent to the park.

The 7th annual National Hot Rod Reunion thanks its kind sponsors and the hundreds of
fans and supporters. Proceeds of the Holley Hot Rod Reunion benefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. Celebrating its 11th anniversary and named for the founder of the National Hot Rod Association, the Parks Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.

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Source: Wally Parks NHRA Motorports Museum
Contact: Monique Valadez
909-622-3389
mvaladez@nhra.com