On With The Show—Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals Presented by Sick the Mag
By Steve Turner
Photography by Dr. Rudy Rouweyah and courtesy of the North Coast Mustang & Ford Club
As the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals series rumbled into Summit Motorsports Park for its penultimate event of the season, the racing on the drag strip was fast and fierce. However, when there is downtime on the track, there is no better way to spend some time than grabbing a bowl of the track’s famous ice cream and strolling through the NMCA car show.
Despite rain early on in the event, the car show was bigger than ever at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals Presented by Sick the Mag. With a great turnout, it is always a challenge to narrow the field down to a select few award winners, but the North Coast Mustang & Ford Club handled the challenge. Whether you were there and want to relive some of the great rides or you missed the show, we are hitting some of the highlights here.
Best of Show
Gary Larkin proudly proclaims his 1969 Camaro is built for both show and go. At the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals Presented by Sick the Mag, it backed up the show car claims by claiming the Best of Show title. Powered by a 540-cube big-block built by Vinson Racing Engines, it has the go handled to with 826 horsepower on tap. It gets to that number thanks to gear from Aeromotive, Holley, MSD, and others.
There was plenty of Mopar muscle on hand at Summit Motorsports Park. Among the standouts was Joe andPam Mazzola’s 1970 Plymouth Cuda, which took home both the Best Chrysler of Show and Director’s Choice Modified honors.
On the Ford side of the spectrum, there were plenty of Mustangs on hand, but this old-school muscle car stood out. Mark & Dave Robinson’s 1963 Galaxie nabbed the Best Pro Street/Race Car award.
Classic Camaros also flexed their muscle in Norwalk as Joe Barr’s pristine 1969 Camaro rumbled away with Best GM Muscle honors.
With beauty more than sheet metal deep, the custom cabin inside Danny and Cheryl Atkins’ 1955 Chevrolet earned the Best Interior award.
On the less modified but no less cool side of the coin, John Ashley’s 1970 Plymouth Cuda scored the Director’s Choice Conservative award.
Even powerful Pontiacs came out to play at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals Presented by Sick the Mag. Devon McLaren’s 1980 Trans Am earned a Special Recognition award in Norwalk.
Our team fell for Chip McLaren’s 1999 Trans Am and bestowed it with the Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice Best Modern award. It also drove away with the Best Firebird honors.
Shoutout to the North Coast Mustang & Ford Club, which served as hosts for this year’s car show and handled the judging and awards presentation at Summit Motorsports Park.
At the end of the event on Saturday and Sunday, the victors gathered to collect their well-deserved awards before departing.
2023 NMCA OH Car Show Awards Classes
SATURDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS
Special Recognition Awards:
1. Guy Taylor Grafton, OH 1994 Mustang
2. George McGuire Elida, OH 2005 Chrysler 300
3. Bob Bond Marion, OH 1966 El Camino
4. Shannon Williams Powell, OH 2019 Mustang
5. Tony Rottinger Parma, OH 1999 Mustang
6. Chris Lumsell Brunswick, OH 1969 Nova
7. John Petzold North Ridgeville, OH 2016 Corvette
8. Charlie Hall Ann Arbor, MI 2017 Camaro
9. Dennis Bregitzer Maple Heights, OH 1968 Ford Torino
10. Jimmy Saunders Lorain, OH 2020 Mustang
11. Jim Helman Medina, OH 2022 Dodge Scat Pak
12. Dave Robinson Bellvue, OH 1969 Ford F-100
13. Jack Bakewell Milan, OH 1962 Galaxie
14. Dennis Casey Parma, OH 2022 Mustang
15. Jim Sankiewicz Clay Center, OH 1967 Chevrolet Bel Air
16. Eric Gresh Bellvue, OH 1967 Camaro
17. Devon McLaren Milan, OH 1980 Trans Am
18. Rick Lindsey Marion, OH 1968 Nova SS
19. Colton Szabo 2006 Mustang
20. Chip McLaren Milan, OH 2002 Trans Am
21. Evan Schleimer Parma, OH 1968 Mustang
22. Rob Ortosky North Ridgeville, OH 1984 Cadillac
23. Scott Damalar North Olmstead, OH 2017 Mustang
24. Ralph Ferry Columbia Station, OH 2022 Mustang
25. Walter L. Caledonia, OH 1965 Chevelle
Directors Choice Awards:
· Best GM Muscle
· Winner: Joe Barr Johnstown, PA 1969 Camaro
· Best Ford Muscle
· Winner: Dean Michaels Brunswick, OH 1970 Mustang
· Best Chrysler Muscle
· Winner: Rick Trunkett Lorain, OH 1967 Dodge Charger
· Best Late Model
· Winner: George Pavell Barnesville, OH 2003 Chevrolet ZL-1
· Best Traditional Hot Rod
· Winner: Butch Chovan Copley, OH 1933 Ford
· Best Pro Street/Race Car
· Winner: Mark & Dave Robinson Bellevue, OH 1963 Galaxie
· Best Truck
· Winner: Dan Fox Bellevue, OH 1941 Ford Truck
· FSC Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Gary Larkin Pittsburg, PA 1969 Camaro
· FSC Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Chip McLaren Milan, OH 1999 Trans Am
· Best Engine
· Winner: Jeff Nimon North Ridgeville, OH 2014 Mustang
· Best Interior
· Winner: Gary Larkin Pittsburg, PA 1969 Camaro
· Best Paint
· Winner: Kevin Jahna Fostoria, OH 2015 Camaro
· Directors Choice Conservative
· Winner: John Ashley New Franklin, OH 1970 Plymouth Cuda
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Joe & Pam Mazzola Ravenna, OH 1970 Plymouth Cuda
SUNDAY GM CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Camaro 67-69
· Winner: Kim Adams Salineville, OH 1969 Camaro
· Camaro 70-81
· Winner: Paul Rivard Tallmadge, OH 1974 Camaro
· Camaro 82-92
· Winner:Dave Grabill Wooster, OH 1989 Camaro
· Camaro 93-Up
· Winner: Richard Duding Toledo, OH 197 Camaro
· Camaro Gen 5
· Winner: Jeff Taylor Marion, OH 2010 Camaro
· Camaro Gen 6
· Winner: George Pavell Barnesville, OH 2023 Camaro
· Firebird All years
· Winner: Chip McLaren Milan, OH 1999 Trans Am
· Nova 62-67
· Winner: Ron Ostry Akron, OH 1965 Nova SS
· Nova 68-Up
· Winner: Chris Lamsell Brunswick, OH 1969 Nova
· Chevelle All Years
· Winner: Eric McConnell Oberlin, OH 1966 Chevelle
· Corvette 53- 82
· Winner: Louie Di Matteo Medina, OH 1961 Corvette
· Corvette 84 – 2019
· Winner: Chris Dick North Ridgeville, OH 1992 Corvette
· Early Chevrolet Up to 52’
· Winner: Tom Ritz Sandusky, OH 1952 Chevrolet
· 55-56-57 Chevy
· Winner: Danny & Cheryl Adkins Willard, OH 1955 Chevrolet
· Full Size Truck All Years
· Winner: Pat Jackson Johnstown, OH 1954 Chevy 3100
· Open GM
· Winner: Tony Farrell Bryan, OH 1972 Chevrolet K20
· Best GM of Show
· Winner: Danny & Cheryl Adkins Willard, OH 1955 Chevrolet
SUNDAY FORD CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Mustang 64-78
· Winner: Schneider 1971 Mustang
· Mustang 79-93
· Winner: Stephen Sunyah North Ridgeville, OH 1988 Mustang
· Mustang 94-04
· Winner: Mike Filous South Euclid, OH 2001 Mustang
· Mustang 05-14’
· Winner: Jeff Nimon North Ridgeville, OH 2014 Mustang
· Mustang 15-Current
· Winner: Jimmy Saunders Lorain, OH 2020 Mustang
· SVT & Cobra Mustang
· Winner: Mike Chabek Parma, OH 1997 Mustang
· Roush, Saleen, Steeda Mustang
· Winner: Craig Cooper Akron, OH 2005 Saleen Mustang
· Shelby & Boss
· Winner: Dave Hassen Amherst, OH 2007 Shelby Mustang
· Comet, Cougar, Capri
· Winner: Jim Eubar Akron, OH 1969 Mercury Cougar
· Falcon, Fairlane and Maverick
· Winner: Dennis Bregitzer Maple Heights, OH 1968 Ford Torino
· Ford Full Size Cars All Years
· Winner: Lenny Price Amherst Twp , OH 1970 Ford
· Ford Full Size Truck All Years
· Winner: Keith Mills Collins, OH 1979 F-100
· Compact Ford
· Winner: Ron Henehan Avon Lake, OH 2004 Thunderbird
· Open Ford
· Winner: Brian Mulbach Medina, OH 1963 Ford Econoline
· Best Ford of Show
· Winner: Dave Robinson Bellevue, OH 1955 Fairlane
SUNDAY CHRYSLER CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Chrysler B-Body (Road Runner/Coronet/Charger)
· Winner: Geoff Bracken Massillon, OH 1969 Charger
· Chrysler E-Body (Challenger/Barracuda)
· Winner: John Ashley New Franklin, OH 1970 Plymouth Cuda
· Dodge Truck
· Winner: Jon Schiel Parma, OH 2008 Dodge Ram
· Open Chrysler
· Winner: Kal Potter New Philadelphia, OH 1968 Dodge Polara
· Best Chrysler of Show
· Winner: Joe & Pam Mazzola Ravenna, OH 1970 Plymouth Cuda
SUNDAY SPECIALTY AWARDS:
· Best Engine
· Winner: Eric Gresh Bellevue, OH 1969 Camaro SS
· Best Interior
· Winner: Danny & Cheryl Atkins Willard, OH 1955 Chevrolet
· Best Body & Paint
· Winner: Pat Jackson Johnstown, OH 1954 Chevy Truck
SUNDAY BEST OF SHOW
Best of Show
Winner: Gary Larkin Pittsburg, PA 1969 Camaro
