Large Turnout at Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Blue Suede Cruise

More than 2,500 show cars and 300 race cars rolled in and revved up for the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Blue Suede Cruise, July 13-15 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

In addition to fun-runs, there was Nostalgia Drag Racing League competition, and in the series’ Pro Comp category, Dave Bommarito blasted to the win with an 8.51 on an 8.50 index over Gary Leever, while in Pro Gas, Phil Stamps secured the win with a 9.52 on a 9.50 index over Shawn Grant. In Pro 7.50, Bo Boles used a 7.61 to defeat Kelly Key, and in Pro 7.00, Billy Smith won with a 7.00 over Jeff Sanborn.

In Hot Rod Eliminator, Joseph Luzar Jr. landed an 11.42 on an 11.47 dial to defeat Josh Carpenter despite breaking out, and Gasser Magazine Nostalgia Gas A-G class competition saw Ron Doran, David Bowen, Larry Cousino, Graeme Tyler, Freddy Wilkerson, Dale Healy and Mike Anderson earn wins. In Gasser Magazine Nostalgia Gas, Steve Tanzella took the win with a 10.03 on a 9.90 index over Craig Murray, and in Gasser Magazine Competition Gas, Larry Shawberry sailed to the win with a 10.13 on a 10.00 index when Jay Rust broke out. That set the stage for the Gasser Magazine Run-Off between Tanzella and Shawberry, and Tanzella won when Shawberry couldn’t complete the run.

Summit Motorsports Park’s Evan Bader and Nettie Damron were dressed as one of the the Blues Brothers and a person from the 1950s while presenting winners with specially-designed trophies made of engine parts by event sponsor Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.

A 1934 Ford Roadster built by ScottRods Custom HotRods and Fiberglass was given away as a door prize to Jim Hollingsworth, and a special highlight of the event was an on-track presentation to recognize its illustrious grand marshal Barb Hamilton-Advey, who, in her 1937 Willys Gasser, became the first woman to receive a license to drive a supercharged car in the National Hot Rod Association in 1964.

Photos of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering-made trophies and winners Larry Cousino and Joe Luzar Jr. by Moto Lenz