THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL PRO STREET ASSOCIATION
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DEPARTMENTS 4
On the Throttle
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Racer’s Library Pro nography
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COVER CAR
DESERT RAT Ron Greulich’s nasty blown ’69 Camaro heats up the Tucson streets by Toby Brooks
CONNECT www.tubbedmagazine.com | 806.781.8482
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PROJECT BUILD
SERIOUSLY? A MUSTANG?
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Stinking Craigslist bites me in the rear quarter panels again by Toby Brooks
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TUBBED LIFE
PRO STREET MANIFESTO We’ve been lied to. For years we’ve been told that pro street was dead. Pro street was impractical. Pro street was SO eighties. And we bought the lie. by Toby Brooks
STAFF PUBLICATION
Toby & Christi Brooks....................................Publishers John Bechtel................................................Contributor Matt & Debbie Hay......................................Contributors
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ART
Toby Brooks.................................................Art Director Brent Groh................................................Photographer John Jackson...........................................Photographer Chris Kays................................................Photographer Ceasar Maragni........................................Photographer
EVENTS
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
Legends, has-beens, new blood, and 17,295 Illinois State Troopers (give or take) converge on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds for the first time in 15 years. And it. Was. AWESOME. by Toby Brooks
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ON THE COVER
Okay, okay, so maybe it is a little cliché to put a Camaro on the cover of a pro street magazine. Arguably more Camaros have been tubbed than any other car in history. Even more importantly, Ron Greulich’s wicked ‘69 is about as clean and well executed an example we’ve seen in a very long time. Ron submitted all the photos himself, just like he did most of the work himself. We hope you enjoy, and it isn’t totally cliché...it isn’t even red. TUBBED Magazine is published quarterly by Chaplain Publishing, a division of NiTROhype Creative, 3104 CR 7520, Lubbock, Texas, 79423, phone 806.781.8482. Contents may not be reproduced without consent of the copyright owner. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronically or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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TUBBED Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, articles, photographs, or artwork. To submit information, photos, or stories or for advertising inquiries please contact TUBBED Magazine at 806.781.8482, via email at admin@tubbedmagazine.com, or via the TUBBED Magazine website at www.tubbedmagazine.com.
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The Original Air Suspension Company...Since1996 Air Ride Technologies president Bret Voelkel’s 1970 Mustang launched the company in 1996. Now as RideTech, we manufacture a complete line of premium coil-overs, control arms, and suspension systems
Throttle
ON THE TOBY
BROOKS
D
o you remember your first?
When my pops rolled up in that pristine 1966 Chevy II, I was immediately, totally, and completely in love.
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I do. And man, was she ever beautiful. I was eight years old when my dad came home with the first pro street car I had ever actually seen in person. Oh sure, I had seen plenty of fat-tired cars within the well-worn pages of my old man’s subscriptions to Car Craft, Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, and Super Chevy. I had also watched hours of TNN/Diamond P coverage of NHRA pro stockers like Bruce Allen’s Camaro and Bob Glidden’s Thunderbird. I knew what the look was all about. But when my pops rolled up in that pristine 1966 Chevy II with the widest Cragar Super Tricks and fattest Mickey Thompsons I had ever pointed my retinas at, I was immediately, totally, and completely in love. It was an infatuation that has been with me ever since. By all my adolescent recollections, the car was superbly well done. In addition to the narrowed 12 bolt and ladder bar back half, it featured a clean small block and a flawless metallic blue paint job. It even had a shaved fuel filler cap with a fake one airbrushed in its place. In retrospect, the stance and overall look was unmistakably influenced by Scott Sullivan—a guy who would soon become a childhood hero of mine. Granted, the car lacked the blown big block that had helped Scott achieve near rock star status at the 1979 Street Machine Nationals, but still, it was a period perfect representation of what pro street was all about. The car had no back seat, but I remember sitting in the carpeted floorboards for summer Saturday trips to the Dairy Queen. The combination of the monstrous 3” exhaust, 5:14 posi, and clunking rear suspension made for a roaring fun ride. Add in dad’s periodic stabs of the throttle to “clear the cobwebs” and I was in blissful prepubescent gearhead heaven.
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Dad would later sell the car only to regret it. By the time I was 15, he decided to start building another Deuce from scratch. I pitched in as I could as we built a blown and backhalfed ’67 Nova SS that started out as a rustinfested bondo buggy. By project’s end, it was a well-executed pro streeter in its own right. Annual trips to the Street Machine Nationals coupled with a steady feeding of the aforementioned magazines led to a firmly entrenched love of all things tubbed. Fast-forward 30 years and here we are today. Fresh off the release of my book Sensory Overload, Cool Builders, Hot Cars and Wild Times at the Street Machine Nationals and the return of “The Nats” in 2013 after a 15 year hiatus, and I couldn’t shake the notion that the time was right to launch TUBBED, and found the National Pro Street Association. My goal for TUBBED is to share the love and celebrate the aesthetic that so heavily influenced my preferences in street machines. In coming issues, you get to read about both new builds from today and the iconic cars from yesterday. You’ll get to catch up with the legends that shaped the trends and meet current builders who have stood on their shoulders. You’ll also get to read and see every step of the way as we build a cutting edge 2006 Mustang GT with all the classic pro street styling cues. We’ll also include things like tool reviews and howto articles on building your own garage. In short, we are shooting to be a grassroots, for-fans-by-fans pro street only publication unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. And we’ll do it all for free. Stay tuned. Tell your friends. Like us on Facebook. Check our website. Make plans to come to Du Quoin in 2014. But most of all, shout it from the mountaintops. Pro street is back. And yeah…it’s still cool.
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RACER’S JOHN
Library
BAECHTEL
SENSORY OVERLOAD: Hot Cars, Cool Builders, and
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oby Brooks’ new book about the history of the Street Machine Nationals reveals the intimate background of a simple car show that blossomed into a full-blown cultural phenomenon; spawning the still popular Pro Street movement and multiple generations of dedicated gearhead followers. With endless research and considerable insight, Brooks’ investigative skills probe the inner workings of America’s favorite car show; a wildly popular event event whose loyal fans followed year after year as it was thrown out of city after city for the inexcusably rowdy behavior of a few participants and legions of locals who seized the opportunity to run amuck and ruin everyone’s fun. Effectively “The people’s car show,” the Street Nats presented an unprecedented venue for the “little guy” to shine and drive his personal automotive statement amongst his peers. Heroes and surprisingly competent car builders emerged. Everyone was welcome and everyone was treated well. Basic bolt-on machines shared the stage with glittering Pro Street supercars, some
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built by enterprising teenagers who would go on to become some of the nation’s top car builders. Brooks dissects the management and political turmoil that ultimately saw Petersen Publishing and Car Craft Magazine turn over management and control to the Special Events show management company while retaining exclusive rights to show coverage in the magazines. Competently managed by publisher Harry Hibler, the CC staff and outsourced assistants, the show’s liability issues ultimately became too much for Petersen’s narrowly focused attorney who urged it’s dismissal. After the exchange, Special Events grew the show to phenomenal proportions and stabilized its location at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin where it seemingly flourished except for the inevitable rowdiness of local punks and the sinister specter of a self-centered Petersen executive VP who conspired to sabotage the show and steal it back under his own control. Much to his credit, Brooks reveals how Special Events was blind sided by John Dianna who withdrew the magazine’s negotiated support and formed all new shows and cruises that never came close to matching the power and prestige of the Street Machine Nationals. Considerable stink accompanied the political subterfuge surrounding these actions as the company that founded the Street Nats sought to undermine them for profit and personal glory. Cooler heads prevailed and the charlatan VP was ultimately dismissed, but not before considerable damage had been wrought. Special Events
d Wild Times at the Street Machine Nationals shifted gears, changing their name to Family Events and throwing themselves into promoting and rebranding the event. No company was better equipped to handle this task and the event quickly regained its legendary stature. Economic instability and damage inflicted by local thugs and nonbelievers who continued to tar the event’s good name at every venue ultimately led to its demise. Loyal fans were devastated. Brooks chronicles these times and the subsequent 2013 resurrection with writing skills that make this writer feel hopelessly inadequate. He devotes most of the book to the legendary car builders who surfaced and flourished under the Street Nats umbrella. That would include humble superstars like Scott Sullivan, Rick Dobbertin, Matt and Debbie Hay, Rocky Robertson, Rich Gebhardt, Mark Grimes, Troy Trepanier, Al Hinds, Bret Voelkel and the thousands of car builders who spent their winter months tirelessly laboring over their machines with a singular goal in mind: to show up and show off at the Street Machine Nationals. Personal interviews and back stories of prominent builders fill the book along with a center section packed with photos revealing the flavor and spirit of the event. Even with 268 pages there isn’t much room for everyone who contributed to or gained stardom local or otherwise. Still, the author manages to credit all the right people and recognized the legion of attendees whose cars form the core of the mother of all car shows. Anyone who grew up with the Street Nats will appreciate this book.
It should be required reading for all car enthusiasts. While it focuses on the event and its superstars, it also elevates the relevance of ordinary Joes whose economic circumstances limit the extent of modifications to their personal street machine. Thus a shiny Mustang or Challenger with little more than a zoomy set of wheels and a Holley four barrel can park right next to the baddest car on the fairgrounds and they all interact like the greatest of friends; a fraternity of car crafters hell bent on sharing and enjoying their cars. The title “Sensory Overload” is clearly appropriate. Anyone attending a Street Nats event is immediately overwhelmed by a sea of outrageous street machines as far as the eye can see. Street car heaven if you will and everyone’s a player. Great book. Get it, own it, treasure it. It’s one of a kind, just like your personal street machine. See you at the Nats. Paperback: 268 pages Publisher: Chaplain Publishing (2013) Language: English ISBN: 97809883532-2-0 Available: http://www. streetmachinereunion.com/sensoryoverload
John Baechtel is former editor of both Hot Rod and Car Craft magazines and currently owns and operates Landspeed Media Group. His newest site, Hot Rod Engine Tech (www. hotrodenginetech.com) is a fantastic source of information for any high performance engine builder. He is a regular contributor to TUBBED Magazine. Check him out at www.johnbaechtel.com or contact him at http://hotrodenginetech.com/contact/.
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Nography
PRO
RUMBLUR Troy Trepanier is a familiar name to fans of classic pro street, modern pro touring, and--after an effort commissioned by legendary hot rodding gazillionaire George Poteet--even Bonneville racers. The sweet Rambler wagon pictured here was the last pro street car the Manteno, Illinois native ever owned, as his Rad Rides by Troy shop was just beginning to take flight. The wellexecuted street rod/pro street crossover featured Bob Thrash graphics and a trick set of Budnik Switchblades.
Troy Trepanier photo provided
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ife in the desert is hard for most critters. The scorching heat is stifling. The pounding sun and water-parched earth is inhospitable. And the coarse sand and blast-furnace winds are hostile. That’s why an unfamiliar sight like a pristine 1969 pro street Camaro in the heart of Saguaro National Forest country is so stark and startling. And that’s all the more reason to take notice. A classic and timeless example of all things TUBBED, this RS/Z28 was painstakingly crafted by owner Ron Greulich over the span of three years. Although Greulich might live in pro street-starved Tucson, Arizona now, he attributes his love for street machines to his blue collar Midwest roots.
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Born and raised in Monclova, Ohio just outside Toledo, Greulich spent his formative years doing what most of us did—namely kit-bashing model cars while developing his creative eye for 1:1 scale creations. A life-long Camaro lover, Greulich’s first car was a ’76 Type LT that he bought brand new just prior to his senior year in high school. “The first thing I did was get a set of Cragar SS wheels, some air shocks, and a set of N50 rear tires that hung out an inch or two past the fenderwells,” he recounted. “I added some chrome Hooker three inch sidepipes, too.” Don’t hate. It was the seventies. Greulich attended his first Street Machine Nationals in 1981. He instantly fell in love with the event, particularly the
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sea of polished superchargers that seemed to penetrate nearly every hood on the premises. Through a pair of builds including a 1969 big block Camaro and a pro street 1986 Chevy Silverado, the doit-yourselfer continued to refine and develop his skills. Greulich always regretted getting rid of his ’69 Camaro in 1984, so when he decided it was time to begin a new build, he knew right away what the target would be. Selling off both his ’76 Camaro and ’86 Silverado to fund the project, he zeroed in on a classic 1969 RS/Z28. “I found a 1969 Camaro on Craigslist that was a
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stripped-down former drag car,” he said. “It was already back-halfed, so I figured it would save me some time and money,” he added. Greulich figured wrong. The car was passable for strip-only duty, but once Ron really dug in, he discovered that the cage didn’t fit right, the back half wasn’t set up to run the desired 33 x 19.5 rear tire, and the body had more plastic than the toy section of a local dollar store. To make things worse, the tin work was substandard and the wheel tubs were too small. Greulich got right to work, repositioning the rear end 2”, fabbing
up a set of home-built 36” ladder bars and stretching the back wheel openings 2 ½”. The old cage was carefully removed with the “blue wrench” and an Art Morrison 8-point unit was carefully stitched together and coaxed into position. The rear was beefed up with fortified 9” Ford unit fitted with 4:56 Richmond gears, Moser 31-spline axles, and suspended via QA1 coil overs. A trick set of SSBC disc brakes were selected for stopping duties. Fresh tinwork was popped in place and a new set of appropriately obese Mickey Thompson Sportsman steamrollers mounted on 15 x 14 Centerline Convo ET wheels filled the rear. A set of two-inch drop CPP spindles and QA1
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front shocks were installed onto the otherwise stock front suspension before matching 15 x 4 Centerlines and 26 x 7½ Sportsmans were mounted in place. The requisite pro street stance was starting to take shape. With chassis fab work completed, it was time to get the Camaro’s sheetmetal in order. Local body and paint specialist Rick Harris was called into action. Harris replaced the car’s cancer-ridden rear tail panel and painstakingly massaged every other piece of steel until the body was laser straight. A four-inch Harwood cowl induction hood was also installed. A flawless coat of 2010 Camaro Inferno Orange with Switchblade Silver Metallic rallye stripes was sprayed before copious amounts of BASF Diamont clear added miles of perceived depth.
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With the paint curing, Greulich turned his attention to motorvation. Ron knew he wanted a big block. And he knew it had to be blown. “There’s nothing quite like ‘driving a motor vehicle with glass equipment obstructed’,” he said with a grin. Greulich and friend Dan Ackerman had the 454 iron block punched to 468 cubes before popping in a set of 8:1 Speed Pro pistons hung from a factory crank and rods. ARP bolts were selected to hold the entire assembly together. Pro Comp aluminum heads fitted with Scorpion Racing 1.7 roller rockers were torqued into place, but not before a Herbert Hydraulic roller blower cam and roller lifters were carefully coaxed into position. With the long block complete, it was time for induction. An 8-71 BDS supercharger was topped with a pair of BDS-prepped 750 Holleys. A BDS scoop, Street & Performance aluminum valve covers, and a Milodon seven-quart oil pan were positioned over the engine’s extremities and polished to a consistent sparkle. An MSD Pro Billet distributor, 6 AL ignition box, and heavy duty plug wires were installed to handle sparking chores, while a Holley HP 890 billet electric fuel pump was plumbed to keep the thirsty beast adequately supplied with petrol. Spent fumes rapidly exit the chassis via a set of 2” Hedman headers and a pair of Dynatech split-flow race mufflers.
PLENTY OF POTENT POLISHED POWER Greulich and buddy Dan Ackerman assembled the 468 Rat themselves. The classic 8-71 BDS huffer, twin 750 Holleys, and BDS scoop provide the visual and auditory impact that only a roots blower can.
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NARROWED NINE The Ford rearend had been fitted with Richmond gears, Moser axles, and treated to a radical narrowing job. Brakes are cross-drilled SSBC discs and the trick coilovers are from QA1.
A fortified TH-400 with a Hughes 10” 3000 RPM stall converter handles the shifting duties. Cooling chores are managed by a Performance Rod & Custom polished aluminum double pass radiator with twin Spal HP electric fans. Greulich handled all interior duties himself with the exception of custom black carpeting installed by Chris Urbina at Quality Landau & Upholstery in Tucson. The cage was painted to match the car’s stripes before a pair of Scat Procar Elite 1100 seats were bolted into place. RJS 5-way harnesses insure passengers are not ejected during flight and a dashful of Autometer Ultra Lite gauges help the Camaro’s cockpit occupants apprised of all data.
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SLICK AND TASTY INSIDE AND OUT The clean theme continues into the cockpit, where a pair of Scat seats, RJS harnesses, and a full complement of AutoMeter gauges now reside. The Owner-installed Art Morrison 8-point cage has been painted to match the car’s rallye stripes in Switchblade Silver Metallic.
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A B&M Magnum Grip shifter assists with gear selection, and a full complement of HushMat throughout the doors and interior helps keep down the racket inside. A pair of ElectricLite power windows ad a touch of luxury, but the heater, ashtray, and radio delete in the cockpit put any passenger on notice: this ride is way more muscular than some optionsloaded, fluffy pro touring wagon.
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BUILT NOT BOUGHT Greulich is most proud of the fact that he did most of the work to his ride himself.
Now three years and a mountain of heavily zeroed and comma’d receipts later, Greulich finally has his dream car. Unfortunately, the gorgeous example of pro street style often wanders the Tucson streets as an endangered species of sorts. “There are only a handful of pro street cars in this whole town, and I built three of them,” he lamented. I wouldn’t worry for long, Ron. Once folks get a glimpse of just how wicked your latest pro street creation looks, they’ll be realizing what we at TUBBED have said all along… Yeah, it’s still cool.
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Issue
NEXT
FULL ISSUE COMING SOON! We hope you enjoyed this mini-issue preview. We are working on a full issue coming soon, featuring Gary Buckles’ classic Camaro, tons of pics from this year’s Street Machine Nationals, Legends of Pro Street PRO File with Rocky Robertson, story time with Matt & Debbie Hay, and TONS more! Check our site often to read it as soon as it hits the bandwidth!!
GET YOUR COPY TODAY! Order your copy of Toby Brooks’ new book, Sensory Overload: Cool Builders, Hot Cars, and Wild Times at the Street Machine Nationals. Almost 270 pages crammed full of pictures, stories, and memories of the greatest car show EVER! Just $22 with FREE SHIPPING!! Go to www.streetmachinereunion.com/ sensory-overload and order your copy today!
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