Category Archives: People & Places

Wherever we go, whoever we meet, you’ll probably catch it here.

Stromberg hits Rodders Journal Revival

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So, off we went to the 2014 Rodders Journal VIntage Speed and Custom Car Revival, at the Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore.  For us, the weekend started at the North Baltimore Plaza Hotel for the 55-mile cruise to the quaint town of Havre de Grace. And even better, we caught a ride with our new best buddy Brian Auderer in his awesome green Model A sedan, ‘The Jewel’. What a privilege! After that, the whole weekend was a blur of activity day and night. The Race Course was packed with cars of awesome quality. The hotel car parks and the many off-site events extended the days into the nights. And as ever, we crowd-sourced a whole new bunch of friends. Our pictures are a little random, I’m afraid, and very Stromberg 97-oriented, too. I suspect we were too busy talking to take more (and better) pics. We certainly enjoyed the weekend. Get yourself along next year!.

Racing with Gentlemen

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There’s been so much written already about The Race of Gentlemen (or TROG as it has been labelled) that it seems a little pointless expanding on the actual event here. Suffice to say, Stromberg was well represented in both personnel and product, with so many of the racers running Stromberg 97 carburetors, of course. I guess the big question is whether we believe there is change in the air. Have people (in particular an ever so slightly younger demographic of “traditional” hot rod types) had enough of parked car events and will we see more and more of this kind of trip harking back to ‘fun with cars’ – actually driving the damn things. We’re already climbing hills, racing round circuits, dragging in the dirt and dodging the waves on four wheels – who knows what next? Whatever it is, if it’s even half as good fun as the vibe throughout the weekend at TROG 2015, bring it on!

As ever, thanks to all the great friends we met and made over the weekend. Our pictures are just a rambling pile of different things that caught our eye throughout the weekend. For more of the same, check out the website: www.theraceofgentlemen.com  and book your diary for October 2 – 4 2015. Wildwood, NJ, USA.

Chrome 97s for Kookie car

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kookie kar 1We had an enquiry from someone today who is building a T-bucket inspired by Norm Grabowski’s Kookie car. It reminded us about the time we supplied four new 97s for one of the first Kookie clones – way before we started this blog and well worth a revisit.

This new “Kookie car” clone, owned by Detroit’s Ron Kregoski and built by Reno Rods and Customs in Oklahoma City is a very accurate recreation of the original, built in the 1950’s by actor, artist and hot rod legend Norm Grabowski. Featured in hundreds of magazines and a highlight of the 1950’s television series 77 Sunset Strip, driven by Edd “Kookie” Byrnes, the original Kookie car is one of the best known hot rods of all time.

Running a hopped-up 1952 Cadillac engine with four chrome 97s, Ron’s clone is as accurate as possible to the 50+ year-old hot rod. He contacted Stromberg back in 2008 because our new and improved 97s are faithful in every detail to the original 97s Grabowski bolted to the Caddy’s rare Horne four-carb intake manifold back in the day.

The Genuine Stromberg 97 bowl and airhorn castings, stainless steel linkage and miscellaneous screws and fittings were all shipped to Advanced Plating in Nashville, TN, for chrome plating or polishing, then shipped back to Stromberg for final assembly onto new bases, specially colour matched to the red engine block. The perfectly chromed 97s are an exact copy of the original set-up, and the crowning touch to Kregoski’s Kookie clone.

Looking like it just pulled up from its April, 1957 Car Craft magazine cover shoot, Grabowski said, “It’s the closest clone done yet,” at the 2009 Detroit Autorama in March, where it took 2nd place in the Modified T-Bucket category. Owner Ron Kregoski said, “For Stromberg, Reno Rods and everyone else involved in the build, Norm’s approval is the ultimate accolade”.

 

Strombergs at Pendine !

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DSC_0639Golly, just realised we never posted our pictures from The Second Annual Pendine Sands Amateur Hot Rod Races, hosted by the Vintage Hot Rod Association. Here’s a healthy selection of the pics we (Clive and Rick Pearmain) took. You might notice how many of them are of Stromberg 97s. That’s because there were so many Strombergs at Pendine we couldn’t stop ourselves. It filled us with pride almost as fast as the pub on the quay filled us with Welsh beer. As we drove to the event, we wondered whether this could be the first UK meeting that Americans fly over to be part of, just as so many of us UK folks fly over to US events. And sure enough we met a great couple who had read about it on the interweb literally a few days before, and booked a flight. There they were, hanging out on a beach miles from nowhere, just enjoying the old style hot rods. That’s what the old car hobby does to us.

You won’t be surprised that it’s all happening again next year. Dates will be announced soon. And folks are already retuning and rebuilding looking for an extra few mph. Sand fever! Be there or miss out on one of the best events you’ll ever go to. Which reminds me, BIG thanks to Neil and all the other VHRA (and local) guys who organised, scrutineered, wardened, participated, raced, broke, drove the ambulance and more.

 

The 30,000 mile New 97 !

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GoytWe love a testimonial here at Stromberg. And this is right up there. Stromberg customer Mark Biggin drives his Model AV8 – a lot. In his own words: “I stuck the new 97 on straight from the box then headed off to Pilzen in the Czech Republic (800 miles from his home in the UK) for the Liberation Festival back in 2010. It’s done nigh on 30,000 miles since and I’ve not had to touch it (occasionally adjust the idle speed). Been through two engines, two gearboxes, rear axle overhauls and a new roof mind you!