2023 International Speedsters Trials and Reunion
Hosted by the Museum of American Speed
Thursday morning, Chadwick Azevedo and son, from Henderson, TN lead the pack to Wilber, NE
in their open body vintage Speedster. Reunion Rewind!
Try to imagine life a century ago. Try it! You’d have to slow down, and I mean slow WAY down. Forget the cell phone, no online groceries, and the weekly News only came on Sundays or over the radio if you were lucky. It’s hard to imagine, right? Then imagine doubling or even tripling your travel time anywhere. It’s humbling.
Thursday also brought a traditional road tour 180-miles through rural Nebraska stopping in Wilber, NE on the
way to Rock Creek Station for lunch. By the early 1930s there were some 15-million Model Ts and 4-million Model As in production and the world was eager to go faster. Aftermarket manufacturers like Roof, Rajo, Frontenac, and others were already producing speed equipment for the Model T & A 4-bangers for one reason – to speed things up. The International Speedsters Trials and Reunion Event was created to honor that spirit.
Wednesday, June 21st kicked-off the 10th Reunion year for the Museum of American Speed’s biennial Speedsters Reunion. Like many Museum events, this event was created to simply experience the history and ingenuity of the automobile. Today, with the help of many passionate volunteers and staff, the Museum of American Speed is the only organization who hosts a recurring 4-day event specifically celebrating the Model T and Model A era Speedster. Many of the 140 plus registrants attended the road tour on Thursday concluding with a traditional
group photo on the Speedway Motors' Campus. Participants traveled from across the nation, over 30 States represented, with others coming from as far as New Zealand and Canada to attend the Reunion. The event holds a traditional Road Tour, Hill Climb Competition, optional Dyno runs, tech seminars, and open touring through Speedway Motors and Museum facilities.
Special guests, Ed and Karen Archer drove their open body Speedster from California to join the event this year. “It took us 4 days in total, we slowed down because of some bad weather, but we are delighted to be back!” Ed told us. Ed and Karen are past inductees into the MTFCA Speedsters and Racer Hall of Fame, which is located within the Museum of American Speed.
Hill Climbing!
Acclaimed driver & builder, Seth Hammond came with a beautifully crafted era-inspired Speedster running a rare DOHC McDowell conversion. Hammond brought lifelong friends, Chip Foose who assisted with the paint and builder Smokey Allman who helped with the engine assembly. Hammond took home first place in the Historic Overhead Class.
Many excited enthusiasts watched as racers battled for their best time up the hill all day Friday. Ed Iskenderian joined us for his 2nd consecutive year spectating, signing autographs, talking with fans, and experiencing the joy of Speedsters! ISKY will be celebrating 102 years this coming July!
Over 20 unique Speedster classes competed near Nine Mile Prairie in Lincoln, Neb. The 2023 event concluded with a free Cars and Coffee event on Saturday, touring, seminars, dyno runs, and an awards banquet dinner for all participants.
Saturday evening, Don Krout was awarded King of the Hill with the best time of 8.366 seconds @ 66.37mph as well as taking home first in his class with his 1915 Model T-bodied Speedster powered by a Model B engine with an OHV conversion.
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