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There was one really great thing about NSRA’s 31st Rocky Mountain Nats in Pueblo, ColoRODo, which was held this past June 26-28, and that was the variety! Used to be you went to Pueblo for the rods, ‘32 Fords (and other square-bodied cars) being the dominant rod there for many, many years.
While there’s still plenty of them in attendance, in the last 10 or so years, rods of every description have slowly been giving way to 50s-60s cars. Within the last 4-5 years, musclecars have been the vehicle of prominence. This year was no exception, there were lots of muscle cars; Chevelles and big Impalas being the most popular, altho Camaros far outshine other Chevys. GTOs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and Mopars also had a strong presence.
For example, Dan Jetter, (the author’s brother) decided to show off his 1964 Impala Super Sport since big 60s cars are nowadays desirable vehicles. You can read more about this contemporary kustom in the spotlights section below.
A Full-On Weekend Party
The NSRA Rocky Mountain Nats began on Thursday with the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce hosting the food and drink for early arrivals at the Pueblo Reservoir – about 800 people showed up for the evening. Friday morning it was the parade thru downtown Pueblo and the 100 car limit was maxed out. The parade showed off lots of nice cars for those sitting along the route on the way to the fairgrounds. If the parade goers didn’t get enough of cruising the Main Street downtown, then they could cruise the fairgrounds street.
One other nice thing about the Pueblo fairgrounds is the “cruising” lane all the way around the grounds. Even tho it’s one way circling the grounds, it’s still a great time cruising slowly, showing off your car (or showing off your air conditioning working with all the windows rolled up to keep out the 95-100 degree temps!).
The Nats event is known for its swap meet. The fairgrounds has an area just west of the parking lots and that’s where the huge swap meet happens. Most participants hit the meet first right after parking their car. Nearly every person that hits the swap meet looks for that special dry, no-rust vehicle southern ColoRODo is known for. Of course, body parts are in the same condition as well as chrome trim; it’s a veritable feast!
Just a few of the vendors and one very well built Studey for sale in the swap meet.
Friday, the grounds fill fast after the gate is opened and cars pour in during the day. Friday evening The Atomic Fireballs played in the bandshell while most participants lazed on the grass listening. Those that didn’t cruised the loop much to the delight and approval of those few lawn chair pilots that held up scorecards showing 1 to 10 points for each vehicle that passed.
Same Place, Same Time
For the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nats to be held in the same spot for 31 years is a tribute to the City of Pueblo and to NSRA for not changing a successful venue. Over the years, the city has updated and improved the grounds with more areas finished off and opened up for parking. For the last few years, the grassy area with large shade trees on the north side of the main street has been real popular. This area fills up on Saturday as people prefer to park their cars on the cool grass and put up canopies alongside their cars. School buses make cool rods, there were two at this year's event.
Of course, Saturday at any rod run is always the big day, and the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nats is no different. The tally this year: just short of 2000 rods, classics, kustoms, musclecars, trucks, a couple of “school buses” and a few “rat rods” showed up. The grounds were packed wall to wall (not kidding about the walls – the fairgrounds are surrounded by 10 foot high walls), but cruising the loop and looking at cars all day long doesn’t get any better!
Needless to say, Saturday evening is always the best, but why? The Dr. Fine Band performed in the bandshell and the cruising loop was nearly bumper to bumper. Fortunately, the summer evenings in Pueblo are wonderfully cool and NSRA doesn’t close the grounds until 11:00 PM. Variety is the spice of life, and there was plenty at Pueblo.
Sunday, the award winners were displayed in the huge lot next to the bandshell for all to see before the 2:00 awards ceremony. About 40 awards are handed out in front of the large audience. At the end of the awards, the cash drawings are held and every participant in the audience certainly hopes to be one of the three $3000 winners.
This year the cash went to Eugene Quintana of Colorado Springs, CO. Jerry Dowd of Pueblo West won one and the third $3000 cash prize went to David Fern of Pueblo. The City of Pueblo also donates one free room for the weekend to some lucky participant, this year it was won by a man from North Carolina (sorry, we didn’t get a name), for next summer’s 32nd NSRA event. Name it, it was probably there.
Speaking of next year, make your plans now to attend one of ColoRODO’s premier events- NSRA’s Rocky Mountain Nats, always held the third weekend of June. Pueblo has plenty of new motels so finding a room is not the problem it used to be.
The SPOTLIGHT on a few Rocky Mountains Nats vehicles:
Dan Jetter’s ’64 Impala Super Sport
Sixties cars were not big when Dan bought this Chevy Impala back in 1986 in Aurora, ColoRODo. Dan’s initial plans were to restore it but brother Roger asked, “Why do that? Let’s do something different.” After driving it for four years with a mismatched front clip, some time in 1990, they pulled the 327ci engine and overhauled it. Body work commenced after that.
Both brothers were determined to make a contemporary kustom out of a car few thought would look good as a kustom. The grille was the first thing modified. 3/8-inch solid bars make up the full length grille after the headlights were moved back 3 inches.
Dan's '64 Impala still looks good despite its paint and interior being 22 years old.
A ’59 Chev gave up its front bumper and was narrowed but the ’59 Chevy lower pan was kept and the park lights were tunneled. Around back, two ’72 Maverick bumpers were used (widened) and the ends modified to flow up into the stock Impala trunk surround.
Several Chevettes “donated” their taillight lenses and a pan was built below the bumper to house the license plate. The interior was basically left alone other than reupholstered in two tones of blue fabric and dark blue carpet. An Olds tilt/tele column/wheel add to the comfort.
Dan chose 1992 Saturn Blue Poly paint to cover the car. Hard to believe the BC/CC paint on the car is 22 years old – a testament to garaging it. Since its finish in 1993, Dan’s put over 54,000 miles on the car.
Bob & Nancy Flanigan’s Survivor ‘29 Ford
Bob & Nancy’s ‘29 Ford roadster has been around for many years. It was originally built in Florida way back in 1963 and eventually made its way to Denver, ColoRODo, thru a couple of owners. Throughout those years it’s been redone twice, but each time it was, it remained yellow in color. Bob said he has no reason to change it now. The black scallops have been on the car for four years and certainly sets off the yellow paint.
One fine '29 roadster. Doesn't get any cooler than cruising around in a topless roadster.
The interior is done in black Marine Naugahyde and black carpet while the engine is the trusty ’49-’53 Ford flathead, sitting between ’32 Ford rails. The Lake-style headers add a taste of speed to the look. A ’39 Ford toploader transmission connects to a Halibrand quick-change rear which in turn twist the Coker whitewalls on the Olds hubcapped steel wheels.
Up front, the dropped axle is stock, hence no reason to split the wishbones. A faux Moon tank sits in front of the ’32 grille shell along with a pair of Guide headlights. Bob & Nancy usually put about 2000 miles a year in the car around Denver, ColoRODo on short trips, without a top.
Dave Harft’s ’67 Rambler American
Dave built this Rambler in Arvada, ColoRODo, in order to have “something different.” The car is a 1967 Rambler American 1967 two door hardtop; not your ordinary car to build. When asked about the car and how he came to use an AMC car, he said “I’ve never had so many people want to know about this Rambler (and shoot pictures of it) than any other car I’ve owned before. I’ve built some very nice Pro-street cars with shiny paint, but the flat black on this car seems to draw ‘em in.”
'Gasser style is reminiscent of the old days of drag racing
The hoodless gasser sports a 350ci Chevy with dual fours on a riser, plenty enough to make people stare as it cruises by. Inside, a removable steering wheel allows access to the red and black vinyl upholstered buckets and a B&M shifter operates the Turbo 350 tranny.
A full NHRA-legal roll cage is present along with the requisite tach on the dash. A moon tank leads the way and the car rolls on Rocket spoked wheels and painted steel rims out back. The car took Dave seven months to build and he says he’s having a blast driving it.
