By D. Brian Smith
photographer: D. Brian Smith, Rich Boyd
Have you ever craved owning a chopped and channeled '33 Ford hot rod hauler? We'd guess Wiley Miller, of Yorba Linda, California, used to, until he built his.
A must attend show 'n' shine at the end of the car and truck show season is the John Force Holiday Car Show, benefiting the California Highway Patrol's CHiPs for Kids Christmas toy drive. As sure as the Menorah is lit, or Santa is making his rounds, showgoers were in awe, seeing more than 500 cool custom, vintage, and new trucks, musclecars, street rods, hot rods, motorcycles, and race cars at John Force Racing in Yorba Linda, California. This year's show was held on a Sunday in early December. The admittance fee is always the same, an unwrapped toy worth $10 or more. The California Highway Patrol wraps these gifts and gives them to children who otherwise wouldn't receive any gifts over the holiday season.
As if the awesome custom machines weren't enough of a draw, there were some of drag racing's top drivers on hand signing autographs and having their photographs taken with admiring fans. Racers and celebrities included Gary Densham, Gary Scelzi, Del Worsham, Jerry Toliver, Ron Capps, Cory McClenathan, Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen, and the sport's most honored driver, 12-time NHRA POWERade Series Champion and event host, John Force.
Guests could also take a tour of the John Force Racing facility and see the three fastest funny cars on the planet. If they worked up an appetite, they were welcome to grab some grub from BBQ and food vendors while listening to live music from the '50s and '60s. Those attendees who needed to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season could browse and buy the latest in automobilia from the John Force RaceStation Store.
For the many gearheads who read our magazine, the annual John Force Holiday Car Show benefiting the California Highway Patrol's "CHiPs for Kids" Christmas toy drive, is an excellent opportunity to get into the winter holiday spirit in a supercharged way. If you missed this year's event, check out some of the show's many highlights in living color here. Come next November, make sure you visit www.johnforceracing.com for details of the early December 2004 event and come check it out. You'll be glad you did.