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.
These are some of the NHRA...
These are some of the NHRA awards John Force has collected in his illustrious career.
Casey Scranton's '04 F-150...
Casey Scranton's '04 F-150 looks like it lost a game of chicken with a surgically precise road paver with that asphalt-black hood, roof, and lid, indistinguishable from the road the truck is parked on. That grimacing grille looks like it'll eat your lunch.
Smile for the camera. This...
Smile for the camera. This '03 Lightning, owned by Dave Burkhart of Anaheim Hills, California, is taking a rain bath as it shows off its underhood mods.
The only bling-bling that's...
The only bling-bling that's apparent on Lynn Guthrie's '01 Lightning are the Axis rims. Look closely, and you might spot stealth-blue flames licking at the finish of the Santa Clarita resident's truck.
There is a nice mack daddy...
There is a nice mack daddy lift on this '02 F-150 from Tini Walters of Yorba Linda, California. This lift is perfect for plowing through mudholes -- and car-show puddles.
Wearing 17-inch billet wheels,...
Wearing 17-inch billet wheels, abundant performance and polish under the hood, and leather upholstery inside, this maroon Ford Effie's finished for show and go.
A '35 Dodge pickup is a rare...
A '35 Dodge pickup is a rare sight to see. Jim Thompson, of Yorba Linda, California, owns the excellent orange-flambeau example.
Screaming yellow paintwork...
Screaming yellow paintwork looks perfect on Fat Jack Enterprises' big window '56 F-100.
Showgoers were treated to...
Showgoers were treated to a mini tour of the John Force Racing shop. Stacked to the heavens, some of his funny cars await their next quarter-mile sprint.
John Dolen, of Trabuco Canyon,...
John Dolen, of Trabuco Canyon, California, lays claim to this tasty grape '37 Dodge pickup.
Have you ever craved owning...
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.
Plenty of crowd-pleasers braved...
Plenty of crowd-pleasers braved the misty weather, including Rich Miller's ripe orange '56 Ford Effie. Rich resides in Yorba Linda, California. Motivation comes from a Blue Oval powerplant.