Great weather    A great turn-out of race fans       Lots of beautiful cars                                         What a day it was!

                   February 13, 2009

The reunion took place on the day of the Richie Evans Memorial 100 that takes place every year during New Smyrna's World Series. 

As it turned out, the race itself was outstanding!  Ted Christopher and Ronnie Silk battled back and forth in front of a close pack of top cars.  They swapped the lead at least 10 times in the closing laps.  In the minds of many fans, it was the best modified race they had ever seen.

Gene Vitiello raced his other vintage modified earlier in the week, but had engine problems while leading.  He arrived at the reunion with his back-up car!

Former New York car owner and engine builder Carl Bates and his wife Joyce were back in 2009.

Barry Roy's street legal coupe.

When is the last time you saw a Hudson Terraplane?  Gordy Bird brought his racing version back in 2009.

J.T. Dunn's 1937 Plymouth.

John Fodrowski's 1937 Ford was formerly driven by Cotton Owens.

Jim and Virginia Higgenbothem have been great supporters of this event.  Once again, they towed in from Ocala with their Busch series car.

One of Florida's late model hot-shoes from a few years ago, Jim "Freight Train" Fenton and family checked out the party.

Here is Titusville's Larry Larivee and his award-winning, Bob Polverari tribute car.

Some of the fans brought great cars too!

You can't have a vintage race without Rhoda Blackie!

Gordy Wood brought his Chevy 6 all the way from Weedsport, NY.

Many thanks to George Pavlisko for his year-round support of the modified reunion, and for bringing this cool car to the party.  Geoge also ran the raffle of the autographed helmet...a real keepsake!

I missed gettinga picture of the Z-8 on the day of the event.

Shirley and Ken Morden were on hand with their sharp looking 1936 Chevy coach.  The Morden's were in town from their home in Ontario Canada.

Bob Williams was on hand, but I didn't get his picture until two weeks later at the Zephyrhills vintage meet.

John McGarvey's Richie Evans tribute modified.

Speedway owner Robert Hart (left) catches up with Florida late model veteran Buddy Griffin.

Doug "The Wild Child" Dunham, Carol Wicks, Jerry Binner and George Pavlisko all mug it up for the camera!

Richard Bowser towed up from South Florida with his great looking coupe.

Sprint driver Gary Gimmler, the Wild Child, and Gary's parents all enjoyed the great day.

I know it is not a racer, but Tommy Mottle's "Packedermus Erectus" has been hauling racecars around Florida for countless years. It is still in use transporting the recreated Buddy Griffin late model.

A picture with "Wiley" Will Cagle!  No wonder Jerry Binner puts so much effort into this event!

New Yorker Mark Reardon brought his dirt coupe.

This is the Tommy Elliott tribute car owned by John Clark.

Duane Yoder once again brought this show-stopper: a restored Richie Evans Cavalier.  The track asked Duane to pace the 100 lapper with it.