Top 12 Great Racers Finish on Coker Tire Products!
We are huge supporters of the Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty. This year, the event went from San Rafael, California to Moline, Illinois, using the Lincoln Highway as a guide. It was 2,400 miles of grueling mountains, rough roads and farm lands, but a large percentage of the 109 teams finished the race. In the end, the top 12 finishers in the Great Race were rolling on Coker Tire products. Of course, that includes the winners--G.R. Pike and Bobby Hadskey in their 1916 Hudson, which rolls on Goodrich Silvertown Cord high pressure tires. Second place went to David Reeder and Sawyer Stone in their 1916 Hudson touring car, while third place overall went to Team Coker Tire...Gary and Jean Ann Martin in their 1964 Nova! Moving further back, we saw lots of cars sporting our Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires, including teams such as Jeff and Eric Fredette in their famous flag-waving Ford pickup. The team of Jody Knowles and Beth Gentry debuted a new tire and wheel setup, going to a set of red/chrome Hot Rod Steel wheels and BFGoodrich whitewall radial tires. Throughout the race, the teams rely on their tires for obvious reasons, but tires also play a big role in the way the teams calibrate their speedometer, and calculate corrections on their time. Consistency is the key, and Coker Tire provided exactly that to the Top 12 finishers in this year's Great Race. Check out photos of each car and learn more about their tires below. [products] [caption id="attachment_7818" align="alignleft" width="780"]With a score of 1:02.04, the overall winners of the Great Race were G.R. Pike and Bobby Hadskey in a 1916 Hudson Indy racer. The car was deadly consistent all week, and rolls on Goodrich Silvertown Cord tires. With a score of 1:02.04, the overall winners of the Great Race were G.R. Pike and Bobby Hadskey in a 1916 Hudson Indy racer. The car was deadly consistent all week, and rolls on Goodrich Silvertown Cord tires. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7815" align="alignleft" width="780"]Another 1916 Hudson, and another set of Goodrich Silvertown Cord high pressure tires...this time it's the second place entry of David Reeder and Sawyer Stone. This team actually tied for the winning score, and had to go through two tiebreakers before the final standings were made official. Another 1916 Hudson, and another set of Goodrich Silvertown Cord high pressure tires...this time it's the second place entry of David Reeder and Sawyer Stone. This team actually tied for the winning score, and had to go through two tiebreakers before the final standings were made official.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7806" align="alignleft" width="780"]Gary and Jean Ann Martin represented Coker Tire in this year's Great Race and they did exceptionally well! They led the event until the final two days of competition, but finished strong by winning the Expert division and placing third overall. Their 1964 Nova is rolling on Chevy Rallye wheels and BFGoodrich Silvertown radial redline tires! Gary and Jean Ann Martin represented Coker Tire in this year's Great Race and they did exceptionally well! They led the event until the final two days of competition, but finished strong by winning the Expert division and placing third overall. Their 1964 Nova is rolling on Chevy Rallye wheels and BFGoodrich Silvertown radial redline tires![/caption] [caption id="attachment_7813" align="alignleft" width="780"]Fourth place went to Howard and Douglas Sharp, from Fairport, New York in a 1916 Hudson Hill Climber. The open-wheel Hudson rolls on Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires. Fourth place went to Howard and Douglas Sharp, from Fairport, New York in a 1916 Hudson Hill Climber. The open-wheel Hudson rolls on Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7816" align="alignleft" width="780"]Jody Knowles and Beth Gentry carve their way through the Badlands National Park, on their way to a fifth place overall finish. The 1932 Ford Cabriolet is a favorite in the Great Race, and rolls on a new tire/wheel combo, which consists of BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall radials and Hot Rod Steel wheels. Jody Knowles and Beth Gentry carve their way through the Badlands National Park, on their way to a fifth place overall finish. The 1932 Ford Cabriolet is a favorite in the Great Race, and rolls on a new tire/wheel combo, which consists of BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall radials and Hot Rod Steel wheels. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7809" align="alignleft" width="780"]Rolling on a set of Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires and original 1935 Ford wire wheels, Bryan and Ian Deering's 1935 Ford coupe is a previous Great Race winner under its previous ownership. The Deering boys came home with a sixth place overall finish, which was good enough to take home the Sportsman division win! Rolling on a set of Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires and original 1935 Ford wire wheels, Bryan and Ian Deering's 1935 Ford coupe is a previous Great Race winner under its previous ownership. The Deering boys came home with a sixth place overall finish, which was good enough to take home the Sportsman division win![/caption] [caption id="attachment_7812" align="alignleft" width="780"]Curtis Graf has competed in every Great Race, since the very first one in 1983. This year, he drove his 1932 Ford highboy roadster, which rolls on custom wire wheels and Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires. The longtime Great Racer, along with his seasoned navigator, Wayne Bell finished seventh overall. Curtis Graf has competed in every Great Race, since the very first one in 1983. This year, he drove his 1932 Ford highboy roadster, which rolls on custom wire wheels and Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires. The longtime Great Racer, along with his seasoned navigator, Wayne Bell finished seventh overall. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7814" align="alignleft" width="780"]Louise Feeney drives this 1936 Ford Police Car on the Great Race, while her husband Jim handles the navigation. The popular Ford rides on our Coker Classic 16-inch radial tires. Louise Feeney drives this 1936 Ford Police Car on the Great Race, while her husband Jim handles the navigation. The popular Ford rides on our Coker Classic 16-inch radial tires and the husband and wife team placed eighth overall. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7811" align="alignleft" width="780"]Now here's a crowd pleaser! This Ford pickup is known for its hard charging turns and American flag hanging off the back. The Flathead-powered truck rides on Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires, and the father-and-son team finished ninth overall. Now here's a crowd pleaser! This Ford pickup is known for its hard charging turns and American flag hanging off the back. The Flathead-powered truck rides on Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires, and the father-and-son team finished ninth overall. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7807" align="alignleft" width="780"]Another flag-waving Ford is this Produce truck, driven by Dan and Brad Epple. With a tenth place overall finish (and second place in Sportsman), the truck rolls on Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires. Another flag-waving Ford is this Produce truck, driven by Dan and Brad Epple. With a tenth place overall finish (and second place in Sportsman), the truck rolls on Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7817" align="alignleft" width="780"]Scoring eleventh place overall, the team of Steve, Janet and Allison Hedke motored across America in their 1964 Studebaker, which rolls on super cool Studebaker reproduction wheels and BFGoodrich Silvertown radial redline tires. Scoring eleventh place overall, the team of Steve, Janet and Allison Hedke motored across America in their 1964 Studebaker, which rolls on super cool Studebaker reproduction wheels and BFGoodrich Silvertown radial redline tires. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_7810" align="alignleft" width="780"]Rounding out the Top 12 is the team of Bill and Carolyn Croker in their 1936 Packard. The elegant coupe rolls on Coker Classic 16-inch whitewall radial tires. Rounding out the Top 12 is the team of Bill and Carolyn Croker in their 1936 Packard. The elegant coupe rolls on Coker Classic 16-inch whitewall radial tires. [/caption]