Record Turnout at the 2016 Tri-Five Nationals!
August 15, 2016
After last year's incredible turnout, we didn't think it could get any bigger, but the 2016 Tri-Five Nationals was absolutely the biggest and greatest Tri-Five event ever! A total of 2,200 Tri-Fives flooded Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and we noticed a tremendous amount of cars and trucks rolling on our products. Restored original cars, updated drivers, gassers, customs and more were spotted rolling around the property with a great mix of original style bias ply tires and modern whitewall radial tires. Tri-Five guys are definitely one of our most loyal group of customers, and we confirmed it this past weekend. In addition to our booth display, we participated in the "Donuts & Drive" portion of the event, where Tri-Five enthusiasts gathered at various starting points and made the trek to Bowling Green together. We had a great turnout of cars show up at our place for donuts and coffee before hitting the road mid-morning on Thursday. At the show, we were also part of the Celebration of 60 Years of the 1956 Chevy, with an outstanding display of original 1956 Chevys in front of our display.
The show grew in terms of car count, but it also grew in other areas, such as the parts vendors, swap meet and spectator count. The place was packed all weekend long, and the crew at the Tri-Five Nationals had a great selection of awards for the top Tri-Five's in attendance. On Friday, the field of 2,200 cars was narrowed down to the Top 25, and then the Top 5 was selected from that bunch on Saturday. To our delight, the Top 25 had a few cars rolling on our products, and we were even more excited to see that one of those cars was selected for the Top 5, among four radically customized Tri-Fives.
[caption id="attachment_7869" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Gassers are a HUGE part of the Tri-Five Nationals. We like this sky-high '57 Chevy rolling on a set of our wide whitewall tires![/caption]
The Top 5 winner and winner of the Coker Tire "Choice Tri-Five" award was Patrick Knight from Louisville, Kentucky. His Sierra Gold 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible was immaculate, and we weren't the only ones that said that his car was one of the finest Tri-Five Chevy restorations ever built. The fuel injected convertible has every option that Chevrolet offered, and it even has the promotional "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" horn. Oh, and the tires? They're Firestone 7.50-14 whitewall tires, mounted to the original 14-inch steel wheels.
[caption id="attachment_7870" align="alignleft" width="780"]
The drag racing portion of the Tri-Five Nationals offers fun runs, 200-mph exhibition passes and tough competition for the serious racers. Beech Bend Raceway Park is the perfect venue for this event![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7864" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Thursday morning, we offered free donuts and coffee to any of the Tri-Five Nationals attendees who wanted to stop by our place on the way to Bowling Green. We had a great turnout and enjoyed showing them around our facility.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7863" align="alignleft" width="780"]
After a brief tour and all the donuts we could stand, we hit the road. It is about a three-hour drive to Bowling Green, Kentucky, so we arrived in the early afternoon. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7865" align="alignleft" width="780"]
All the way from central Florida, this '55 Chevy 150 sits just right and has a hopped-up inline-six under the hood. Too cool![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7867" align="alignleft" width="780"]
The host hotel for the Tri-Five Nationals was rockin' all weekend long, but the biggest party was Thursday evening. Free food, a killer concert and hundreds of Tri-Fives made it one of the coolest aspects of the event. And there MAY have been a few burnouts...[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7871" align="alignleft" width="780"]
The Tri-Five Nationals is open to ANY Chevrolet model from 1955, 1956 or 1957, and that includes Corvettes! This beautiful 1957 Corvette rolls on a set of our US Royal 6.70-15 whitewall tires. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7875" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Not all of the cars in attendance were restored to perfection. We liked the patina and the slammed stance on this '57 Chevy four-door station wagon. It's rolling on Firestone wide whites. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7872" align="alignleft" width="780"]
It's hard to beat the classic appearance of a nicely restored 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. This two-door hardtop is sporting tons of chrome, fender skirts, and of course, a set of our whitewall radial tires. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7877" align="alignleft" width="780"]
The action on the track was HOT, and we mean HOT! Even with temperatures in the 90's all weekend, the racers had no problem hooking up on the historic quarter mile track. Wheelstands were quite common out of this pair of Tri-Fives, which were part of the Exhibition class. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7876" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Ok, so this isn't a REAL 1957 Chevrolet, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. This blown alcohol nostalgia funny car made several exhibition passes, dipping into the 6's at nearly 200 miles per hour. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7882" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Not ALL gassers or nostalgia drag cars had straight axles up front with a crazy high stance. This '55 Chevy is a very good representation of what drag racing in the mid-60s looked like. No front bumper, mis-matched wheels, cheater slicks and a fully loaded small block under the hood. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7885" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Now this is just too cool for words. Ramp truck plus sedan delivery drag car equals one crowd pleasing combination.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7880" align="alignleft" width="780"]
Here's Patrick Knight with his Coker Tire "Choice Tri-Five" award. His Sierra Gold '57 Chevy Bel Air convertible is stunning, and it's rolling on wide whitewall Firestone bias ply tires. [/caption]
Here are more photos of some of our favorite cars from the Tri-Five Nationals. Be sure to keep an eye on www.trifivenationals.com for updates on upcoming events and put this on your to-do list for 2017!
Gassers are a HUGE part of the Tri-Five Nationals. We like this sky-high '57 Chevy rolling on a set of our wide whitewall tires![/caption]
The Top 5 winner and winner of the Coker Tire "Choice Tri-Five" award was Patrick Knight from Louisville, Kentucky. His Sierra Gold 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible was immaculate, and we weren't the only ones that said that his car was one of the finest Tri-Five Chevy restorations ever built. The fuel injected convertible has every option that Chevrolet offered, and it even has the promotional "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" horn. Oh, and the tires? They're Firestone 7.50-14 whitewall tires, mounted to the original 14-inch steel wheels.
[caption id="attachment_7870" align="alignleft" width="780"] The drag racing portion of the Tri-Five Nationals offers fun runs, 200-mph exhibition passes and tough competition for the serious racers. Beech Bend Raceway Park is the perfect venue for this event![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7864" align="alignleft" width="780"] Thursday morning, we offered free donuts and coffee to any of the Tri-Five Nationals attendees who wanted to stop by our place on the way to Bowling Green. We had a great turnout and enjoyed showing them around our facility.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7863" align="alignleft" width="780"] After a brief tour and all the donuts we could stand, we hit the road. It is about a three-hour drive to Bowling Green, Kentucky, so we arrived in the early afternoon. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7865" align="alignleft" width="780"] All the way from central Florida, this '55 Chevy 150 sits just right and has a hopped-up inline-six under the hood. Too cool![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7867" align="alignleft" width="780"] The host hotel for the Tri-Five Nationals was rockin' all weekend long, but the biggest party was Thursday evening. Free food, a killer concert and hundreds of Tri-Fives made it one of the coolest aspects of the event. And there MAY have been a few burnouts...[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7871" align="alignleft" width="780"] The Tri-Five Nationals is open to ANY Chevrolet model from 1955, 1956 or 1957, and that includes Corvettes! This beautiful 1957 Corvette rolls on a set of our US Royal 6.70-15 whitewall tires. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7875" align="alignleft" width="780"] Not all of the cars in attendance were restored to perfection. We liked the patina and the slammed stance on this '57 Chevy four-door station wagon. It's rolling on Firestone wide whites. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7872" align="alignleft" width="780"] It's hard to beat the classic appearance of a nicely restored 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. This two-door hardtop is sporting tons of chrome, fender skirts, and of course, a set of our whitewall radial tires. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7877" align="alignleft" width="780"] The action on the track was HOT, and we mean HOT! Even with temperatures in the 90's all weekend, the racers had no problem hooking up on the historic quarter mile track. Wheelstands were quite common out of this pair of Tri-Fives, which were part of the Exhibition class. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7876" align="alignleft" width="780"] Ok, so this isn't a REAL 1957 Chevrolet, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. This blown alcohol nostalgia funny car made several exhibition passes, dipping into the 6's at nearly 200 miles per hour. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7882" align="alignleft" width="780"] Not ALL gassers or nostalgia drag cars had straight axles up front with a crazy high stance. This '55 Chevy is a very good representation of what drag racing in the mid-60s looked like. No front bumper, mis-matched wheels, cheater slicks and a fully loaded small block under the hood. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7885" align="alignleft" width="780"] Now this is just too cool for words. Ramp truck plus sedan delivery drag car equals one crowd pleasing combination.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_7880" align="alignleft" width="780"] Here's Patrick Knight with his Coker Tire "Choice Tri-Five" award. His Sierra Gold '57 Chevy Bel Air convertible is stunning, and it's rolling on wide whitewall Firestone bias ply tires. [/caption]
Here are more photos of some of our favorite cars from the Tri-Five Nationals. Be sure to keep an eye on www.trifivenationals.com for updates on upcoming events and put this on your to-do list for 2017!