Street Machine Nationals Blast off in Pomona

The third annual running of the SMN West breaks all records with an excellent turn out and competitive events

Words And Photos: Cam Benty

The legendary Street Machine Nationals fired up 2016 on the right foot with some excellent quality cars and fun racing events including the all-new Street Machine Challenge. For two days in March, an impressive turn out of cars and their proud owners packed the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds with cool muscle cars of all generations and amazing street rods of all styles and eras.

The Street Machine Nationals is part of a four-event car show allowing folks to enjoy the fun of the legendary Street Machine Nationals that cast the die for future automotive car events back in the 1980’s. Following the kick off in Pomona, subsequent events will be held in DuQuoin, Illinois, St. Paul, Minnesota and Springfield, Missouri. For more information go to www.streetmachinenationals.net.

Highlighting each of these shows is the Street Machine Challenge where participants can compete for special awards. The winner is chosen based on their performances in the Autocross course, the 150-foot Stop Box course and – as a tire breaker – the DynoJet chassis dyno.

For additional fun, a drifting exhibition on the autocross course between a father/son was a huge hit for the large crowd in attendance. On both Saturday and Sunday the talented driving team drove their modified S10 Chevy truck and ’68 Camaro around the course smoking the tires and sliding around each other with impressive skill.

The Coker Tire-sponsored burn out contest was well attended and featured an odd cross section of unique machines including a Dodge Tradesman “Ice Cream” truck, a specially constructed, burnout-ready, ‘S10 Chevy and a crazy flamed 500cid Ford Mustang. In the end it was the Mustang that took top honors in a crowd-pick trophy win.

In the end, the SMN continued to build on a great legacy of cool car events. With great weather, a packed house of enthusiastic fans, excellent quality cars and lots of amazing things to see, it was a truly a great “third times a charm” car event.

See you next year!