Buckeye Beauties‑For three days, a bevy of Blue Oval machines dazzled at Summit Motorsports Park
Written by Steve Turner
Photography by the author and Evan J. Smith
A cool breeze passed over Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, as row after row of beautiful Blue Oval rides pulled into the UPR Products Car Show at the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming Presented by Anderson Composites. Carrying the momentum started by last year’s epic event, the 2024 installment drew a broad range of Ford rides to the show, which ran for three days from Friday through Sunday.
In addition to the traditional show categories, the Homecoming show also featured a range of special reunion classes dedicated to Cobra Jets, Fox Mustangs, Saleens, Shelbys, and SVT vehicles, which celebrated significant anniversaries this year. There was also the bonus of the GeoCorp Mustang Anniversary Museum, which offered a robust selection of rare and immaculate Fords for showgoers to enjoy between rounds of racing on the drag strip.
With so many fabulous Fords on display, it was a challenge for the North Coast Mustang Club of Ohio, which served as the host club for the show, to decide which cars rose above the rest to earn awards each day. The club was up to the task, and your author also chipped in with a couple of selections. There were also a few unique awards for the Godzilla Invasion show cars, but we’ll cover those elsewhere in this issue. For now, let’s look back on some highlights from the 2024 UPR Products Car Show at America’s Racetrack.
Best of Show
One car stood out head and shoulders above the rest, as Paul Stegall Sr.’s 1965 Mustang racked up the Director’s Choice Best of Show award on Friday and the Director’s Choice Best of Show, Conservative award on Saturday. When all was said and done on Sunday, it also scored the overall Best of Show honors. The immaculate, blue and white classic looks great inside and out. Powered by a nicely detailed small-block underhood, it needed that horsepower to gallop away with all the hardware from the weekend.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jeff and Debbie Nimon’s 2014 Mustang is anything but conservative. His 2014 Mustang Hellhorse is modded to the hilt including plenty of custom airbrushing by AeroGrafix in Elyria, Ohio. This wild horse stampeded home with the Directors Choice Modified award at the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming Presented by Anderson Composites.
While there were special awards just for vehicles built by Ford’s long-defunct Special Vehicle Team, that didn’t prevent some of these rides from rising to take home overall honors as well. A case in point was Aaron & Teresa Gardner-1994 SVT Mustang Cobra, which earned the Best Engine in the UPR Products Car Show. The couple’s 5.0-liter powerplant benefits from a nice balance of red paint and shiny chrome, which no doubt helped seal the deal.
Proving the SVT machines meant business at the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming Presented by Anderson Composites, Mike Guerassimoff’s 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra didn’t just strike gold with the Best SVT honors. His ride also earned the overall Best Interior accolades at Summit Motorsports Park. With chrome wheels and a chrome cold-air intake, the Fox Cobra wasn’t too far from stock.
Likewise, classic Mustangs had a strong showing at America’s Racetrack, and among the standouts is owned by Dennis and Teresa Mitchell. Not a pure stocker but most certainly a stunning example, his 1964 ½ Mustang, which nabbed the Best Early Mustang award, is an understated restomod that sports a Holley Sniper EFI conversion, and an AOD automatic transmission.
From the first generation to the seventh generation, all the eras of Mustang were represented on the UPR Products Car Show field as the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals series celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Mustang. On the modern end of the spectrum, Mike Magri’s Whipple-boosted 2015 Mustang Editor’s Choice Best Modern award at Summit Motorsports Park.
Among the special categories was on grouping dedicated to Cobra Jet-powered machines. It was Terry and Brandon Wilburn’s Le Mans Blue 1968 Mustang Fastback that muscled to the Best Cobra Jet honors at the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming Presented by Anderson Composites. Its 428 Cobra Jet is augmented by a Holley carburetor and Hooker long-tube headers. It channels power the 3.50-geared 9-inch rearend via a Toploader four-speed manual transmission.
There were some nice pickups on the property as well, but it was Mike Gosnell’s 1967 F-100 that hauled away the Best Ford Truck hardware from Summit Motorsports Park. His truck is motivated by a .030-over 390 FE backed by a C8 automatic
In keeping with the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals’ season-long celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang, there was a Fox-Body Reunion class at the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming Presented by Anderson Composites. Taking top honors in that class with the Best Fox Mustang award was Joe Kidder’s lightly modified 1990 Mustang.
Plenty of classics took home awards from the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming Presented by Anderson Composites, but Ralph Ferry's 2022 Shelby GT500 doubled up by collecting the Best Modern Mustang and Best Shelby hardware at Summit Motorsports Park.
Further representing the beloved ’79-’93 Mustang crowd, Frederick Schultz’s 1988 Mustang scored the Best Race Car Pro Street award in Norwalk.
In the specialty category dedicated to Saleen machines, it wasn’t a pony car that ran away with the top honors. Instead, it was Gary Wilner's 2007 Saleen Truck that earned the Best Saleen award.
2024 NMRA OH Car Show Awards
FRIDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS
1. Jack Bakewell Milan, OH 1962 Galaxie
2. David Robinson Bellevue, OH 1955 Fairlane
3. Brenda Mills Collins, OH 1979 F-100
4. Dennis Sayre Willard, OH 1964 Fairlane
5. Dennis Sayre Willard, OH 1969 Mustang
6. Mike & Kim Guerassimoff Erie, PA 1993 Mustang
7. Cole Wendel Portland, IN 1984 Mustang
8. Dennis Bregitzer Maple Heights, OH 1968 Torino
9. Lou Falzarano Parma, OH 1966 Mustang
10. Frederick Schultz Bradner, OH 1988 Mustang
Directors Choice Winner
Paul Stegall Sr. Para, OH 1965 Mustang
SATURDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS:
Special Recognition Awards:
1. Jerry Zarlenga Valley City, OH 1997 Mustang
2. Tony Rottinger Parma, OH 1980 Mustang
3. Gary Wilner Twinsburg, OH 2007 Saleen S331
4. Jenifer Zalecki Waterville, OH 2019 Mustang
5. Brenda Mills Collins, OH 1979 F-100
6. Zack Cozier Nova, OH 2019 Mustang
7. Bill Cosco Medina, OH 2003 Mustang
8. James DeBold New Albany, OH 2007 Mustang
9. J. Ringnetter Dearborn, MI 1985 Mercury Capri
10. Dennis Sayre Willard, OH 1969 Mach I
11. Steve Matko Cherry Tree, PA 1979 Bronco
12. Dennis Sayre Willard, OH 1964 Fairlane
13. Joe Kidder Belleville, MI 1990 Mustang
14. Stephen Sunyak North Ridgeville, OH 1988 Mustang
15. Dennis Bregitzer Maple Heights, OH 1968 Torino
16. Peter Pavlik Pegram, TN 1978 Bronco
17. Dave Krall Hinkley, OH 1971 Bronco
18. David Robinson Belleview, OH 1955 Fairlane
19. Lou Falzarano Parma, OH 1992 Mustang
20. Jerry Slowinski Walbridge, OH 2007 Mustang
21. Ed Curtis Brook Park, OH 1972 Pinto
22. Tom Perevosnik Parma, OH Mustang GT
23. Mike Filous South Euclid, OH 2001 Mustang
24. Zach Lozier 2019 Mustang
25. Aaron & Teresa Gardner Ohio City, OH 1994 Mustang
Director’s Choice Awards:
· Best Early Mustang
· Winner : Dennis Mitchell Marion, OH 1964 ½ Mustang
· Best Modern Mustang
· Winner: Ralph Ferry Columbia Station, OH 2022 Mustang
· Best Late Ford ’49-Up
· Winner: Rick Winkler North Ridgeville, OH 1957 Thunderbird
· Best Ford Truck
· Winner: Mike Gosnell OH 1967 F-100
· Best Race Car/Pro Street
· Winner: Frederick Schultz Bradner, OH 1988 Mustang
· NMRA Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Terry Wilburn North Ridgeville, OH 1968 Mustang
· NMRA Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Mike Magri West Bloomfield, MI 2015 Mustang
· Directors Choice Best Paint
· Winner: Jerry Zarlenga Valley City, OH 1997 Mustang
· Directors Choice Best Interior
· Winner: Mike & Kim Guerassimoff Erie, PA 1993 Mustang
· Directors Choice Best Engine
· Winner: Aaron & Teresa Gardner Ohio City, OH 1994 Mustang
· Directors Choice Conservative
· Winner: Paul Stegall Sr. Parma, OH 1965 Mustang
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Jeff Nimon North Ridgeville, OH 2014 Mustang
SUNDAY CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
- Mustang 64-70
- Winner: Paul Stegall Sr. Parma, OH 1965 Mustang
- Mustang 71-78
- Winner: Jeff Carroll Plum, PA 1973 Mustang
- Mustang 79-93
- Winner: Tony Rottinger Parma, OH 1990 Mustang
- Mustang 94-98
- Winner: Rob Tackett Greenwich, OH 1996 Mustang
- Mustang 99-04
- Winner: Tom Settle Brunswick, OH 2004 Mustang
- Mustang 05-14
- Winner: Kevin Kline Norton, OH 2011 Mustang
- Mustang 15-23
- Winner: Guy Scothern Northwood, OH 2019 Mustang
- Street Rod Pre 49’
- Winner: Larry Vidra Elyria, OH 1937 Ford
- Fifties Ford
- Winner: Joe Ballard 1959 Anglia
- Ford Full Size Cars All Years
- Winner: John Snyder Grafton, OH 1967 Galaxie 500
- Ford Full Size Truck All Years
- Winner: Dave Robinson Bellevue, OH 1969 F-100
- Bronco All Years
- Winner: Pamela Root Grafton, OH 2022 Bronco
- Race Car & Pro Street Modified Only
- Winner: Frederick Schultz Bradner, OH 1988 Mustang
- Open Ford (For vehicles that do not fit into above classes)
- Winner: Kevin Suszynski Burton, OH 1966 Cobra
- Best Paint & Body
- Winner: Joe Ballard 1959 Anglia
- Best Engine:
- Winner: Dave Robinson Bellevue, OH 1969 F-100
- Best Interior:
- Winner: Larry Vidra Elyria, OH 1937 Ford
NMRA Best of Show Award:
- Best of Show
- Winner: Paul Stegall Sr. Parma, OH 1965 Mustang
1. Steve Supeck Wakeman, OH 1993 Mustang
2. Larry Shepard Pataskala, OH 1991 Mustang
3. Heidi Eady Loudonville, OH 1987 Mustang
4. Jason Brobst Toledo, OH 1986 Mustang
5. Cole Wendel Portland, IN 1984 Mustang
6. Jeff Kohn Sheffield Village, OH 1989 Mustang
7. Lou Falzarano Parma, OH 1992 Mustang
8. J. Ringuette Dearborn, MI 1985 Mercury Capri
9. Tony Rottinger Parma, OH 1980 Mustang
10. Frederick Schultz Bradner, OH 1988 Mustang
Best of Show
Joe Kidder Belleville, MI 1990 Mustang
SVT Saturday Award Winners
1. Tony Nestor Sandusky, OH 1997 Mustang
2. Zane Boll Akron, OH 2002 Focus
3. Scott Hamilton Wooster, OH 2000 Lightning
4. Keith M. Parma, OH 2001 Mustang
5. Mick M. East Canton, OH 2003 Mustang
6. Eric Lewandowski Middleburg Heights, OH 2003 Mustang
7. Art Thomas Elyria, OH 1994 Mustang
8. Steve Supeck Wakeman, OH 1993 Mustang
9. Aaron & Teresa Gardner Ohio City, OH 1994 Mustang
10. Bill Kosco Medina, OH 2003 Mustang
Best of Show
Mike & Kim Guerassimoff Erie, PA 1993 Mustang
SHELBY Saturday Award Winners
1. Rich B. Ohio 2008 Shelby
2. Scott VanCamp Alliance, OH 1989 Mustang
3. Wayne Chmura Cleves, OH 2011 Mustang
4. Bob Weimer Waterville, OH 2009 Mustang
Best of Show
Ralph Ferry 2022 Shelby Mustang
SALEEN Saturday Award Winners
1. Matt Wagner Newark, OH 1999 Saleen Mustang
2. Ernie Contreras Lorain, OH 2007 Saleen
3. Brian Smith Elyria, OH 2000 Saleen Mustang
4. Michael Brass Vermillion, OH 2005 Saleen Mustang
Best of Show
Gary Wilner Twinsburg, OH 2007 Saleen Truck
ROUSH Award Winners Saturday
Best of Show
James DeBold New Albany, OH 2007 Mustang
COBRA JET Saturday Award Winners
1. Lou Falzarano Parma, OH 1966 Mustang
Best of Show
Terry Wilburn North Ridgeville, OH 1968 Mustang Cobra Jet
