"Nitro" Flames Spotted in British Columbia
by Russ Griffith

The British Columbia classic and Custom Car Show held at Abbottsford International Airport’s Tradex Building, was a very well-planned and roomy display of many unique machines. Dave Johnstone, of Langely, B.C. was the Producer and a fine job he did. Dave, a casual and calm dude made it look easy and found time to occupy the drivers seat of Wayne King’s Top Fueler in two of the three "cackles" that King and three other Washington State-based 1960’s T/F cars were involved in.

Wayne’s 1963 Ivo/Pepmuller car was joined by the ’62 "Northwind" car, tended to by the legendary AA/GS stalwart, Jack "The Bear" Coonrod. The later ‘60’s "John Weibe" car, owned by Don Love and Lynn Bruch of Port Angeles, WA and the debut of the newly restored "Peterson & Fritz" late ‘60’s Woody car by the "Northwest Terror" himself, Herm Peterson, rounded out the flamin’ foursome. Herm was assisted by his long-time crew chief, Denny Bale and Russ Gallagher.

Wayne King interviews popular B.C. radio personality Scotty Barrett prior to Scotty's hopping into Wayne's
fuler as B.C Classic and Custom Carshow producer, Dave Johnstone, looks on. Scotty ask Wayne on Saturday
if he could reside in the cockpit when Wayne fired up his 354 Hemi and Wayne said "Depends". So Scotty brought
a package of Depends™ for the Sunday fire-up. He said he would share with the "Geezers" in attendance.(Russ Griffith dragphoto)

The "Cackles" were MC’d by popular B.C. radio personality, Scotty Barrett, who did an exceptional job of explaining the chronology of these "antiques" and conducted very interesting and humorous interviews of drivers and crewmembers. Scotty has had much experience in racing and fast machines and consequently did a superlative job. Engines were fired around 2 PM on Saturday, then delayed until close to 9 PM for the second fire-up, close to dark and enjoyed by a large crowd, as were the other two. We were displaying the cars close to a large door, which was opened for the fire-up, allowing the crews to push the dragsters out where temporary bleachers had been set-up for the show-goers. This event was held April 23 & 24, 2005

Herm Peterson lights up the sky at the B.C. Car Show on Saturday night. (Russ Griffith dragphoto)

Herm Peterson won the "Biggest Flame Award" and was very pleased with his renovation job on the digger. It was found in Idaho, after going through something like seven different owners, original roll cage intact last December. Herm’s ride in the "Greeks" car last fall at the California Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield really got him pumped to have his own "cackler"

A "Nitrogeezer" looking bunch of guys at the British Columbia Classic and Custom Car Show
held at tha Abbottsford International Airport's Tradex Building in late April of '05.
From left, Russ Griffith, Lynn Bruch, Herm Peterson, Don Love, Russ Gallagher, Jack Coonrod, Wayne King,
 Dave "The Producer" Johnstone and Denny Bale (Patty Griffith dragphoto)

Canadian radio personality, Scotty Barrett, interviews the "Northwest Terror"
Herm Peterson as he debuts his "Peterson & Fitz" Top Fueler at the April '05
B.C. Car Show. Scotty did a very good job as he has much interest in drag racing
and has been involved with various machines (Russ Griffith dragphoto)

Herm Peterson lite up the crowd with his newly restored 392 Hemi-powered digger (Russ Griffith dragphoto)

The producer of the British Columbia Classic and Custom Car Show, Dave Johnstone, occupies
the seat of Wayne King,s Doss, Clayton and King fueler on Saturday night. (Russ Griffith dragphoto)

Two Great Looking Cars and a really cool Banner (Wayne King Photo)

Jack "The Bear Coonrod" tends the '62 "Northwind" Fueler, the oldest of the four Washington
State T/F cars in attendance. (Russ Griffith dragphoto)

Herm Petersons beautifully restored fueler and the "Northwind" car in the display building
(Wayne King Photo)

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