The first ever GTO and Pontiac Oakland Club Nationals

By Jim McGowan

So now you know how it all came together, and why this show is so special. It's the first, and maybe only, combined national Pontiac event including the GTO Association of America and the Pontiac Oakland Club International. It was Mecca for Pontiac worshipers from around the world, and I heard more than a few non-Ohio dialects in the crowd. Dayton, Ohio was the venue from July 7 through the 11th, and the show was held at the E.J. Nutter Center at Wright State University, which is very close to the Wright-Patterson air base. Mother Nature smiled on us and held off the rain. Being a hard-core GTO guy myself, I couldn't miss it rain or shine.

The shear weight of all this old Pontiac iron in one spot probably altered the earth's axis. Approximately 1300 Pontiacs of all years, shapes and sizes drove or were trailered into the show. Well-known Pontiac personalities like John Middlebrook (ex-Pontiac GM), Jim Wangers (considered the father of the GTO), Jim Mattison (PHS Services) and Milt Schornack (from Royal Pontiac in Detroit) to mention a few, dispensed informative historical and technical seminars for the faithful.

The vehicles in Concours judging that were inside the convention center were there by invitation only. Additional concours judging, the class judging and display only cars were arranged around the building in several large parking lots. The judged cars that were outside sat under three circus sized tents, which provided shade and relief from the Ohio heat. There was no direction one could look without observing a sea of Pontiac cars or parts.

This show was most likely the largest of its kind ever, and was also one of the best organized that I've ever attended. Inside the Nutter Center registration tables were set up and every registered attendee received a credential and goodie bag. Many of the various Pontiac Oakland and GTO Club chapters had booths in the registration area, and several aftermarket parts vendors were also inside the hall. Jim Wangers was autographing his latest Pontiac book Pizazz, which he produced in conjunction with Art Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is the AF initials signature on many of the Pontiac Wide-Track ads in the early and mid-Sixties. The show was hosted by the Ohio Valley Chapter of the GTOAA along with the Grand Prix Chapter of the POCI, and the inter-club cooperation and event planning was amazing. Daily tours had been arranged to the Packard Museum in downtown Dayton, as well as to the incredible Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum. Beside the cars and parts, there was something for everyone at this show. Several great side events were also planned for the kids, including a pizza party and model car competition.

Speaking of parts, my favorite subject, there was almost any kind of item you could want laying on the ground or on display tables. Everything from door handles, to quarter panels, to restored Hurst wheels were present. I made a special trip to FedX to send a few choice items home. Selling was brisk despite the economy, and there were more than a few excellent GTO buys on display. There were several aftermarket suppliers selling reproduction parts. Ames Performance, Inline Tube, Pypes, Performance Years and more set up large displays in the parking lots. Combined with all the used parts in the swap meet, this show had it all.

I counted 15 Super Duty cars in attendance, probably the largest gathering of these super rare Pontiac vehicles in history. Out of the 108 1969 Judge convertibles made, six were on display. Of the 17 1971 GTO Judge convertibles made, four were at the show. Totally amazing! The quality of the concours restorations was unsurpassed, as was the entire group of cars in the judged classes. For a Pontiac restorer, all your questions about what is right or wrong for your car could be answered here.

On Friday night a dinner was held "Under The Wings" at the Air Force Museum. This event was sold out as early as February '09. Jim Mattison presented a visual history of Pontiac beneath some of America's finest flying machines. For the hardcore racers, quarter mile racing was provided on Friday at Kil-Kare Raceway, located in nearby Xenia, OH. Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick and Jim Wangers' GeeTO Tiger competed along with several nostalgia super stockers, Pure Stock drag racers and weekend door slammers. Fast fun in Oh-Hi-O! Every car that entered the show went through a safety/tech inspection, including the concours vehicles. They had to move under their own power and all lighting, etc. had to function. I thought this was excellent, as many times the high-dollar "trailer queens" have never been fired up.

Saturday night brought the awards ceremony. Unfortunately I had to return home on Saturday morning, but contacted Scott Tiemann of the GTOAA, the following week to find out which car won Best Of Show in the GTO competition. It was the '69 Carousel Red GTO Judge owned by John Kryta from Detroit, Michigan. Best Restored honors went to Jim Early for his perfect '73 Black GTO hardtop.

There was talk of putting on a combined club convention every few years, which obviously makes for a much larger turn out. There were several cars at the Dayton show from as far away as California. The next GTO Nats will happen June 30 through July 4 in Wichita, Kansas, with the POCI Convention in Charleston, W. Virginia on July 6 through 10, 2010. You can have a great time at either!