Vroom vroom

Buick GS Nationals roar into town for annual event

By Alicia Carmichael, acarmichael@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3234

Friday, May 21, 2004

Clouds rose from the burning rubber as Buick lovers floored it down the track Thursday at Beech Bend Raceway Park. Theyre just tweaking their cars to get them to run the best the can Saturday, said Sarah Gordon, who had come to Bowling Green with her husband, Matt, from Topeka, Kan., for the GS Nationals that will culminate Saturday with a big race. Gordon has been coming to nationals here for years, and this year she is organizing vendors at the event. On Thursday, she recalled 1999, when the nationals were held in Columbus, Ohio, instead of in Bowling Green, where theyve been held every other year since 1980. Its not a time she enjoys thinking about. It was like coming home when the nationals came back to Bowling Green in 2000, she said. Its a beautiful track with lots of shade. And people are friendly in Bowling Green, said Sherrie Sowers, who came to nationals this year with her husband, Jeff, and their friends, Don and Irela Palumbo, all of Daytona Beach, Fla. Jeff Seabrooke, who has been coming to nationals with his wife, Nina, from their home in Zephyrhills, Fla. for about 10 years, likes driving into town and seeing all the signs that say Welcome GS Nationals. Its a recognition that they think were important, he said. Thats a good thing for a group of people who find Buicks so important that many of them own several. Sherrie and Jeff Sowers have three, and upgrade our parts and sell other parts here at the show. Jeff and Nina Seabrooke sell T-shirts at the event, where they both race. We take pictures of cars going down the track and put them on T-shirts for people, he said. But theres much more going on at nationals. All week long there have been safety sessions and test-and-tune sessions. Thursday night there was a Buick social, and today boasts a car show, which will end at 7 p.m. with a trophy presentation. Then there are the unplanned things to be seen and heard at the event, where everyone Gordon passed in the golf cart she was driving Thursday, threw up a hand or asked for a hug. One man asked if she wanted a beer. You have to see your family, she said. But I love it when I get to see my friends at the GS Nationals. Randall and Teresa Riggs of Springfield are two of Gordons Kentucky friends. On Thursday, they were selling body rotisseries devices that can be attached to a Buicks frame and set to hoist the car in most any position as their toy poodle, Mea, napped in her playpen and their beagle, Katie, relaxed on a lawn chair. I love racin, Randall Riggs said. I just cant afford to get into it. But youd better believe he has a Buick. A 66 Gran Sport, he said. Of course, Buicks arent the only motors at the nationals one man was winding through the crowd on a bar stool hed outfitted with a golf cart engine. Thats what kind of gearheads were here with, Gordon said. Mike Garrison, like Gordon, came to nationals from Topeka. Margie Owen and Joe Becker came to the event from Fernandina Beach, Fla., so they could work for Bennett Jones, who organizes the event for the Gran Sport Club of America. But they also have a thing for Buicks, which Seabrooke loves because you can go fast with class in them. I just cant afford one now, Becker said, looking at Owen, whom he is dating. But now I have help. I have back-up now (because) she wants one too. Owen said she wants one for the speed. Its something her boyfriend has long admired during the six years hes worked at nationals. He drools for them every time he comes, Owen said. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700