As the York Expo Center prepares to host Street Rod Nationals East from June 2-4, here is a look at the history of the event. We'll have more about the event in a special section in Thursday's York Daily Record.
1970 — Representatives from two street rod magazines organize the first national meeting of enthusiasts in Peoria, Ill. The event draws owners of 600 cars from across the country and the National Street Rod Association is formed.
Recognizing that street rodders have jobs and other responsibilities that would make it difficult for them to attend a national event each year, regional meetings are planned.
1973 — The Street Rod Nationals East, held in Timonium, Md., is the first regional group to convene. Organized by local club members, it is paid for by the national group. To this day, the Nats East, as it is also known, is the largest gathering of street rodders in the country aside from the national event each year.
1980 — The Nats East outgrows the Timonium Fairgrounds. An organizer, who knew little of York except the existence of the York Fairgrounds, stops at the Colonial York Visitors and Tourists Center on Mount Zion Road for information.
The woman on duty calls Carl Neu, president of the York County Chamber of Commerce, who tells her to send the man to the fairgrounds. He calls the fair office hoping to find one of the “big shots� and gets Dr. George Hartenstein, a board member who arranged entertainment for the fair’s grandstand. Hartenstein proceeds to “roll out the red carpet,� and York becomes the new home for the Nats East.
1981 — Street rods roar into York for the first time. Slightly fewer than 1,000 cars arrive. The event receives little attention from the local media. Residents, however, flock to the fairgrounds, Market Street and Route 30 to watch the shiny, brightly colored cars and trucks drive by, a tradition that will prove impossible to break.
1985 — The annual coming of the rods begins to draw other cars and muscle cars. The newcomers, not street rodders, cause trouble with blaring stereos, squealing tires and dangerous driving. No police officers are granted vacation during the first weekend of June, when the rodders are in town, and the William Penn Senior High School senior prom is held at the Yorktowne Hotel.
Police threaten to barricade Market Street to keep traffic out of the downtown area. The move is unnecessary. Police ask street rod officials to control their members.
Officials agree and point out to police that participants are given window stickers, making their cars easy to identify. Police find that very few or none of the troublemakers are connected to the event, a fact that holds true today.
Members and organizers of the association are so happy with York and the treatment they receive here, they commit to a three-year agreement with the fairgrounds. After receiving complaints from residents along the Loop, Mayor William Althaus declares, “The city doesn’t want them in again, it’s as simple as that.� Neu comes on the defensive, maintaining the street rodders are not a problem and pointing to the money they bring to the area.
1986 — The show keeps growing. More than 2,300 cars roll into town bringing roughly 7,000 owners and family members and 18,000 spectators, who spend an estimated $4 million — $1 million on fuel alone. The Eliminator, a rod belonging to the rock band ZZ Top, makes its York debut. After a year of thinking, Mayor Althaus is a street-rod convert. He makes a formal apology to the organization and works with the chamber to help make the event a success.
1990 — The number of cars has topped 3,500, and the show attracts more than 25,000 spectators. Hotel space becomes an issue, and participants are taking rooms as far away as Harrisburg, Gettysburg and Lancaster. Regular participants begin booking rooms for the following year before they leave each gathering. They want to stay in York, however.
“We continue to come back because we want to,� said event organizer Jerry Kennedy. “Other cities are trying to get us constantly, but everything we need, plus the friendliness, is here.�
1994 — Local residents squeal tires in traffic and parking lots along Route 30, creating problems for business owners and police. Fisticuffs ensue, injuring several officers, forcing police to make several arrests. “These were mostly middle-aged, middle-class people with decent jobs and nice homes,� a York Police captain said. York, West Manchester, Northern Regional and West York departments were called to control spectators.
1998 — The number of cars soars to more than 5,300 from 38 states and Canada, and the show draws an estimated 32,000 visitors to York County. The National Street Rod Association signs a contract with the York Fairgrounds to hold the event here until 2003.
2000 — The 27th Annual Street Rod Nationals East meets in York. It is the 20th year York has hosted the event, making it the longest host city for any of the 11 regional events. Knoxville, Tenn., host of the Street Rod Nationals South, trails by three years.
2003 — Street rodders turn out for the 30th anniversary of Street Rod Nationals East.
2004 — Special events included the Quaker State Power Crew, heart-pumping race-car simulators and special appearances by “American Graffiti� stars Candy Clark and Bo Hopkins.
2006 — The 33rd annual Street Rod Nationals East rolls into York.
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