Rear-engine dragster crowd pleaser at eighth Cortez Fun Run Car Show

Rear-engine dragster crowd pleaser at eighth Cortez Fun Run Car Show

May 29, 2001

Love affair with the automobile

AMERICA’S FASCINATION with cars was certainly evident Saturday, when hundreds of people attended the eighth annual Cortez Fun Run Car Show, hosted by the Hi Altitude Steel car club of Cortez, at Cortez City Park. Rodders from throughout the area went to a party, and participated in a cruise night and fun run during the event.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Classic cars, muscle cars, modifieds, imports, 4X4s, and even dragsters were all on display Saturday, May 26, at Cortez City Park.

The eighth annual Cortez Fun Run Car Show, hosted by the Hi Altitude Steel Car Club of Cortez, was held through much of Memorial Day Weekend, Friday through Sunday, May 25-27.

The event began with a Preregistration Party on Friday night at Keesee Motor Co. The show itself was held all day Saturday at the park. A Fun Poker Run culminated the event on Sunday.

Cars on display ranged from a 1937 Chevy Sedan owned by Darwin O. Culver of Mancos, a 1973 Cadillac Eldorado owned by Joel and Vickie Rangel of Farmington, to a 1929 Ford Pickup and horse trailer owned by Ken and Diane Jackson of Lewis, plus many, many others.

One crowd pleaser was a dragster "Bad Company," owned by Randy and Cynthia Sweetland of Farmington.

"It is a 235 wheel-base, rear-engine dragster," Sweetland, 48, who has owned the machine for about two years. "It has a 2,000 horse power motorsport chasis. The engine is a 468 Rare Morrison dead-block Chevy."

Sweetland competes in the Super Comp. 8.90 Class. He recently recorded a speed of 168 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds while competing in Phoenix. He placed second in the National Hot Rod Association-sanctioned event. He also has competed recently at the Las Vegas Nationals. He will be heading to Denver for a Rocky Mountain Division points meet in about three weeks.

"I have owned it about two years. My wife, Cynthia, is a great driver. She has driven it more than 150 mph. I really enjoy watching her drive it," he said.

A love for cars and speed

RANDY SWEETLAND of Farmington poses with his rear-engine dragster during the eighth annual Cortez Fun Run Car Show held on Saturday at Cortez City Park. Sweetland and his wife, Cynthia, have owned the racing machine for the past two years and they both have raced it recently in Phoenix and Las Vegas. Sweetland won first place in the Race Car Class at the show.

Sweetland said he wants to convert the dragster to top-fuel (alcohol burning). But that engines runs about $30,000.

Besides his own business, Sweetland’s Truck and Auto Repair on the L.E. Murray Thruway in Farmington, his other sponsors are A.C. Delco, and Waller’s Plumbing in Los Alamos, N.M. Jon Hutchison is his crew chief, and the crew include Lora Hutchison, Steve Waller, and shop foreman Farrell Jones. All but Waller are from Farmington while Waller is from Los Alamos.

Another interesting car was the Halibrand Featured Roadster. This 1928 Ford is owned by Lowell Unruh of Hesston, Kan. It was a winner at the Daryl Starbird’s National Rod and Custom Show. The roadster was Starbird’s 25th anniversary National Rod and Custom Show champion in 1982. This hi-boy roadster has been featured in numerous magazines, including Popular Hot Rodding. Halibrand chose this car to show off its products.

Unruh said it has been a labor of love for most of his life. He has owned it since he was 16 years old. He rebuilt the car from the ground up, one bolt at a time. The car, which began its public life on the drag strips, clocking speeds of 132 miles per hour with a 10.20 estimated time back in 1968. It is now driven to shows in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas.

Many awards were handed out during the car show.

Willie Galyon of Cortez took first place in the Classic Class with his 1958 Chevy. Peter Fultz of Durango won in the Street Rod Class with his 1932 Ford. Steve Farris won in the Collectible Car Class with his 1961 Chevy. Rod Tanner of Cahone and his ‘57 Chevy took first in the Street Machine. Clarence Bugg of Cortez won the Muscle Class with his 1970 1/2 Chevy Camero. The Custom Car Class winner was John Chavez of Durango with a 1959 Chevy. Mike Olander of Pleasant View won the Classic Pickup Class with a 1966 Ford. Jim Stecher of Dolores captured first in the Custom Pickup with a 1948 Chevy. Jeff Yoder of Yellow Jacket took first in the 4X4s with a 1972 Chevy. The Modern Classic winner was Don Whitehead of Cortez with a ‘74 Plymouth. Sweetland took first with his rear-engine dragster in the Race Class.

Second place in the Street Rod went to Spencer Wolf of Page, Ariz., with a 1932 Ford. Jay Woodruff of Moab, Utah, grabbed second in the Collectibles with a 1951 Ford. Denis Atwater of Dolores finished second in the Street Machine with a ‘55 Chevy. Stan Loomis of Cortez came in second in the Custom Car with a 1967 Buick. John Fogg of Moab came in second in the Muscle with a ‘69 Ford Mustang. Louis Vallejos of Cortez placed second in the Classic Pickup with a ‘53 Chevy. Mike Tulio finished second in Custom Pickup with a 1956 Ford. Bob Curtis of Delta grabbed second in the 4X4 with a 1953 Ford. Val Robicheaux of Cortez won the Modern Classic with a 2000 Mustang.

Third went to Chuck Hess of Dolores with a ‘34 Ford (Street), Bill Armstrong of Cortez with a ‘64 Chevy (Collectible), Robicheaux with a 1970 Ford (Street Machine), Paula Luthi of Cortez with a 1966 Chevelle (Muscle), Bud Erickson of Cortez with a 1946 Chevy (Classic Pickup), Jay Tipton of Dolores with a ‘48 Ford (Custom Pickup), Bud Singer of Cortez with a 2000 Ford (4X4), Howard Ambercrombie with a 1976 Corvette (Modern Classic), and Cassie Yates of Farmington with a ‘72 Plymouth (Race Car).

Several Specialty Awards were presented.

Darwin Cline of Cortez with his 1936 Ford won for Tomorrow’s Gems. Sweetland won Best Wrap. Josh Alexander of Cortez won Most Likely to Get A Ticket with his ‘57 Chevy. Wade Rutherford of Dove Creek won for Neatest Motor with a ‘57 Chevy Pickup. Fultz won for Awesom Paint Job with his ‘32 Ford. Wolf won for Coolest Interior with his ‘32 Ford. Woodruff won for Grooviest ‘50s Style with his ‘41 Ford.

Tanner won Best of Show with his ‘57 Chevy. Armstrong won the 350 motor give-away. Dallas had the best poker hand for the Fun Run and won $500. Leavell also was the youngest entrant.