Over the last 36 years the National Street Rod Association's Nats South has not changed very much. Oh sure, it moved from the original location in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Columbia, South Carolina, before finding the seemingly permanent home of Knoxville, Tennessee, but other than location there were no major changes until the 37th running of the event. This year the dateline was moved and what was a pre-'49 event for 36 years is now open to all cars and trucks 30 years or older. It has been a long-time coming, and it is a change being embraced by most people who park under that giant umbrella called hot rodding.
The interesting thing about moving the cut-off date up to a reasonable level is the large number of trucks that motored into the Chilhowee Park fairgrounds in Knoxville. The event is always held the first weekend in May, and it seemed like half of the later-model entries were trucks, proving what we knew all along, trucks are one of the hottest sectors in hot rodding today.
We rolled through the gates in the late morning on Friday, parked our truck, and headed to the swap meet. While it is not the largest swap meet we have ever attended, it does have an ample supply of stuff and like all swap meets, things on the tables and on the ground ranged from treasure to trash. Several attractive truck projects were for sale and plenty of parts to keep us digging, and the good news is the swap meet is under a covered roof so neither sun nor rain can affect this part of the event.
By the time we left the swap meet the scenic fairground was filling up. This is a vintage fairground with tiered levels and ample pavement to park your truck, along with plenty of grass and trees for comfortable shade. Like all NSRA events the Nats South is a laid-back affair centered around hanging out with friends and family, checking out over 2,300 entries, and simply enjoying a spring weekend in the South. Of course, if you're in need of parts there is a huge vendor building and a large outside vendor area that can provide you with everything for your truck or your shop.
While the weatherman was calling for all kinds of bad weather, the Chilhowee Park was spared and other than couple of afternoon showers on Saturday the remainder of the weekend had good weather. On Saturday afternoon a special section of the grounds were roped off for a series of shows within the show including a "Commercial Country" show.
Sunday dawned sunny and warm but the prediction of severe weather heading toward Knoxville sent a lot of participants home early, as the fairgrounds were noticeably less crowded. For those who did stay the weather remained fine until well after the awards ceremony and the awarding of major prizes. We felt like it was a great weekend, and seeing more modern trucks parked alongside the pre-'49 haulers gave the event a fresh feeling. Next year the 38th Annual NSRA Nats South will be held at the same time and place, the first weekend in May at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville. We have already made plans to attend. See you there next year.
Stacey Wade likes the idea...
Stacey Wade likes the idea of being able to cross the '49 dateline, since this F-1 would have been just one year too new last year.
Black primer and red rally wheels make a good combo.
Coming or going this ramp...
Coming or going this ramp rod was looking good, but rather than haul a single hot rod, the owner opted to bring an entire mini car lot of vintage pedals, and yes, they were all for sale.
Trucks of all ages and styles...
Trucks of all ages and styles were on hand for the NSRA Nats South in Knoxville, Tennessee. Cruising in through the crowd on a sunny Friday is a great way to start the weekend
Trucks of every era are welcomed...
Trucks of every era are welcomed at National Street Rod Association events, this early Mopar hauler was enjoying a quick lap around the fairgrounds.
Patina is a big part of the...
Patina is a big part of the hot rod scene, and it comes in several varieties, ranging from real rust to faux finishes with paint. These two F-1 pickups illustrate the look, Jule Rogers opted for the sanded through paint patina on the '52 Ford in the foreground, while years of exposure to the elements produced the finish on Gene Faulk's green '51 Ford
The swap meet also has a car...
The swap meet also has a car corral, and that is where we found this '47 Studebaker. A 383 stroker small-block Chevy is found underhood. Asking price was $27,000
Because of the hills around...
Because of the hills around Chilhowee Park there are many elevated parking places, and nothing will put your truck above the rest quite like a prime parking place. Of course, the wild purple hue and tasteful modifications on Rodney Raley's '55 Ford help too.
When you start talking rare...
When you start talking rare trucks, few are scarcer than a '34 Chevrolet sedan delivery. Harry and Lois Mociolek drove in from Columbia Station, Ohio. The tasteful scallops streaming out of the hood louvers are a nice touch.