South Mountain Raceway – If you’ve ever watched a Vintage Eliminator race, you’ll know each and every car and driver in this series is unique. They all have their own, individual special character. The first time I ever saw Gene Groshon driving his car at South Mountain, I thought to myself here was a car and driver that belonged together and matched each other more than anyone else at the track. In a class full of interesting cars and people, that is no small order. So, of course, I had to know more.

When Gene purchased the car, he had to do some work to it in order to make it his own. As he explained, “It was already kind of together as a rat rod, the guy was going more for a tractor theme. I bought it for a decent price and was able to make a lot of corrections and make things how I wanted it. I always wanted a car that I could race on the dirt track or here (here being South Mountain Raceway) because I used to come to these events and watch but it was a whole nother thing to be able to play. I finally got it together. It’s a slant 6 [engine], ‘23 Model T fiberglass body, 1916 Dodge Brothers grill, ‘44 Juice Brakes in the front, but I really liked the car because it had that slant 6. I’ve always been a Dodge kid growing up. It’s a really fun motor, it’s a different one you don’t see. I drive the car on the street, I drive the car on the dirt track, and I drive it on the drag strip, and it’s about as much fun as I think I can have.

It’s obviously quite the multi-purpose car, but you might find yourself wondering if he drives it to work like a daily driver. That was an easy answer. “Yeah I take it to work, and sometimes I’ll take it to work and it’s still got dirt on it from the dirt race.” Many of you may think you’re cool, but there’s not too many people out there who are Gene Groshon driving his hot rod to work cool. Especially when it was making laps on the dirt oval the day before! That’s just something that’s beyond cool. Gene’s passion for racing started at a very early age. According to Gene, “I remember being in Boy Scouts and doing the Pinewood Derby. Me and my dad made a little wing on the car out of balsa wood just to make it look like a Plymouth Superbird and we actually ended up winning! The following year people started putting wings on their car, thinking it was actually doing something but it was just for looks. I’ve always enjoyed cars. I always enjoyed building things. My dad had a bunch of cars growing up. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of cars or not be into it.”

Here’s to hoping Gene keeps making passes down the drag strip and laps around the dirt track for many more years to come in this great car! Get out and catch some Vintage Eliminator action so you can see this thing up close and personal!

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