The 27^th Annual F-100 Western Nationals

The allure of the F-100 has been strong since the vehicles were new, but the now-iconic trucks are as popular as ever, and that showed as 204 trucks and many hundreds of spectators packed into Featherly Park in Yorba Linda, Calif., on June 20, 2009 for the 27^th Annual F-100 Western Nationals.

It’s a show and therefore it had a winner. Commuting all the way from Magna, Utah, Slade Hawks took top honors with his extremely clean ’56 F-100 pickup. It was as nice beneath as it was on top, and it was very nice on top. Long distance seemed not to be a problem for many folks, as entrants and F-100 lovers came from as far away as Tennessee and Arizona. This is a show that everyone wants to be part of, and over 30 show sponsors, including Ken Grody Ford, Truck Shop, Mid Fifties, Dennis Carpenter, Gaylord’s, Surf City Garage, Dan Carpenter and many more made sure that the show went well.

For 27 years, the Pickups Limited of Orange County, Calif., has been hosting the F-100 Western Nationals. Pickups Limited is the region’s leading F-100 club, and they have been at the forefront of everything F-100 since its inception in 1968. Anyone with a ’48-’56 F1, F-100 pickup or panel is eligible to join. Check them out at www.pickupslimited.com to find your local chapter.

Slade Hawks traveled all the way from Magna, Utah, to take the Best of Show honors with his sweet ’56.	Hailing from Moreno Valley Calif., Milt Qualley’s ’55 F-100 sports a late-model engine, tilt hood and a grass-mowing stance	One of the cleanest trucks on hand was this silver ’68 F-100. Owned by Kirk Johnson, it showed just how truly nice these models can be.
Driving just a few miles away from his Yorba Linda, Calif., home, Ron Smith barely warmed up the 350 powering his ’56 big-window. It’s equipped with a Volare front end, a four-link rear with Koni coilover shocks, 20- and 18-inch Intro wheels with Toyo tires, a No Limit tilt hood and shaved everything.	Flying the colors with his ’55 panel is Dan Cangro of Huntington Beach, Calif. A member of the hosting Pickups Limited truck club, Cangro’s ride was a featured vehicle on the event flyer and T-shirts.	Many F-100 specific vendors, such as Mid Fifty F-100s, were on hand to entice the assembled crowd.
We love the early Ford panels, and this really nicely done ’41 version of Anaheim’s Chuck Cliff only reinforces that feeling.	Making the trek out from Tucson, Ariz., Chris Wilson had his ’47 pickup looking good thanks to the Moon discs, wide whitewall tires and flat purple and silver paint.	This ’56 big-window of Jerry Johnston Fallbrook, Calif., has tricks that include a Corvette engine, a slammed stance, American Torq Thrust IIs and a tilt hood.
Now owned by Charlie Nolastname of Pomona, Calif., this killer ’55 has a chopped top, suicide doors, an outrageous hood configuration and mono-toned red paint.	We wonder if he drove this sweet ’55 all the way, but Terry Van Housen made the long trek from Stromsburg, Nebr., to attend this year’s Western Nationals.	Glen Van Buskirk of Castro Valley, Calif., must love flames (and really, who doesn’t?), and his ’65 F-100 can attest.
One of the major sponsors for the event, Gaylord’s brought out its Speedster, which is always a crown favorite.		Braving the dreaded 91 Freeway, Clemmie Shaw came from nearby Chino Calif., with this sweet, orange ’56 big-window.
	We’ve known Tom Pagano a long time, and his latest truck is one that he calls “Mountain Pearl.” It was originally built by Otto Rhodes and Bill Dickey in the early 1960s, and was a feature vehicle in <Hot Rod Magazine>’s August 1962 issue. It had been sitting in Otto’s garage since 1965 when Pagano bought it. The truck features a chopped top, all-lead bodywork, an extended front end, an inverted ’55 Chevy truck grille and the bed and hood are actuator operated. It rolls on 1965 Ford suspension (which have been chromed), is powered with a tri-power 360 FE engine, which is visible from inside the truck through a plexi-glass panel. Interior tricks include ’65 T-bird swivel seats and unique dash insert.

More pictures from the 27^th Annual F-100 Western Nationals:

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