Hi Fellow Street Rodders
On Saturday, May 3, 2003 at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals South, at Knoxville, TN, I did something that I have wanted to do for many years, that was to go and meet the guys from MHRA, you know the guys that seem to always be at NSRA events helping fellow Street Rodders when something breaks on their car, well anyway, I've admired these guys for many years.  I remember seeing them at events as far back as 1972, in fact Al Tawse and Bill Large told me that's when MHRA started doing their thing.  I already had a great admiration for these guys because of what they do in support of our Sport, but after meeting and talking to all the guys I left with an even greater respect for them, they are all great guys, and perhaps that may be an understatement, as far as I'm concerned these guys are the true unsung Heroes of our Sport.  While I hung out with them they helped one Rodder with his alternator and charging system and over in the corner of the lot was a '32 Ford Coupe that had problems with the brakes, and Al told me they were finally about to get caught up for the day.  I remember last year in Louisville, I watched these guys work all weekend changing the engine and getting the car lined out for a young Street Rodder for whom if I'm not mistaken was his first Rod and he had worked so hard on the car, barely getting it ready in time to make the Louisville show and then having trouble with it before he got to the show, just picture how depressing that would be, a young boy in a Street Rod a long way from home in a strange city where he doesn't know anyone and then along comes the MHRA and works all weekend repairing the car so the kid can still enjoy the show and be able to drive his Rod back home.  Now, mind you this is just one example that I was fortunate enough to witness, makes you wonder how many times these guys have gone through similar scenarios, in 30 plus years I can imagine quite a few times, and you wonder why I consider them to be Heroes!!!  I would ask of you all, when you see these guys at an event do what I did, stop and say hi and let them know that we all appreciate the contribution they make to the Sport we love so much.  Who says this?  I say this!  Who am I?  I'm merely Jack Roberts reporting for HotRod HotLine.

This nice little '32 Ford was having the brakes repaired by Al, Bill, and the Crew of MHRA, thank you guys for all you do!!!

Here's the names of the crew for the 2003 season:  Rick Banister, Mat Brettschider, Al Cook, Carolyn Cook, Roland Davidson, Ken Del Greco, Mike Drace, Ed Erickson, Tim Godbout, Bill Haboush, Bill Large, Dick Larrick, Max Lunsford, Glenn Rohder, Rudy Ruedisueli, Art Silver, Al Tawse, Vern Tratechaud, Joel Webster, Charlie Rose.

Next time you see these guys they'll be sporting wild new red T-shirts from HotRod HotLine�...small token of the respect and admiration we have for the great job these guys do!!!   THANKS GUYS!!!   And Thanks to Jack Roberts for a great article!!!