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Nitro Rumble at Lake Mirror Classic
By Bud De Boer
For the past 13 years, October meant a trip for car enthusiasts from around Florida to attend the Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival. Held in the city of Lakeland, this three day gathering features vehicles from all walks of life. Some old, some new, some fast, some slow. For many of the 35 to 40,000 who attend, it’s a trip down memory lane. A chance to see things they probably wouldn’t see anywhere else and this past Oct, 19-20-21 was no exception.
Opening event, the Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous took place on Friday, Oct 19 at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater. With over 10,000 people attending, it was an evening of rock & roll music, food, and a display of hot rods and muscle cars.
When the band took a break, plans called for all the hot rods and muscle cars to crank up their engines for a Hot Rod Rumble and make some music of their own. However, their was one car there that out rumbled them all, Namely NHRA drag racer Jerry Baltes and his 1964 record setting Top Fuel Dragster. It was a special appearance by the man from Virginia and his wife Pat that those in attendance won’t soon forget.
Lake Mirror Classic chairman Ford Heacock get’s the thrill of his life as he as sits in the seat of Jerry Baltes’ dragster during the Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous.
Eileen Daniels listens as Ford Heacock presents Jerry & Pat Baltes with a special Appreciation Award for bringing their dragster to the Lake Mirror Classic.
Photos courtesy of Ray Kriegbaum, SI Sports Photos
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