when we decided to drop the meet due to the size and lack of control of the local drivers.
Woodard Photo Collection
1st Commercial Display at a Rod Run 1965
By that time a group in Memphis had started the Memphis Street Rod group and from that sprung the National Street Rod Association. As a matter of fact they started up in 1970 led by Tom Medley, Cotton Werksman, Gilbert Bugg & Vernon Walker. Vernon & Gilbert had attended the Mid-South Street Rod Roundup and saw the opportunity for an official gathering of pre-48 “Street Rods” & held the first “Nats” in Peoria IL in 1970. I guess you might say the rest is history.
Woodard Photo Collection singing Norm Grabowski
autographs at the 1977 Gatlinburg Run
By that time our swap meet had grown to capacity & included most of the larger street rod component manufacturers, who were just starting out. The car show was a huge attraction & free to all that wanted to see the cars and in the evening we had live entertainment, a dinner and tons of door prizes.
© Woodard Collection © Woodard Collection
Rodders at Clingmans Dome 1965
The original Mid-South Roundup started in Pigeon Forge in 1965, with about 15 cars. After about 4 or 5 years it moved, a few miles down the road, to bigger quarters in Gatlinburg, on Airport road. Actually Our club the Nashville Street Rod Association continued hold that meet in G’burg until 1977
Woodard Photo Collection
Lawrence Smith at 1970 Gatlinburg Rod Run