CLICK HERE to VIEWBy Jim Prior and Diana Cavallero
In Santa Rosa California there’s something new and old in the air. Nostalgia is hot right now, especially in the racing world. Welcome to NorCal Vintage Hardtops, the brainchild of vintage car enthusiasts led by Conrad Cavallero.
In 2007, Conrad was given an old Chevy coupe complete with bullet holes. Conrad Cavallero pays tribute to Frank Johnson, who raced under the name of Johnny Franklin. Franklin drove the number 2 hardtop at the old Santa Rosa Speedway and other venues throughout northern California. Conrad went to the Johnson family, who liked the idea of a tribute car honoring their father. So, unbeknownst to Johnny Franklin, Conrad built the car and presented the finished racer to him in September. 2008 celebrates 60 years of Johnson family involvement in racing.
Conrad began his racing career in the 70’s with sponsorship help from Johnny Franklin Mufflers and Torvick Datsun/Santa Rosa Nissan. He raced at Petaluma speedway and many other Northern California tracks.
While going through old news articles and race programs provided to Conrad by the Johnson family, he came across an article entitled “The Duel Resumes” a tribute to the fierce competition waged by Johnny Franklin and Leroy Gevings. So, the seed of Norcal Vintage Hardtops, where it all began was when Conrad and and a friend who had recreated Leroy Gevings car “resumed the Franklin/Gevings duel” with their tribute cars to these two great racers of yesteryear.
The response to these old racers has been surprising. NorCal Vintage Hardtops has blossomed with a dedicated and growing member roster and an active racing card each summer throughout Northern California including displays at NASCAR events. They have received invitations to appear at a number of car shows and even caught the attention of Audi-Europe who shipped NCVH member cars to Britain and featured them in a television commercial.
For more information regarding this growing Hardtop series, this website, www.norcalvintagehardtops.com has been developed where interested drivers, car builders and fans can learn more about upcoming events.
Contact Conrad at NorCalHardtops@gmail.com.
NorCal Vintage Hardtops would like to invite other racing series to join them as well and welcome’s sponsors to help the series grow.
