Have you ever been to the Car Craft Summer Nationals in St. Paul, MN? If not, you have to go! It’s quite simply the best event we attend. All types of cars are invited, and there is a lot of stuff going on for the whole family all weekend long. From big-block Chevy-powered Geo Metro’s to a gas-powered picnic table, you’re sure to see something new.

For the past several years, Car Craft has invited us to participate in the Pro-Builder shootout. This competition features some of the best car builders from around the country, and the participants vote on their favorite builder/car.
Last year we won the Pro-Builder with our 1967 Chevelle twin turbo. This year we entered the Raybestos 1971 Camaro giveaway car in the shootout, competing against 5 other shops. Muscle Car Restorations took home the win this year. We were the ONLY Pro-Builder contender to actually DRIVE our car and beat the heck out of it on the Autocross track, Speed-stop challenge, and made a few dyno runs.

Car Craft has also held the Real Street Eliminator challenge at this event, inviting anybody to participate. There’s a dyno challenge, speed-stop, and autocross, all of which you have to participate in to gain maximum points. A Schwartz G-Machine Chassis-equipped car has always been in the top three at this event. Last year, our customer Dan Howe won the late-model class in his 1984 Monte Carlo. This year, we entered the Raybestos 1971 Camaro giveaway car in the Muscle Car class, and our 2009 Cadillac CTS-V in the late-model class.
Josh Leisinger ended up taking home the win for the Muscle Car class in his carbon fiber-body, tube-chassis 1964 Corvette, with our 1971 steel-body, Schwartz Chassis Camaro coming in second place.
Our 700hp 2009 Cadillac CTS-V took the Late-Model class win!
If you don’t already know, Jeff Schwartz, (our fearless leader) won the 2002 Car Craft Real Street Eliminator challenge in his 1982 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, back when Car Craft decided to reincarnate the event. This was pretty exciting to have won it with another Cadillac this year, since Jeff is very well known for that ’82.

Pictures:
 

Hanging out by the dyno challenge

The Schwartz ladies in front of our display

Real Street Eliminator Autocross with the Raybestos 1971 Camaro

Our display

First place, Real Street Eliminator Late Model class

2nd Place, Real Street Eliminator Muscle Car class