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Recent stories on Burt Reynolds
Naples resident John Debin jammed his yellow cloth in his back pocket to explain why he and 110 other owners of the iconic cars were under the Indiantown Road bridge.
"I get on the open road and blast my Rick Springfield music," smiled the 52-year-old bearded retired New York corrections officer. "I’m in heaven."
About 500 fans of the muscle cars made famous in the 1977 Burt Reynolds movie "Smokey and the Bandit" paid $15 each Wednesday night to view the cars. A few blushed at the memories.
"When he picked me up for our first date in 1994, he was driving a black Trans Am," said Saundra Peck, nodding to her husband Keith. "I’ve loved these cars since I first saw the movie," said the retired Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy.
The event annually is organized by Dave Hall, who employs 15 people at his Lincoln, Neb., business Restore a Muscle Car. The owners start in Brazelton, Ga., and make several stops in Florida. This was the first time the event stopped in Jupiter, Reynolds’ hometown. The Bandit Bash leaves today for Orlando.
"When we drive together down the road, we get thumbs up from people. They smile, they wave. Trans Am owners love it. It’s in their blood," said Hall, 39, who brought his wife Michelle and two daughters for the trip.
As music from a live Rock ‘N’ Roll band bounced off the bridge rafters, Danny Manning, who works on mine machinery in Benton, Ill., bragged that his black T-topped WS6 with gray interior is one of only 244 made.
"You can be a country boy or a city boy. But we’re all the same when we drive these babies," said Manning, who is on his fourth Bandit Bash.
Reynolds, who is filming episodes of the USA drama Burn Notice, did not attend the event adjacent to the Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum on U.S. 1.
The Trans Am was the last of the great muscle cars, said Keith Peck, a Volusia County sheriff’s deputy who keeps three in his home.
"Muscle cars started going south in the 1980s. Since then, they have no style, no horsepower," said Peck, who is married to Saundra. "I’ll always own one."
“Muscle cars started going south in the 1980s. Since then, they have no style, no horsepower,” said Peck
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Okay – the part about style is really arguable (who am I to argue with people who like giant screaming chicken decals?). But “no horsepower”? Really? Have you checked the market in the past 5-10 years or so? My wife’s Lexus (V6 even!) has 100 horsepower on Burt’s T/A. My SUV has 435 HP and will run low 13′s in the 1/4 mile fairly consistently. I’m pretty sure my daughter’s Escort might have less horsepower than the T/A, but because it’s 1300 lbs. lighter – probably just as quick in the 1/4 mile. Okay, maybe not – but you get my point.
Look – I appreciate the nostalgia (sure, as a kid, I lusted over the 77-78 Trans Ams). But let’s not kid ourselves. The muscle car DID die. But it had a glorious rebirth – and this is now truly the golden era of performance cars.
No disrespect to you, Peck, but have you ever heard of a Mustang?
I have an ’09 G8 GXP that will kick most peoples asses with it’s Corvette engine. While not a pony car, it damn sure is a muscle car. Sure you can call it a performance car, but I like muscle better. They haven’t died as blautens says, they have evolved. No cars had horsepower in the mid 70′s until around 82 with the Mustang.
Funny thing is all the cars listed above are fast, but they are made of plastic and recycled beer cans. There will never be anything like any of the “old” cars heavy steel, wild looks, and the sound of the old V8 engine will never be re-created. Y’all can have your ponys and suv’s…..This is just cool, classic style.
There are and have been many powerful cars from all the American and import builders,some like loud and heavy, some small and buzzing, but bottom line we enjoy it, its the American dream, owning a fast car, that atracts people….plain and simple. the firebird built in the 70s was an iconic automobile, it was in many Tv and movie shows, so we all Americans can identify with it, but smokey and the bandit is the first thing we reflect back too…The new stuff today is a step backwards to happier times in America, roads trips, the sound of a rubbling engines, the ability to roast the rear tires…..all an American Tradition….lets all get together and make This country what it once was, American helping and caring for thy fellow American, black or white…..WE are all one…………….
Hey, you at any time think of executing any cross-posting on other blogs? I have a very pretty popular blog and I’d love to have you need to do a guest submit on my website.