Du Quoin car builders Welcome Wagon for the NATs
Car builder Ed Pursell of Du Quoin was part of the chrome-plated sub-culture of an earlier Street Machine Nationals that ended its first run in Du Quoin in 1998.
Sixteen years later, he is retired from a substantial career as a plumber, and wife Peg just retired as principal of the Du Quoin Elementary School.
As soon as the 2013 reconstituted Street NATs ended in Du Quoin and the announcement was made that the show would return in 2014 Ed and son Eddie went to work building a new truck for this year's NATs--a low-riding 1954 Ford F100 that will be judged in the "rat rod" category.
The truck features a 454 cubic inch engine that came out of an RV, a cantilevered front end and sheet metal from more than one salvage yard or recycling center in Southern Illinois. But, it turned out to be a great build and a great truck. Son Eddie helped with the project that began on October 1 of last year and was completed on March 31 of this year.
The truck will join the family's 1961 red Chevrolet Corvette that will be in the show, as well.
Pursell and about 25 other past and future generation car builders from Du Quoin will serve as the NATs Welcome Wagon. They will camp out on a choice piece of high performance real estate just inside Gate 1 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.
Electricians and plumbers are in the Pursell gene pool, but Pursell says car building provides the family with some quality time together.
The 2014 show opened Thursday afternoon with participant registration just inside Gate 4 off East Jackson Street as a storm cell centered on Du Quoin and the show.
Participants say they are staying positive about the weather.
The daily schedule begins Friday morning and the show ends on Sunday with the Miss Street Machines Nationals competition and the awards presentation. More than 40 performance and Show 'n Shine awards will be handed out.
The show is sponsored by Indianapolis-based Family Events, which hopes to make Du Quoin the permanent home of the NATs.