Beech Bend Gets Boosted: Buick GS Nationals 2014

GSNATS-26*Photos by Jeff Lee, Jason McLure, and members of the GS Club of America 

The Buick GS Nationals is an event held by the Buick GS Club of America, and has been the Buick event for late-model Turbo Buicks for over the last thirty years. Initially created to cater to owners of classic Buick musclecars of the ’60s and ’70s, the event has, overtime, evolved into the GN/GNX/T-Type extravaganza that it is today. Now although the Turbo Buick crowd is seemingly dominant in attendance, that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t plenty of classic Buick action happening on the dragstrip and in the show fields. There are even classes for late-model FWD examples, and Buick-powered vehicles of other makes; such as the ’89 Turbo Trans Am.

During the weekend of October 15-18th, Buicks from all over the country gathered at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 31st Buick GS Nationals. The event featured a show and  shine, drag racing, and for the first time ever, an autocross course! While we were only able to make an appearance on a single day this year, we certainly made the most of our attendance!

We’ve featured a photo gallery of some of the hottest Turbo Buicks in attendance, as well as all of the race and show results for the Turbo Regal classes on behalf of the GSCA below!

2014 Buick GS Nationals Race Results:

TSO: Turbo Street Outlaw

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7.637 @ 184.32  -vs-   7.775 @ 175.00 mph

  • 1st: #7273  Tony Gomes, Suffield, CT  ’87 Buick
  • 2nd: #7032  Gary Harmon, Springhill, FL  ’87 Buick GN
  • #1 Qualifier/Low ET/Top Speed: Tony Gomes  (7.732 @ 182.21 mph)

TSM: Turbo Street Modified

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TSM:  8.967 @ 149.28  -vs-  9.134 @ 142.97 mph

  • 1st: #7204  Richie Balcom, Largo, FL  ’87 T-Type  R/T: 0.036
  • 2nd: #7239  John Plog, Plattsmouth, NE  ’87 GN  R/T: 0.131
  • #1 Qualifier/Low ET: John Plog  9.082

THS: Turbo Hot Street

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THS:  9.963 @ 137.25  -vs-  Bye

  • 1st: #742  David Day, Willsonville, IL  ’87 Buick GN, R/T: 0.345

TAI: Turbo Alcohol Injection (1/8th-mile)

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TAI 1/8 mile:  6.786 @ 107.19  – vs-  6.841 @ 103.21 mph 

  • 1st: #7338 Bryan Lynch – O’Fallon, MO; ’87 Buick GN
  • 2nd: #7261  Fred Milman, FL  ’86  Buick GN
  • #1 Qualifier/Low ET/Top Speed: ‘JD’ DiLorenzo  6.514 @ 106.82 mph

TSA: Turbo Stock Appearing

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TSA:  11.149 @ 119.35  -vs-  12.051 @ 115.27 mph 

  • 1st: #7211  John Tubbs, Green Bay, WI  ’87 Buick Regal
  • 2nd: #7012  Dale Collins, Port Clinton, OH  ’87 Buick Regal
  • #1 Qualifier/Low ET/Top Speed: John Tubbs  11.349 @ 119.16 mph

2014 Buick GS Nationals Show Results:

Class G:  Race Car (Current GS Nats time slip required)
1st:  John Csordas  #7300 – ’71
2nd:  Jamie Wolcott  #7012 – ’87

Class H:  Non GS/GN, Buick Powered
1st:  Cory Harris  #7299 – ’73
2nd:  Al Shapiro  #7071 – ’84

Class I:  GN & Turbo Regal (Stock 0-3 Modifications)  
1st:  David James  #7320 – ’87
2nd:  Bob Smith  #7326 – ’87

Class J:  GN & Turbo Regal (4-10 Modifications)
1st:  Nancy Pasco  #7301 – ’87
2nd:  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Class K:  GN & Turbo Regal  (Heavily Modified)
1st:  John Bowling  #4318 – ’87
2nd:  Wayne Holder  #7294 – ’86

Class L:  GNX (Stock, 0-3 Modifications)
1st:  Brad Weber  #7086 – ’87
2nd:  Bruce Cashley  #7316 – ’87

Class M:  GS Front Wheel Drive (1985 to Present, 0-3 mods)
1st:  David Newton  #7051 – ’92
2nd:  Nancy Gim #7 – ’15

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