Wednesday, May 4, 2005
1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights
BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer
Scott Parkinson of Warwick checked out a lot of Chevrolet Chevelles when
he was looking for a hobby car two years ago. He chose this 1972 Super Sport
from Attleboro because it was in better shape, at a better price, than the
others.
Then he made it even better. He beefed up the engine with a four-barrel Holley
750 carburator and detailed the engine compartment with chrome accessories.
The engine was bored and got a new intake system, aluminum heads and a high
performance camshaft and now produces 425 horsepower. Parkinson lowered the
suspension, installed 17-inch tires on American Racing wheels and added a gauge
package and dual exhausts.
The previous owner painted the Chevy in a Dodge truck metallic blue, with
silver specks and white racing stripes that are especially effective on the
factory racing hood, which features cowl induction.
Some of the items are non-stock, including the aftermarket steering wheel.
He replaced the original wheel "because it was too big."
The efforts of Parkinson and his wife, Jean, have earned them several trophies
at local shows. He goes to as many cruise nights as he can, and he modifies
the
Chevy
as the
mood
strikes
him. He's always been a GM guy, weaned on the '76 Corvette that his dad let
him drive.
And he likes driving the Chevelle because that's what it's all about. "I
think I'm all through making modifications for this year," he says. "This
summer, I'm just going to drive it."
Engine/transmission: 350-cubic-inch V8; three-speed automatic.
Color: Dodge blue with white racing stripes.
Mileage: 32,000 on restoration.
Plate: JX994.
Can be seen: Oakland Beach, Warwick, on Tuesdays, Denny's in Coventry on
Wednesday and Crescent Park, East Providence, on Saturdays.
Condition: Modified restoration.
If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please
e-mail bbeaulie
[at] projo.com with details.
Shows/events •
Weekly Cruise
Nights
Getting into gear
Although Mother's Day on Sunday has left a blank in the car show schedule
this weekend, many of the weekly cruise nights are getting into high gear.
Tonight is the first night for the new season at Denny's in Coventry, and
tomorrow night kicks off Scramblers diner in Woonsocket and TGI Fridays, at
the junction of Routes 117 and 2, Warwick.
Also starting up this week were the cruise nights at Seekonk Speedway, and
Towne Pizza in Rochester, Mass., both on Monday, and the Jukebox Diner in Somerset,
Mass., last night. Another Massachusetts cruise, near the former Cliquot Club
bottling plant on Route 109, Millis, begins Saturday.
The Towne Pizza and Jukebox Diner cruises are sponsored by the Downshifters
Car Club, which has an ambitious schedule that also includes the weekly event
at the Star Drive-In in Taunton and the monthly get-togethers at Mattapoisett
Wharf in Mattapoisett, St. Mary's Church in Dartmouth, the Shawmut diner in
New Bedford and the Tiveron stop at Market Place Plaza the first and third
Saturday of each month, beginning this week.
The cruise nights that are not held weekly are listed by date in our shows/events
listing.
MAY
Friday, May 6 -- Mattapoisett wharf, Mattapoisett, Mass., 5-9.
Saturday, May 7 -- Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.
May 12 -- Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton, Mass., 6-9.
May 13 -- St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.
May 14 and 15 -- Swap meet and car show, Tweeter Center grounds, Routes 140
and 495, Mansfield, Mass. 6 a.m.-dusk Saturday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
May 15 -- All-makes show, St. Angelo Buick-Pontiac-GMC, 500 Taunton Ave.,
East Providence, 8-4. Postponed from May 1.
May 15 -- J.B. Francis School, 325 Miantonomo Drive, Warwick, 9-3.
May 15 -- Cadillac day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
May 17 -- Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5-dusk.
May 20 -- Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New Bedford,
Mass., 5-9.
May 21 -- Kruse auction, Topsfield Fair grounds, 200 Boston St., Topsfield,
Mass., 10 a.m.
May 22 -- Judged show, Topsfield Fair grounds, 200 Boston St., Topsfield,
Mass., 10 a.m.
May 22 -- Italian car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
May 29 -- Riverside show, Fred's Service Center, 3730 Pawtucket Ave., East
Providence, 9-2:30.
May 30 -- Johnston Memorial Park, Route 6, Johnston, 9-3.
JUNE
June 4-5 -- Concours d'Elegance, Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch St.,
Greenwich, Conn., 10-5. American cars on Saturday, European cars on Sunday.
June 5 -- All-Pontiac show, Fiore Pontiac, Route 2, Warwick, 9-3.
June 5 -- Mopar show, Golfland, Manchester, Conn., 9-3.
June 5 -- French car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 12 -- July Fourth committee show, Guiteras School, Route 114, Bristol,
9-3.
June 12 -- Corvette day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 17 -- British car rally, leaves from Gazebo at the Village Green, Route
116, North Scituate, to mystery location, 6-6:30
June 18 -- Camaro-Firebird day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 19 -- Corvette show, New England Institute of Technology, off Jefferson
Boulevard, Warwick, 9-3.
June 19 -- German car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
June 25 -- Orphan car day (Packards, Studebakers, etc.) Museum of Transportation,
Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 9-3.
June 26 -- Forever Ford show, Goddard State Park, 345 Ives Rd., Warwick, 8
a.m.-2:30 p.m.
June 26 -- Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive, off Route 1, North Kingstown,
10-3.
June 26 -- All-Chevy show, Diamond Hill State Park, Route 114, Cumberland,
9-3.
June 26 -- British car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline,
Mass., 9-3.
WEEKLY CRUISE NIGHTS
Sundays
Sam's Club, Route 6, Seekonk, 5-dusk.
Mondays
Seekonk Speedway, Route 6, Seekonk, 6-dusk, begins May 2.
Towne Pizza, Plum Corner, off Route 105, Rochester, Mass., 5-9, begins May
2.
Motorcycles, Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.
Tuesdays
A&W, Route 44, Smithfield, 6-9.
Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9, begins May 24.
Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, 5-9, begins May 3.
Slater Park, Pawtucket, 5-9, begins May 10.
Wednesdays
Warwick Mall, food court entrance, Route 2, Warwick, 6-9, begins May 18.
Denny's, Exit 7 off Route 95, Coventry, 6-9, begins May 4.
Main Street, Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30, begins June 1.
Thursdays
Scramblers diner, off Route 122, Woonsocket, 5-9, begins May 5.
Star Drive-In, exit 10 off Route 140, Taunton, Mass. 5-9.
Fridays
McDonald's, Stop & Shop plaza, Route 122, Cumberland, 6-9.
Firestone tire store, Post Road, Route 1, Warwick, 6-9, begins May 20.
Gazebo at the Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, 5-dusk. British cars
and others.
Saturdays
Carousel at Crescent Park Drive, Riverside, 5-8, begins April 30.
Cliquot cruise, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9, begins May 7.
Gillette Corner, behind MacDonald's, Routes 10 and 202 Southwick, Mass., 6-9.
To list an event, e-mail information to Bbeaulie
[at] projo.com, phone (401) 277-7179,
fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features
Department, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.
