The KC Slammers held their annual club auction on Tuesday, November 1, at the North KC Community Center. A lot of the crew was there and the money and the laughs flowed freely.

The proceeds from the annual sale go to help offset the costs of the club expenses for the Christmas Potluck dinner to be held in December. But, the main reason the club has it every year is that it's just so darned much fun to do!

Jerrald was our auctioneer again this year and was ably assisted by Orbie and Robert P. Zimm took the night off from his usual "assistant duties" this year but we'll look forward to his return in that job in 2012.

On a clear and crispy December evening, the Slammers held yet another Annual Christams Potluck Dinner. It was held this year at the North Kansas City Community Center and attended by many members of the club. Spouses and friends were in attendance as well.

We had a very short business meeting, but the main reason for the December Meeting is for some serious eating and lots of good visiting and many laughs to go around. Our "Model Buildin' Pastor" - Leonard Poppe - said grace for the gang and then we descended on the buffet line to fill up our plates. The club provided the plates and dinnerware, bought the ice, pop, and water. All of the food was cooked and brought in by the members and families.

After we all ate, acting-Santa Zimm ran the White Elephant Gift Exchange for the Slammers that wished to participate (6 of us this year). Bill Helm got the prize of the night by selecting the first gift and in it was wrapped a genuine friction-powered rat. Oddly, in subsequent gift draws... NOBODY challenged Bill's claim on that special item. He went home smiling with his "rat rod" !

The winner of the monthly club theme build (and $5 cash) was Alyn Loya with his great '57 Chevy build for the theme "Red or Green - Ya Know What I Mean?"

What a great night it was for us all to just kick back and have a great time with our Slammer Family! Merry Christmas to all !

Slammers, Jerry Mounce, Dick Zimmerman, Larry Todd, Orbie Hardister and Jerrald Braiuca set up a display at the 3rd annual Hot Rod Hullabaloo at South Park, in Lawrence, KS. Had a great day watching the car show and listening to the live Rock-A-Billy bands, despite the wind. Want to also recognize that Dick's wife Nan and Larry's wife Dianne also came to support (that and make trips to the Brit store....). Thank you ladies!

In business since 1967... Sunday, November 20, 2011, marked the last day of operations for K.C.I.R.

Regrettably, nothing lasts forever on this earth and the legendary Kansas City dragstrip fell victim to the land-grabbing growth of the city. The city plans to build a community park on the raceway grounds at some point in the future. There was quite a bit of controversy over the aquisition of the KCIR property and how the whole deal came down. Throughout its history, KCIR played host to the greats of straightline racing - Garlits, Muldowney, and many others shot down the 1/4 mile in their beautiful machines with smoke, fire, and deafening noise. In truth, when the end came for the dragstrip, it was that very smoke, fire, and noise that contributed to the demise of the track.

In 1967, the new KCIR was out on the edge of the city surrounded by farm fields, cows, and some rural residential homes and small businesses. For many years, there was no one in the immediate area to be concerned about and, in fact, the local hamlet of Knobtown financially benefited greatly from the weekend crowds that went to the drag races.

Through the years, the residential building has boomed in that rural area. Ironically, it was the very same rural country charm and local hills, trees, and winding roads that drew in the homeowners and land developers. The new crowd of wealthy and influential homeowners began to complain about the loud engine noise and traffic that are always a part of drag races. Eventually, the homeowners got the attention of the politicians and they won out. KCIR was sold to the city of Kansas City for "future development".

The last weekend was cold, cloudy, and rainy. But still, the diehard drag fans turned out for some last runs down the KCIR Strip. It was a "Run Whatcha Brung" meet for the locals so they could all say goodbye to KCIR and all the wonderful weekends of the last 44 years. There were no big name drag racers present and the weather was miserable (the races were rained out on Saturday and moved to Sunday and the turnout was low due to the weather).

KCIR, like so many things and places just faded away into the memory books. The KC Slammers were lucky to have members Alan Sterbenz and his son, Dalton, in attendance at the last day. Alan and Dalton took their classic 1957 T-Bird for a last run down the old track. Alan also provided us with the great pictures in this album for all to enjoy.

So long KCIR, you will be missed!

Each year here in KC, the guys and gals of Los Punk Rods put on a great car show called the Greaserama. Its specialty is alternative rods and kustoms - what some call "Rat Rods" (a term not used much anymore).

It's a two day festival of the unusual in cars, music, clothes, and lifestyles. There's more tatoos and piercings than you can shake a stick at!

The KC Slammers usually stage a model car display for the event but this year we took a break and several of us just went and enjoyed the sounds, people, colors, smells, and those great cars!

It's held at the old Boulevard Drive-In Theater in KC, Kansas on Mission Drive. The venue is perfect for the event and, on Saturday night, they even show "vintage" rodder movies on the theater screen.

This year the special guest was Butch Patrick, a.k.a. "Eddie" from the hit TV Show "The Munsters"! Butch is a little older now but he's a really nice guy!

Next year, on Labor Day Weekend, plan on spending at least a day on that weekend at the Greaserama. You'll have a ball !

The KC Slammers were invited back this year to run the model contest for the Gladstone, Missouri Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Autumn Gladfest community fair. Here are pics of the full size car show held on Sunday, October 2nd