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The
Mena Arkansas area has
been the location of the Wilhelmina Rod Run for 32 years.
It was first held on Rich Mountain at
Queen Wilhelmina State Park
for several years on Labor Day weekend but was later moved to the
weekend before Labor Day. Due to the requests that it be
returned to Labor Day weekend it was moved down the mountain to Mena
Arkansas for several years. The first year at Mena, the Rod
Run was held at the Mena Elks Club grounds but was then moved to
Janssen Park. In 2002 it was decided to move it back to
Queen Wilhelmina State Park even though it couldn't be held on Labor Day
weekend. It will be held on August 24-25 in 2007.
In October of 2003 the first
Mena Arkansas Open Car show was held in Janssen Park in Mena.
It was quite a success for the first show. In 2004 it will be
held June 4-5, it features cars, trucks, and motorcycles. You
can contact American Performance for more information at
ap427cars@msn.com .
Mena Arkansas is well
known for it's association with automobile restoration,
customization, and racing.
One of the best known local
automobile related businesses is
Brodix, Inc. with
dealers and customers all around the globe. Brodix aluminum
heads, intake manifolds, and aluminum engine blocks are used by top
race teams all around the world.
Brodix was created after J.V.
Brotherton (the Bro) married Paula Dix whose family owned the Dix
Foundry (the Dix) in Mena Arkansas. J.V.'s hobby of racing
automobiles led him to start making heads for the racing industry.
After many attempts to create a head that met his expectations he
was finally successful in the early 70's and as they say the rest
was history.
The following is a quote from J.V.
Brotherton
"BRODIX
has enjoyed many successes over the years in every form of auto
racing. Many, many records, championships, and titles have been won
with BRODIX products. With the blend of old and new ideas,
the future looks bright. Continuous research and development is a
way of life at BRODIX." J.V. Brotherton, President of Brodix, Inc.
Another well known
business among street rod and performance enthusiasts is
Street & Performance.
They
manufacture and distribute a wide range of performance and aesthetic
items used by some of the top custom builders of street rods across
the country as well as do it yourself builders. Their parts
are regularly featured in several magazines. They supplied an engine
that was used in restoring a '56 Chevy on American Hot Rod on the
Discovery Channel. Street and Performance is one of the
primary sponsors of the Rod Run each year.
American Performance
located in Mena sells a full line of Classic Car and Performance
related apparel. They are the primary sponsor of the Mena
Arkansas Open Car Show.
There are
several other small shops around the Mena area producing various
aftermarket parts for restoration or customization.
If you have a business
related to the restoration, customization, or modification of
automobiles or motorcycles and would like to be mentioned here or
have a paid ad on the page please contact
me at turnerje@tds-vtours.com |
