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With a record breaking spectator crowd on hand, Steve Bonugli bested the other 193 show cars in attendance to win the inaugural Parker-Coraine Trophy at our annual Hot Rods, Muscle and More Car Show fundraiser. Bonugli’s flawless 1956 Ford F100 383 big block creation turned heads all day at the North East Motor Sports Museum.

Steve and his brother Cory completed all the mechanical work on the truck which features an incredible body and paint job that was applied by Ak-Rod’s and Customs. The beautiful interior and its presentation was equally matched by the pristine bird’s eye maple and walnut bed. We would like to thank Steve and all the car owners, spectators and volunteers who chose to support today’s Hot Rods, Muscle and More Car Show fundraiser at the museum. See you all next year for another great show!

More about the trophy’s namesake Ted Parker and Gil Coraine.

Ted Parker and Gil Coraine in which the trophy is named after are two incredibly important people that have helped launched the early success of the museum.

“Torrid” Ted Parker is an accomplished motorcycle drag racer and V6 Supermodified standout. He was a champion motorcycle racer at New England Dragway and set two world records racing Harley-Davidsons. He then went onto racing V6 Supers were he won three championships at Hudson Speedway. One of Ted’s Supers is currently on display at the museum. Ted, an accomplished entrepreneur and business owner has been a valued contributor and benefactor of the museum. Ted can be found at almost all of the museums events.

Gil Coraine’s roots in motorsports can be traced back to the early days of drag racing in New England. While a student he stated the Peace Pipes club which in 1960 was accepted into the New England Hot Rod Council. He and his club helped operate drag racing at the Sanford Maine airport and eventually that help would migrate south to Epping, New Hampshire’s New England Dragway in 1966. Gil became New England Dragway’s first advertising and PR director, when you hear the “SunnDaay” radio jingle think of Gil. Gil’s accomplishments have landed him numerous honors such as being inducted into the Ty-Rods Hall of Fame and Orientals Hot Rod Club Hall of Fame. Gil served as the museums first general manager and has offered his skills to its board for many years.

Ted and Gil formed a friendship when Ted started racing at New England Dragway in the 1970’s. So we found it fitting that the friendship of these two great museum contributors shall be honored on our annual best of show car show trophy.

The event was a fundraiser for the museum which is a 501-c-3 nonprofit.