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Rick Scribner of Francestown, NH won the Jim Martel Best of Show Trophy at the 3rd Annual New England Racers Reunion with his 1932 Nitti Ford Roadster. Known as one of the premier historical hot rods in the country the car was originally built by Joe Nitti of California shortly after World War II. To prove the cars prowess Nitti captured a Class A-Roadster victory on the salt flats of El Mirage, California on June 30, 1949 with a time of 125.18 MPH. The late New Hampshire car enthusiast Gene Scribner purchased the car in 2010 and now his son Rick is the care taker of the historic roadster.

The car has a storied history and has been an award winner for over 70 years. It captured its first major trophy in 1950 by winning the California’s Most Beautiful Roadster Award at the Los Angeles Hot Rod Show and more recently won the Bruce Meyer Hot Rod Preservation Award in 2000 at the Grand National Roadster Show. The car features unique styling tricks which include dropped chrome axle, 39’ Ford taillights, chrome lakes pipes, Hank Negley-built V’ed spreader bar, a filled and peaked radiator shell and a custom dual-insert dashboard.

A souped-up ’46 Merc 59A flathead motor provides the power. The entire car features stunning chrome and polished parts. The car is recognized in hot rodding circles by its unique bodywork and paint color which was inspired by Union Oil cans that advertised the Royal Triton brand of oil. The custom deep purple color and attention to detail make this car a perpetual award winner.

Before purpose built drag strips were built across the United States, racers resorted to street racing, racing on airport runways and racing on the dry lake beds of the west coast. They would drive to the race meet and unbolt any unnecessary parts to save weight and increase speed. When finished for the day the parts went back on the car to make them street legal again for the drive home. Ford became the first auto manufacturer to mass produce a car with a V8 engine. The availability and affordability of the 1932 Ford was the nucleus that propelled the hot rod revolution into high gear.