These are some of the guys that kept the model car flame alive in the dark days of the 1970's

[tim boyd]

Model Car Building definitely went through a dark period on the 1970's....more or less between the time that Car Model and Model Car Science stopped publishing in the early 1970's, to the end of the decade when Scale Auto Enthusiast began publication...

But there was a cadre of model car buiders who kept the flame alive....primarily by their near ruthless competition in the MPC National Model Car Championship each year. Since there were no mags back then, this story has largely gone untold. Bruce Owen was the most successful builder of this era, but there were a number of others who were also multiple repeat winners at the regional and national level....

This picture taken at the Goodguys Columbus show last weekend shows (from the right) Tom Woodruff, Chuck Helppie, Bob Shelton, and Tom Dillion. Tom must have been the most successful builder ever in terms of number of Best of Shows at the Ohio locations of the MPC Champsionship, and he was a multiple year top-5 nationwide winner in the MPC series. Chuck Helppie won Best in the Nation in 1977, Third Nationwide in 1976, and Quality Workmanship Nationwide in 1979. Tom Dillion was just becoming a promiment competitor when the MPC series wound down, but he won a much of awards in the late 1970's and went on to more prominence in Scale Auto Enthusiast (Builder of the Year) and the GSL Contest in the 1980's. I don't recall that Bob was a prominent MPC winner but he has played a huge role in our hobby by being co-author (with Bill Coulter) of the hobby's most accepted kit value guide these days.

This picture is of Al Cozby, who entered a Candy Blue Chopped Merc in the 1976 MPC Series that won Best of Show at one of the Ohio shows and was a national finalist in the MPC Series.

There's so much more to be told about this era of model car building. Maybe one of these years....TIM

PS////here is the link to my 2009 Goodguys Columbus Photo Album....TB

2009 Goodguys Columbus - complete photo coverage

[Custom Hearse]

Good to see the great ones are still around. And that includes you Tim! AWESOME!!!!

[ZIL 111V]

Remember seeing ads for the MPC championships back in the second half of the 70's, in various car mags, always wondered who was winning!

...Any of these "pros" kept their "winners" in one piece? sure would be nice to se them 30+ years later, plus pix of the plaques or trophies ....(MCM should think about making a series of articles on past national contest winners, like these gentlemens, & pics of their winning models of the 60's-70's-80's).

[krow]

What a book or article this story would make: The rise and fall and rebirth of model car building as a hobby, The neat thing is that it would show how we got "here" from "there". I remember SAE in the old days and look at what MCM has become and am amazed that any of this flew, much less had the success it has had.I take a look at what Bill Geary does today with the same wonder that I did when looking at the feats of engineering that Dave Shuklis did when I was a kid. It is really amazing just how far we have come. I look at David Susan's work and Ted "Chopper" Lear's work and see this evolution from Bud Anderson's work and my jaw drops now just as fast as it did as a kid. You can see automotive art from Jairus Watson and Harry Pristovnik that pulls you in just like the box art from the "golden days". A lot of people are responsible, and having someone out there put it down would be a heck of a read.

Ken Roenneburg

[randx0]

I recognize those guys and recall some of their later work but I think you were right up there with them.I would love to hear more and see some pics if there are any .I always knew those contests were a pretty big deal but I never knew why. Thanks for the history lesson!

[Al Maciejewski]

Ah, the 70's... I remember them well. Seems like every time I entered the MPC contests in Flint or Detroit, I would get beat out by Bruce Owens!! I remember that in '76 I thought sure I had him beat with my Monza Pro Stock with removable front end, then he showed up with HIS Monza Pro Stock with removable front end AND opening doors!!! I got 1st, he got Best in Show!!! Did it again!!! :lol: Bruce is a great guy, still laugh about that today. The Ohio Tom's & Chuck, they're as much a part of modeling history as the NNL is!

Al Maciejewski

[Modelmartin]

The Ohio Tom's & Chuck, they're as much a part of modeling history as the NNL is!

Hell, they started the NNL movement to boot! Along with Tim B, of course.

[tim boyd]

Hell, they started the NNL movement to boot! Along with Tim B, of course.

Cough....clearing of the throat (SFX).....and let's not forget a certain Mr. Andy Martin ( and Gary Dale) who were also part of that first-ever NNL in summer 1980 in Tom Woodruff's garage.....TB

[tim boyd]

Ah, the 70's... I remember them well. Seems like every time I entered the MPC contests in Flint or Detroit, I would get beat out by Bruce Owens!! I remember that in '76 I thought sure I had him beat with my Monza Pro Stock with removable front end, then he showed up with HIS Monza Pro Stock with removable front end AND opening doors!!! I got 1st, he got Best in Show!!! Did it again!!! Bruce is a great guy, still laugh about that today. The Ohio Tom's & Chuck, they're as much a part of modeling history as the NNL is!

Al Maciejewski

Al...I remember seeing your builds at the early NNL's (right?) and also at the Riders Hobby Shop Flint contest which I helped Chuck Helppie judge a number of times over the years.....always really liked your stuff....particularly a certain 1949 Mercury IIRC....TIM

[tim boyd]

Remember seeing ads for the MPC championships back in the second half of the 70's, in various car mags, always wondered who was winning!

...Any of these "pros" kept their "winners" in one piece? sure would be nice to se them 30+ years later, plus pix of the plaques or trophies ....(MCM should think about making a series of articles on past national contest winners, like these gentlemens, & pics of their winning models of the 60's-70's-80's).

Zil....Chuck, Tom and I still have all our MPC winnders intact....and I presume Bruce Owen does as well (I once visited Bruce and photographed all his models but unfortunately the color slide film did not turn out....the B&W's turned out fine but just didn't think they did his models justice....) TIM

[Modellpularn]

I remember reading about these contests in Car Model, and was very impressed. I guess I picked up a tip or two..... Over here, we only had one place, once a year, that was the Big One. The model contest at The Hot Rod Show in the "Marble Halls" Sadly, that place is ruined. Gave way to car park on the upper floor, where the marble was paved - asphalt!!!

Back to the 70's: Those contests became the place where I showed my stuff, and usually came out on top. 1973-76 were the golden years at the Marble Halls. Then the Hot Rod Show had to move to a new location, and the magic of the old place was gone forever. But I kept on building. 1978 Was a good year for me, I got coverage of my models in Street Rodder, and almost landed a job at Revell. But it never worked, being a foreigner, green card and other red tape problems..... I should have hopped a plane, swept up some babe and gotten married. Then maybe.....

[Modellpularn]

Here's a pic from a magazine article about yours truly. Says something like me being a legend to the swedish model builders..... ohh well....

[E St. Kruiser50]

AHHHHH YESSSSS - The 70's.

Had just gotten married and had a new baby girl.

It was fun watchin' all these NEW YOUNG KID'S building and winning, and keeping the hobby alive and well.

We all got a shot, and it sure was fun.