Photos From the 2004 Aero Warrior Reunion
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame
By Ken R. Noffsinger

Aero car enthusiasts have gathered in Talladega, Alabama from time to time to celebrate the automotive legacy of the Aero Wars - the Dodge Charger 500 and Daytona, Plymouth SuperBird, Ford Torino Talladega and the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II. Reunions have been held in 1988, 1994, 1999, and 2004. Photos from the 2004 meeting are showcased here. Other pic's of the 2004 event taken at host Tim Wellborn's home and at Talladega Superspeedway are also available.

The Aero Warrior Reunion participants met at The International Motorsports Hall of Fame to tour the museum and display their cars for the NASCAR Nextel Cup EA Sports 500 race fans. Among the special guests in attendance at the Hall of Fame was Charlie Gray, director of Ford's NASCAR racing program during the aero car era. In fact, Charlie was the one that christened Ford's special Torino the "Talladega". Also representing the Ford camp were Bill Holbrook, a Ford factory mechanic and John Bach, Holman-Moody and Wood Brothers team member.

Chrysler was well represented by Larry Rathgeb, racing boss during the aero wars, as well as racing engineer George Wallace.

Drivers making an appearance were Bobby Alison, Buddy Baker, Charlie Glotzbach and Neil Castles.

Photos by Doug Schellinger
		From left to right: Bill Holbrook, Larry Rathgeb, Charlie Glotzbach, Charlie Gray and George Wallace.

Photos by Joe Machado
Neil "Soapy" Castles autographing Reunion memoriabilia.
Bobby Allison with Joe Machado.
	John Powers with the #71 K&K Insurance Daytona and the #7 Stott SuperBird.

Photos by John Powers
From left to right: Ford honcho Charlie Gray with John Bach and Bill Holbrook.	From left to right: Charlie Gray, John Powers and Bill Holbrook.	From left to right: Charlie Gray and Bill Holbrook.
Internationally known veterinary surgeon, researcher and lecturer Jim Wells took time out from his very busy schedule to bring his Talladega to the Reunion.
		Charlie Glotzbach (left) and Buddy Baker pose with the very pit board that reported Buddy's record breaking lap of 200.447 MPH.

Photos by Ken Noffsinger
From left to right: Steve Lehto, Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, Larry Rathgeb, Charlie Glotzbach, George Wallace, Charlie Gray (hidden), Bill Holbrook, Doug Schellinger and John Bach.	From left to right: Steve Lehto, Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, Larry Rathgeb, Charlie Glotzbach, George Wallace, Charlie Gray (hidden), Bill Holbrook, Doug Schellinger and John Bach (hidden).	In this photo and those below, Buddy Baker poses with the chalkboard on which Larry Rathgeb wrote "200.447", letting Buddy know his record speed at Talladega in March of 1970.
	Ironically, the car in the photograph is not the car which Buddy drove, officially, over the 200 MPH barrier. It is in fact the the slow speed Chrysler Engineering test car which was donated to the Hall of Fame after being painted by Chrysler in the record breaking #88 colors.

Photos by Randal Gaereminck
Steve Lehto, Buddy Baker and Bobby Allison	Bobby Allison, Larry Rathgeb, Charlie Glotzbach and George Wallace	Steve Lehto, Buddy Baker and Bobby Allison
Larry Rathgeb, Charlie Glotzbach, George Wallace and Charlie Gray.
	In the surrounding photos, Buddy Baker poses with the chalkboard on which Larry Rathgeb wrote "200.447", letting Buddy know his record speed at Talladega in March of 1970. As explained just above, the car in the photograph is not the car which Buddy drove, officially, over the 200 MPH barrier. Larry Rathgeb was given the pit board upon his retirement from Chrysler, and he donated it the musuem during his time there for the Reunion.

Photos by Steve Lehto
		From left to right: Charlie Glotzbach, Larry Rathgeb and George Wallace
	Author Steve Lehto with the #71 K&K Insurance Daytona.