This year’s Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo presented by eBay Motors will include a special Hall 2 feature that will pay tribute to the ‘golden years’ of drag racing. The Straight Axle Madness presented by Lowdown Hot Rods display will spotlight a remarkable collection of cars that will transport showgoers back to the magical era of the 1960s Gasser Wars and the wild street freaks of the 1970s, who cruised the roads looking for race action.
The iconic Gasser look emerged in the late 1950s within the NHRA Gas Coupe and Sedan classes. These cars were transformed into stripped-down, high-horsepower machines built for one purpose: to dominate the drag strip.
The traditional, heavier front suspension was replaced with a lighter straight-axle setup, helping to reduce weight. To improve traction at the starting line, the front end was raised, shifting the car’s weight rearward onto the rear wheels.
This aggressive stance became a defining feature of the Gasser style, creating a bold statement both on the track and on the street. The era saw the rise of some of the most legendary names in drag racing, including ‘Ohio’ George Montgomery, ‘Big John’ Mazmanian, and Canadian fan favourite ‘Ontario’ George Gray from London, Ontario.
Organized by respected car and racing enthusiast Mark Rogerson, this year’s Straight Axle Madness presented by Lowdown Hot Rods lineup at Motorama is a tribute to the enduring legacy of these classic machines, featuring two iconic Canadian drag cars.
Keith Archer will showcase one of Canada’s finest unrestored drag machines – the legendary Roung Brothers’ championship-winning 1949 Anglia, powered by a 427 engine. And Eric Rand will bring the timeless ‘James Boys’ supercharged 1933 Willys sedan.
The rest of the impressive lineup includes: Al Holmes with his 1938 five-window Chevy coupe powered by a 427 tunnel-rammed engine; Dan Rice’s ONDR favorite 1937 Plymouth coupe; Dave ‘The Wildman’ Copper with his chopped 1949 Anglia; Dennis Dale with his injected 427-powered 1938 Willys sedan; ‘Big Len’ Lessaro’s 1941 Willys coupe with a flip front end and a 426 blown Hemi engine; Marty DeBruyn’s classic 1956 Chevy gasser; and Dave Adams’ famous ‘Iron Mistress’ 1952 Chevy coupe from Ohio.
This year’s display is the largest straight axle showing in Canada, so make sure to stop by and experience these speed machines in person. You might just catch a case of “Straight Axle Madness”!
Motorama takes place March 7, 8 & 9 at The International Centre, across from Toronto’s Pearson Airport. For tickets and show info, visit MotoramaShow.com.
ABOUT THE TORONTO MOTORAMA CUSTOM CAR & MOTORSPORTS EXPO: The tenth annual Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo presented by eBay Motors takes place March 7, 8 & 9, 2025 at The International Centre, across from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The show features more than 330,000 square feet of custom cars, hot rods, racing vehicles of all kinds, trucks, tuners, displays and exhibitors. Motorama is Canada’s biggest late-winter celebration of automobiles and motorsports. For information about the show, including tickets, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, and more, call (416) 962-7223, email info@MotoramaShow.com or visit MotoramaShow.com.
