HOT ROD SUPER NATIONALS Car enthusiast has the drive to win his 5th championship

The event pumped $1.2 million into the local economy last year.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Jim Martino didn't want to rest on his laurels after winning four grand championships at the Hot Rod Super Nationals.
"I won so much, it's time to make changes," he said. "Always have something new, that's the name of the game."
Martino, a Naperville, Ill., resident who builds show cars for a living, decided to rebuild his champion 1970 Oldsmobile 442. He won championships with the car in 1996-1998 and 2000.
The car is still in the shop; Martino said he's spent $100,000 rebuilding it so far. He wants to make sure it's in championship shape for the future.
"I plan on winning again," he said. "There's an ego thing involved."
Yet that doesn't mean Martino is going to skip the 25th annual Hot Rod Super Nationals this weekend at the Canfield Fairgrounds, or the parade of past grand champions that will be part of the event. He's been attending the event since 1992.
He'll simply bring his other car: a replica of the Black Interceptor Mel Gibson drove in the Mad Max movies.
The parade is set to start at about 5 p.m. Friday at the Bank One parking lot on the Canfield Green and continue down state Route 46 to the fairgrounds. Participant registration for the Super Nationals starts today at noon at the fairgrounds.
Grand championships are awarded at each Super Nationals to the owners of what are judged to be the best vehicles in four categories: street; street rod; two-wheel truck; and pro vehicle. Super Nationals promoters said the parade will honor both the event's 25th anniversary and past grand champions.
Big event
The Super Nationals was first held at the fairgrounds in June 1987. That year, the event drew about 43,000 spectators.
Event Promoter Chris Bass said 2,153 participants and 51,353 spectators attended last year's Super Nationals. He wouldn't predict attendance for this year.
"If God brings the weather, we'll bring the people," Bass said.
The Youngstown/Mahoning County Convention and Visitor's Bureau estimated that last year's event pumped about $1.2 million into the local economy through the purchase of food, gas and hotel rooms.
Bass expects the highlights of this year's Super Nationals to include the celebrity and amateur demolition derbies, as well as autograph signings by Paul LeMat, who played John Milner in the 1973 film "American Graffiti."
Martino said he enjoys the variety of different activities offered at the event, including the performance marketplace.
"There's always something to do -- you're never bored," he said.
Ken Faust, a three-time grand champion from Pennsburg, Pa., said the variety of cars on display at the Super Nationals is the event's big attractions.
"You have cars from street cars, to customs, to classics. It's a nice mix," said Faust, who will drive his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro in Friday night's parade.
hill@vindy.com