BlackTop Nationals becomes an indoor event

There was no missing Thomas and Carol Murray’s entry at this year’s BlackTop Nationals. Their beautiful red-and-white 1957 Oldsmobile 88 custom dominated one end of the row of vintage cars on display inside Century II, with its length accented by a full continental kit at the rear.

Murray invested countless hours in the project, rebuilding the 371 cubic inch V8 engine topped by a trio of 2-barrel carburetors. Carol showed off the custom interior, illuminated by red LEDs. They happily answered each and every question about what went into the long-term project.

Their car has clearly become an integral part of their lives, as they brought it all the way from Oklahoma City to exhibit it as part of Wichita’s annual River Festival.

It was undoubtedly the same scenario with almost all of the owners of collector cars, ranging from the early 1900s classics to hot rods of the ’30s and ’40s to modern muscle cars.

The BlackTop Nationals, sponsored by the Midwest Ford Dealers, became an all-indoor event this year, accessible to anyone wearing a Riverfest button. That meant fewer display spots available, but all were in out of the weather, in air-conditioned comfort.

We were able to sneak in before the crowds began flowing through, to get a close look at some of the cars on display. In case you missed it, here’s a little of what we saw through our camera lens. Additional photos are posted in an online gallery attached to this story at www.kansas.com.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 7:52 AM with the headline "BlackTop Nationals becomes an indoor event."