Asphalt Ego-Rama V

The second quickest dragstrip time was posted by Jim's full-fendered Deuce. Jim raced a rail himself back in the '60s, and although the '32 was built for the highway, the small-block can pull it down the quarter-mile just fine.

Kevin was the man with the numbers everyone wanted as things started heating up during the performance testing.

Getting a little sideways in the '29. Hang on, Rich! Looks like he forgot this was the slalom course, which is not about horsepower. The end of the course is actually behind him.

At SO-CAL Speed Shop, we got the full tour, plus lunch. In addition to some amazing hot rod buildups, SO-CAL is always involved in a number of high-tech race projects.

After feeding us lunch, Pete Chapouris and Alex Xydias answered questions, posed for photos, and autographed stamped aluminum SO-CAL shop signs, which they gave to every Asphalt Ego-Rama participant.

We spent some time at the Kennedy Brothers shop, checking out the traditional rods, such as this unchopped '32 five-window (the body is going to stay just like that) and the radically chopped, Hemi-powered version next to it.

The Twilight Cruise is a first-Wednesday-of-the-month tradition at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, drawing hundreds of pre-'74 cars and thousands of spectators. The organizers saved seven primo spots for Asphalt Ego-Rama participants.

At the end of a long, fun week, the Asphalt Ego-Rama awards presentation took place at Boyd Coddington's shop, but not until everybody had a chance to look around.

Jim Shelton's goal was to replicate the style of the first hot rods that could drive to the strip or the lake, compete, and drive home. In the two years he has been driving the roadster, he has covered more than 45,000 miles. He finished first in Fuel Economy and Ride and Drive categories, and very high in Craftsmanship, Braking, and People's Choice, and is the 2005 Asphalt Ego-Rama champion.