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2006 Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals Indy - Big Wet OneSoaking In Some Great Rods and Customs at the Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Tim Bernsau
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One of these years we're going to remember to bring a poncho to this show. Year after year, raindrops follow the cars onto the grounds of Indianapolis Raceway Park. It's part of the tradition at the Goodguys Hot Rod Nats, I guess, and the typical mid-June heartland weather never seems to dowse the enthusiasm of the participants or the quality of the hot rods and custom cars. Even though the rain prevented any passes down the dragstrip on Saturday and Sunday, the place stayed packed all weekend long. This was the 18th year for the Hot Rod Nats, making it one of Goodguys longest running events, drawing something like 5,000 vehicles from from all over the country, and a few from Canada. Goodguys lets in any '72 and earlier iron. Rods, customs, and classic trucks mingled with musclecars, street machines and pickups. High-dollar pro-built beauties mixed it up with high-mileage homebuilt jobs. High-tech national show winners rolled in alongside traditionally-styled retro rides. Speaking of traditional, they really know how to do it in Indy, especially when it comes to paint. There was metalflake and black suede in abundance, dressed up with our favorite graphics-flames, scallops, and low-key 'striping. Even a lot of the high-tech cars had one eye on traditional styling, and blending up to date technology with old-time style may end up as the definitive look of this decade. Take a look at some of our our Top 10 picks to see what we're talking about.  One of the reasons we like...  One of the reasons we like Indianapolis Raceway Park so much is that we can watch hot rods smoke 'em on the starting line. We only got to like it for one day this year, since the the on-again-off-again rain kept the dragstrip silent on Saturday and Sunday.  We've seen this amazing '29...  We've seen this amazing '29 in several stages ever since Brian "Tinman" Limberg was an R&C Young Gun several years ago..  ...The roadster, built from...  ...The roadster, built from a handmade body on custom rails with quarter elliptic springs at both ends, plus friction shocks, and '34 trailing arms, is finally finished...  ...Brian, who insists this...  ...Brian, who insists this isn't a modified since the scratchbuilt car offered nothing to modify, drove the car to Indy for its debut, getting good and soaked in the process.  It takes zero mods to make...  It takes zero mods to make a '63 Riv cool, but John Kouw added many to move Kevin Anderson's custom to the next level...  ...Shaved sheetmetal, one-piece...  ...Shaved sheetmetal, one-piece side windows, 2 1/2-inch chop, handbuilt grille, '61 Imperial headlights, and pearlescent gold paint are just the beginning...  ...Team Skins handled the...  ...Team Skins handled the interior, which features a mother of pearl dash. A left-alone Buick 425 is the perfect engine choice.  Jeff Wingo was still in high...  Jeff Wingo was still in high school in the '80s when he bought this '50 Studebaker pickup...  ...The bed floor was created...  ...The bed floor was created from a sheet of aluminum, hand ground and finished with candy paint under clear.  ...Since then he's treated...  ...Since then he's treated the truck to a C4 suspension, Ramjet 350 engine, and candy copper paint. A 1 3/4-inch chop, Jeep headlights, F-150 tailgate, and Chrysler 300M seats take this Stude far from stock...  This sweet Deuce has been...  This sweet Deuce has been all over this summer, from Indy to the L.A. Roadster Show to Nashville...  ...Mike Rutter at Rutterz...  ...Mike Rutter at Rutterz Rodz built the roadster for Michael Bunch. It's got a Pete & Jake's front end, Currie 9-inch rear, and a 425hp 383 Chevy with a Barry Grant SixShooter carb...  ...Paul Atkins filled the...  ...Paul Atkins filled the elegant interior with a '33 Dodge dash, '56 Chevy wheel, a '33 Dodge instrument panel, and an updated heat box from the early '30s.  We love seeing Tri-Five Bowties...  We love seeing Tri-Five Bowties when they're done differently, like Oscar Gamble's slippery smooth '56 Handyman wagon, built by the owner and the guys at Randy's Body Shop in Paducah, Kentucky...  ...The interior includes black...  ...The interior includes black leather Camaro seats. The engine is a ZZ430.  ...The extra-clean exterior...  ...The extra-clean exterior features front and rear bumpers were narrowed and tucked into the body. The front suspension includes Heidt's tubular A-arms...  Remember Seth Wagner's radically...  Remember Seth Wagner's radically reworked Willys pickup from the Great 8 line-up at the Detroit Autorama?...  ...but we doubt that young...  ...but we doubt that young John's first car was anywhere near as nice as this Alan Johnson-built '32 five-window...  ...The interior, covered in...  ...The interior, covered in shrunken buffalo leather, will make you're your mouth water.  Somebody told us that John...  Somebody told us that John Ficquette wrecked a car similar to this one when he was a teenager...  ...How can you beat the look...  ...How can you beat the look of a three-piece hood, Americans, a Super Bell axle, hairpins, '37 taillights, and a single inch out of the top of this cool copper highboy coupe?  Cupageno is the name of the...  Cupageno is the name of the custom tan color Gene Younk selected for his '35 Ford roadster, which is set off by red rims, pinstriping, and custom interior from Mark Milbrandt...  ...Red also extends to the...  ...Red also extends to the 383 stroker small-block with triple deuces. The suspension includes a 4-link rear, 4-inch Bell dropped front axle, and drilled split wishbones...  ...Most of the work was done...  ...Most of the work was done right in Gene's garage.  We can't get enough of the...  We can't get enough of the Lunar Lander, Aaron Grote's '60s-ish homebuilt custom show rod, built from a '59 Oldsmobile body, filled with a Chuck Bauer interior and covered with blue metalflake and white paint...  ...The Chevy mill is inducted...  ...The Chevy mill is inducted by Rochester carbs on an Offy intake. Unlike subtler rods...  ...the Lunar Lander loudly...  ...the Lunar Lander loudly announces the imagination and work that went into it.  Patrick Quinn's ice blue '40...  Patrick Quinn's ice blue '40 Chevy ragtop stopped us in our tracks at the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville last year and did it again in Indy...  ...With the exception of the...  ...With the exception of the Scott Arnold paint and the Steve Ralfs interior, this is a homebuilt rod. With C4 suspension components underneath...  ...and an LS1 engine under...  ...and an LS1 engine under the hood, this could be the Corvette Chevy would've built in 1940. Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year  Goodguys made a great choice,...  Goodguys made a great choice, picking Greg Gilbertson's '33 coupe as it's Hot Rod of the Year...  ...That's because the nitroused...  ...That's because the nitroused 502 Rat motor and full cage scream hot rod...  ...plus a Paul Atkins interior,...  ...plus a Paul Atkins interior, classic Americans, Magnum axles, and a Richmond quickchange help Gilbertson's hot rod combine traditional and contemporary...  ...but the Rat's Glass three-window...  ...but the Rat's Glass three-window body on a Roadster Shop chassis...  ...Plus we couldn't take our...  ...Plus we couldn't take our eyes off it.  What's different about Jack...  What's different about Jack Matia's ripe orange '63 Impala? It's many things, including the '64 Thunderbird interior, but most notably the '60 Plymouth top that looks like it was born there. The custom is based on a Steve Stanford illustration from Custom Rodder magazine.  We were figuring on a flathead,...  We were figuring on a flathead, maybe a Chevy, but not a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe engine under the louver hood of this just-finished '26 Ford RPU...  ...Owner Wayne Godbey and...  ...Owner Wayne Godbey and his wife Lou did all the work on the rod, and drive it all over the place. The other surprise was the budget...  ...Wayne says he got it done...  ...Wayne says he got it done for eight grand.  Christine Lies' 302-powered...  Christine Lies' 302-powered '56 Fairlane is a real-world version of R&C's April '02 Dream Car of the Month...  ...The Ranch wagon is dressed...  ...The Ranch wagon is dressed up with Crown Victoria trim, and topped with a glass roof from a '54 Mercury Sun Valley. The rims are 18- and 20-inch Boyd's five-spokes.  The rain rolled right off...  The rain rolled right off the fastback of Bob Parson's black '46 Cadillac, built on a Nova front end and Trans Am rear, and pulled by a 502 big-block. The mostly stock body was shaved of just enough shiny stuff, and dropped with 2-inch dropped spindles, no bags. "Just watch where you drive it," Bob said.  Gordon Riley started with...  Gordon Riley started with a Rat's Glass body to build this daily driver roadster. A small-block with tri-power adds to the functionality...  ...kokomo, 355 with tripower...  ...kokomo, 355 with tripower TH350, red roadster, drives everyday. Gordon added one of those new tops from Time Machines.  Hotrodhotline.com photographer...  Hotrodhotline.com photographer Ray Schuler drives this '54 Chevy four-door wagon everyday...  ...It's got a small-block...  ...It's got a small-block and automatic, Mustang II front suspension, plus creature comforts like air, heat, and power steering. His '30 coupe, inspired by the Chrisman coupe, looks less streetable, but Ray says it's legal...  ...It's got a '53 Merc mill...  ...It's got a '53 Merc mill and genuine WWII bomber seats. The nose was built from two '40 hoods.  Voodoo Larry gave Vick Kinzler's...  Voodoo Larry gave Vick Kinzler's '60 Fairlane all kinds of graphics, from scallops to flames to 'striping...  ...The art continues into...  ...The art continues into the engine compartment...  ...Other cool elements include...  ...Other cool elements include dummy spots, lake pipes, Lancer caps, and flame throwers...  ...It's not bagged-the spring...  ...It's not bagged-the spring were cut to drop this Ford, and Vick drove it like this from Michigan.  Mike Bloomer lets the style...  Mike Bloomer lets the style of the '31 Model A speak for itself with this beautiful five-window. Drivetrain is your standard 350/350...  ...Red and white metalflake...  ...Red and white metalflake vinyl tuck 'n' roll really stands out. The black suede is highlighted with nice 'striping on the headlights, C pillar, and decklid.  Yellow flames pop against...  Yellow flames pop against the purple 'flake on Jim Mathis' slammed and shaved '50 Merc, built by Mike Gamble Street Rods...  ...Air Ride bags and Gene...  ...Air Ride bags and Gene Winfield dropped spindles provide the drop. Ed Roth, Joe Bailon, and George Barris added their autographs to the inside deck...  ...Triple Rochesters feed...  ...Triple Rochesters feed a SBC engine.  Fat chunks of 'flake and a...  Fat chunks of 'flake and a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude set off Kirby Stafford's channeled '36 pickup...  ...Our favorite parts? The...  ...Our favorite parts? The 'striping, the firetruck taillights, the e-Bay mag wheels, the 302 and C4 trans, and the 1,100 miles Kirby's covered in the month since he finished.  The black, pink, and silver...  The black, pink, and silver color combo on Tom Van Etten's '58 Impala reminds us of Good 'n' Plenty, which we unofficially nickname this low Chevy. The pink extends to the dash. The cleaned up grille and bumper, and the scallops look great.  Curt Albertie was as clean...  Curt Albertie was as clean as his '27 roadster after his wet drive from Wisconsin. The cars is suspended with front and rear hairpins and front quarter elliptic springs. The roadster body is a one-off piece, and the whole hot rod was built for $16,000 as a tribute to the previous owner, who passed away.  It wasn't an illustration...  It wasn't an illustration but a real '56 Chevy featured in the early '60s that inspired the paint on George Duryea's 210 hardtop...  ...Modifications include the...  ...Modifications include the restyled '84 Daytona seats, homebuilt tube grille, and long shaggy white faux fur carpet. The Chevy was built to drive, and it came all the way from Saskatchewan to earn the Long Distance award.  Jeff Rittenhouse '49 Chevy...  Jeff Rittenhouse '49 Chevy Club Coupe retains a few pieces of side trim and loses the rest. There's nothing fancy about this 6-cylinder, three-speed car, which may be what makes it cool. Or is it the red steelies?  Not everybody could identify...  Not everybody could identify Danny Cornett's ground-level '51 Henry J, initially modified by Scott Sullivan, and built by Mac Nicewander. Front bags bring the reshaped front fenders right to the pavement.  In a sea of tasteful street...  In a sea of tasteful street rods, hot rods like Steve Anderson's severely chopped and channeled Model A sedan grab us right in the gut. Note the undropped axle, split bones, and straight pipes poking out of the blown 390 Ford mill.  This was the first big trip...  This was the first big trip for Douglas and Kim Rusk's '53 Chevy coupe, which sat for years in original condition before they bought it four years ago. We like the clutch pedal, the Moon caps and the spots, but they had us with the painted grille and bumpers. Perfect.  "Mantis," created in the...  "Mantis," created in the style of the show customs of Ed Roth's early '60s heyday. John Beecher III constructed the '03 Olds body from plywood covered with fiberglass, riding on a handbuilt frame...  ...The top is foam board...  ...The top is foam board covered with 'glass and wrapped with cloth to look like a soft top. A built-up '74 Volkswagen engine powers it from the rear.  This pair of flat black beauts...  This pair of flat black beauts belong to James and Johnny Taylor. James' '41 Ford pickup runs a 5.0 Ford and Centerline rims. Johnny's '36 coupe has a 351 and Tremec trans, plus red steelies with caps and rings.  Brian and Charlene Baker did...  Brian and Charlene Baker did a sensational job with their subtly restyle '55 sedan, including filling the engine compartment with a big-block Chevy with an Arias Hemi cylinder head package...  ...Under the lights at the...  ...Under the lights at the Detroit Autorama, or in the rain at Indy, it's gorgeous.  One of the nicest woodies...  One of the nicest woodies around, Gil Losi's award-winning ZZ4-powered '50 Ford, made the road trip from California to Indianapolis (and back) with Goodguys head honcho Gary Meadors.  Take a close look at Brian...  Take a close look at Brian Zelenka's belly-scraping multi-toned '34 ford pickup for an eyeful of well-done metalwork inside and out. The bed features copper rails and a single centered '57 Ford taillight and housing centered on the tailgate. Seats are fiberglass buckets right out of the bowling alley.  The '61 Buick LeSabre isn't...  The '61 Buick LeSabre isn't at the top of the list as custom car raw material, but after looking at the job Gary Karaz did on this mild custom, we wonder why not. Paint it, slam it, upgrade the rolling stock, and you've got a cool ride.  Bob Davis said he got the...  Bob Davis said he got the idea of running the pipes on the outside of the rear quarters from Spence Murray's '49 Chevy. This beautiful '51 is customized with molded '57 skirts, a '50 Olds windshield, '50 Jaguar headlights, and '53 Pontiac taillights. The 14-year-old acrylic enamel still shines.  Look how much you can do with...  Look how much you can do with some cool paint, a set of wheels, some pipes, and shaved door handles. Ron Barclay kept the rest of the cool '58 Pontiac Bonneville trim and turned this Poncho into a knockout. The engine is a 370. The 5-spokes are from Billet Specialties.
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