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The Goodguys 1st Nostalgia Nationals - Days At The BeechGoodguys 1st Nostalgia Nationals From the April, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Kev Elliott
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Despite looking like a new... Despite looking like a new build, Jeff Davis' '31 Tudor has covered more than 17,000 miles. The 2-inch chopped sedan sits on a Pete & Jake's '32 chassis, though hitting a huge pothole while traveling to Bowling Green caused the left front shock mount to break loose. A quick muffler shop repair saw it complete the journey. R&C Top Tin Picks
There's always a mixture of excitement and anticipation, coupled with apprehension when attending a new event (imagine how the organizers feel then!) and though Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, hosts the Hot Rod Reunion and other events, this was Goodguys' first visit to the facility. If there were any early fears about attendance, they were allayed, with the grounds filling fast on Friday morning, under clear fall skies, despite rain the previous evening. I have to admit I was nervous driving up from Nashville late on Thursday night in the pouring rain, so finding the grounds and the track dry on Friday was a relief. The usual Goodguys pre-'72 format ensured a varied turnout, with a notable number of street-driven Gassers on show, but the added feature of nostalgia-themed cars out on the strip made the event for me. I should just briefly mention the track itself, as I can't remember the last time I was allowed (admittedly with a photographer's pass) to stand so close to the cars on the starting line, and even the roof-equipped bleachers were near to the action. It's a great old track-a step back in time that I could really appreciate. The NHRA is coming back to the track for the Hot Rod Reunion June 19-21, 2009, if you want to get a look at some more vintage racing action. It's difficult to gauge the success of a new event as there's nothing to compare it to, but given the decline in attendance at many events this season, and the number of cars in attendance on Saturday (around 2,000), we'd call this a success. But then when a venue just "works" and everyone has a good time, what's not to like? Except a couple more food vendors next time maybe...  Nancy Mutert's '60 Olds 98...  Nancy Mutert's '60 Olds 98 proves you don't have to go overboard to put together a cool cruiser which benefits from fresh copper mist paint, cut springs, and 19- and 20-inch Intro Flagstaff wheels.  Len Beal was keen to point...  Len Beal was keen to point out that his '46 ragtop (with '47 parklights) is a driver that offers plenty of comfort thanks to power T-bird seats, Vintage Air A/C, and Air Ride suspension. A 350 Chevy, 700-R4, and 10-bolt make up the reliable drivetrain.  Nancy Mutert's '60 Olds 98...  Nancy Mutert's '60 Olds 98 proves you don't have to go overboard to put together a cool cruiser which benefits from fresh copper mist paint, cut springs, and 19- and 20-inch Intro Flagstaff wheels.  I wasn't surprised to find...  I wasn't surprised to find out that Joey Collins was an ex-drag racer once we got to talking; the Enderle injected and zoomie-equipped '56 354ci Hemi kinda gave the game away, coupled with the big engine/small car package. And they don't come much smaller than a 1930 American Austin! Joey and Jason Graham screwed this together in one year and Joey regularly drives it around Portland, Tennessee.  Brad Arnold's British Racing...  Brad Arnold's British Racing Green '32 roadster featured a number of unusual details that caught my eye, such as the Canadian Monarch hubcaps, Cam Grant hand-cast windshield, and cast silver '32 Lincoln dash insert. Then there's the 425ci Nailhead hiding behind those '34-style hood sides, backed by a Richmond five-speed and Halibrand quick-change.  Dennis and Becky Guither work...  Dennis and Becky Guither work for Goodguys and weren't sure they should accept our R&C Top Tin award, but that's fine with us, especially when their '58 Bel Air is as nice as this! In their five years of ownership they've driven it to the East and West Coasts and Canada, the 17-inch billets spun thanks to a GM crate 350 and 200-4R trans. The stock bench seat up front was replaced with buckets and console from a '63 Chevy.  I just love this style of...  I just love this style of car, and while there were a few tube axle'd Gasser-type '55s at Bowling Green, Gary Gibson's jumped out at me with its radiused arches, stock front suspension, and that cool spreader bar between stock framerails. It's an ex-race car from Michigan. Jay Wimsett in Kentucky undertook the body-off resto, completing it with a 327, four-speed, and 12-bolt posi.  Chuck Comer's '40 Willys was...  Chuck Comer's '40 Willys was raced in southern Missouri in the '60s, and it seems Chuck and his friends from Joplin have a knack of finding and resurrecting old Willys Gassers. Suicide Ride runs a 6/71 blown small-block Chevy, 9-inch rearend, and its original front axle.  I don't run across too many...  I don't run across too many '38 Deluxe coupes, and certainly few as nice as Lowell Pile's example. Riding on a Total Cost Involved chassis with a Mustang II IFS and Currie 9-inch posi rearend, it's pushed down the road by a 502 Chevy, with Lowell sitting comfortably in the red leather-trimmed interior. The straight black paint and body were taken care of by Keith Pile, who we're guessing is a relative!  Rich Browning's chopped 'n'...  Rich Browning's chopped 'n' channeled '30 coupe runs an LS1 motor with finned valve covers, backed by a Muncie four-speed. The white tuck 'n' roll interior features swing pedals too.  What could be better than...  What could be better than a Willys facing off against a Henry J, given the great period setting of Beech Bend Raceway Park. From Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Cars down to Gassers and the hot rod shootout, the action on the track lived up to the Nostalgia Nationals name of the event.  Eric and Sherry Allen's '26...  Eric and Sherry Allen's '26 T Tudor sedan runs Model A fenders and a great stance, the wide whites tucked nicely into the wheelwells. That's a TPI-equipped small-block under the hood, with ram horn manifolds keeping things traditional when the hood top is in place.  Joe Hass drove Justin Grant's...  Joe Hass drove Justin Grant's Wonder Wagon 'Cuda to a new best top speed of 231.91, taking Nostalgia Funny Car honors with a 6.176/230.84 over Steve Nicholls' '70 Camaro in the final.  The molded fenders and taillights...  The molded fenders and taillights are old mods on 'Firesuit' Phil Pofahl's '46 coupe, as the paint is over 40 years old! There's a '52 Olds with '56 heads under the hood, bored and stroked to 387ci with Hilborn injection and an Isky cam. A homemade spool in a narrowed '51 Merc rearend coupled with a TH400 trans ensured Phil got down the track to win the Geezer Gasser class with a 12.139 at 107 mph.  The tunnel-rammed big-block...  The tunnel-rammed big-block means that Two Lane Blacktop-style hood scoop is needed on Randy Smelcer's '55 150. The sliding door windows, dash-mounted tach, and rollcage all accentuate the street racer image, while those slick-shod daisy mags don't hurt either!  What was once a drab white...  What was once a drab white '57 Olds Rocket 88 is now a bright red attention grabber. Quince Arnold was searching for the Rocket 88 he had new in '57, but when he learned it had been scrapped, he built this as a substitute, with a 350/350 Chevy combo.  I didn't see much surf on...  I didn't see much surf on my journey from the Nashville airport to Kentucky, but that didn't stop Josh Bannon from strapping a board to the bamboo roof insert of his '31 sedan. The chopped 'n' channeled Tudor certainly attracted attention.  The very nature of a pickup...  The very nature of a pickup truck means getting one into the condition that Jack Troup has managed with his '37 is no easy feat. This understated hauler runs a late Chevy small-block and Richmond five-speed. I saw more rods with three pedals at Bowling Green than I've seen in a long while!  The Golden Angel II is a replica...  The Golden Angel II is a replica of a '48 Anglia gasser that crashed in the '60s, faithful down to near-identical times and signature wheelstands. Bill Caughron of Louisville runs the 10-second replica with a Hilborn injected 389ci Chevy.  As well as the surfboard and...  As well as the surfboard and the cool rack that holds it, Michael Hood's '47 Chevy woodie features very cleverly executed faux rust stains. This is a far nicer car than first impressions would suggest.  What could be cooler than...  What could be cooler than having a matching Model A roadster to pull your same year race car? Sure beats a quad for towing duties!
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