Larry Metz
'32 Ford Cabriolet
Arcadia, California
Engine: Ford flathead with homemade manifold, single carb, and Eaton blower
Transmission: Borg-Warner T5
Chassis: TCI '32 Ford rails with custom crossmembers, triangulated four-bar rear suspension
Body: Fiberglass '32 cabrio imported from New Zealand, one of three in U.S.
Wheels & Tires: 15-inch Real Wheels with P295/65R15 and P165/65R15 BFGs
Interior: Glide seat, leather and vinyl, VDO instruments, Vintage Air, cruise control
Norm Cowdrey
'56 Chevy Nomad
Camarillo, California
Engine: Scoggin-Dickey ZZ430, Marine Ram Jet EFI
Transmission: GM 700-R4
Chassis: Paul Newman frame with C4 Corvette suspension components
Body: Chevy '56 Nomad wagon
Wheels & Tires: 18-inch Budniks with P275/40ZR18 and P245/45ZR18 Dunlops
Interior: Leather Lexus seats, polished aluminum dash insert, custom rear seats
Tim Nesmith
'41 Chevy Coupe
Hartselle, Alabama
Engine: Chevy 350, Fuel-injected
Transmission: Chevy 700-R4
Chassis: Homebuilt custom frame with Speedway NASCAR antisway bars and Mustang II components
Body: Chevy '41 coupe
Wheels & Tires: 15-inch American Racing TTs with P305/50R15 and P215/60R15
Interior: Acura Integra seats, Ultraleather, owner-built custom dash
Rex Marshall
'55 Chevy 210
West Bountiful, Utah
Engine: Chevy 400 disguised as a 409 with a single Holley 750 carb and Victor Jr. Manifold
Transmission: Richmond six-speed
Chassis: Stock frame modified with new rails for straight axle
Body: Chevy '55 210
Wheels & Tires: Ansen rear rims with E-Ts in front, Mickey Thompson slicks
Interior: '64 Impala buckets finished in black vinyl
Fred Douglas
'48 Oldsmobile Convertible
Shawnee, Kansas
Engine: Fuel-injected Chevy Ram Jet 502
Transmission: Chevy 700-R4
Chassis: Stock frame boxed and equipped with a Fatman Fabrications frontend
Body: Oldsmobile '48 98 convertible, 1 1/2-inch chop
Wheels & Tires: 16-inch Billet Specialties wheels with P245/70R16 and P215/65R16 Goodyears
Interior: '97 Cadillac Eldorado seats, owner-customized dash
Don and George meet at Barris...
Don and George meet at Barris Kustom. "That Model As going to be a nice hot rod when it's finished," was George's compliment.
On Without Don
In the three years we've been hosting the Asphalt Ego-Rama, we've had our fair share of mechanical breakdowns, but this was the first time a participant had to drop out of the activity. On our second evening on the road, Don Dillard was injured as he was starting his Model A coupe. Standing just enough in the car to turn the key, Don wanted to warm up the engine for a few minutes. The brand-new Neutral safety switch failed, and as soon as he turned the key, the coupe lurched backward a foot or two, hitting a cement wall and knocking him to the ground. A few tense minutes later an ambulance crew showed up and transported Don to a local hospital. He was released several hours later with a possible vertebrae compression fracture and spent the next few days recovering at Rodney Bauman's nearby home. He has since been recuperating at his parents' house. The A was cared for at Hot Rods & Custom Stuff in Escondido. We debated whether or not to proceed with Ego-Rama and, once we learned that Don was going to be okay, voted to keep going. Before he even knew he was a finalist, Don started completely rebuilding his coupe in anticipation of this event. We were all disappointed that he had to drop out and missed his sense of humor and positive attitude (and the chance to ride in the Model A). But we'll all get a second chance when Don comes back for Ego-Rama '04.
Objective Test Results
Norm Cowdrey's '56 Chevy Nomad
Acceleration: 13.96 at 96.78 mph
Braking: 129 feet
Cornering: N/A
Gas Mileage: 12.75 mpg
Fred Douglas' '48 Oldsmobile Convertible
Acceleration: 14.01 at N/A mph
Braking: 163 feet
Cornering: N/A
Gas Mileage: 8.10 mpg
Rex Marshall's '55 Chevy 210
Acceleration: 12.48 at 110.65 mph
Braking: N/A
Cornering: 0.29 g
Gas Mileage: 16.67 mpg
Larry Metz' '32 Ford Cabriolet
Acceleration: 14.34 at 93.95 mph
Braking: 138 feet
Cornering: 0.59 g
Gas Mileage: 16.35 mpg
Tim Nesmith's '41 Chevy Coupe
Acceleration: 13.68 at 100.74 mph
Braking: 159 feet
Cornering: 0.57 g
Gas Mileage: 14.30 mpg
Category Winners
Acceleration: Rex Marshall's '55 Chevy 210
Braking: Norm Cowdrey's '56 Chevy Nomad
Cornering: Larry Metz' '32 Ford cabriolet
Engineering: Fred Douglas' '48 Oldsmobile convertible
Gas Mileage: Rex Marshall's '55 Chevy 210
Ride & Drive: Norm Cowdrey's '56 Chevy Nomad
Budget: Rex Marshall's '55 Chevy 210
Style Points: Tim Nesmith's '41 Chevy coupe
People's Choice: Fred Douglas' '48 Oldsmobile convertible
Wanna Be in Ego-Rama 2004?
Can your ego handle our Ego-Rama? If you'd like to take a shot at participating in Asphalt Ego-Rama '04, send us a letter describing in detail your '64-or-earlier rod or custom. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, E-mail address, and a good photo of your car or truck. In addition, include a one-sentence explanation of why readers should pick your vehicle for Ego-Rama.
Send your letter and photo to:
ROD & CUSTOM Asphalt Ego-Rama
2400 E. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92806
E-mail to: rodcustom@sorc.com
Entries must be received by April 9, 2004.
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