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Midas TouchCruisin' the Queen City for the 10th Annual Goodguys Southeastern Nationals From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Damon Lee
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California may hold the "Golden State" title, but North Carolina could've earned the moniker well before the '49ers rushed west. It was near the city of Charlotte where a young farm boy named Conrad Reed discovered a 17-pound gold rock in the woods in 1799. There was only one problem: he didn't know it was gold! His family used the rock as a doorstop for three years until a Fayetteville jeweler saw it, bought it for $3.50, then sold it for $3,600! A gold rush ensued, and Charlotte led the country in gold production until the precious metal was discovered in California more than four decades later. These days the city of Charlotte is still a strong economic force, as it's home to several national banks and major businesses. Yet the modern-day "gold in the hills" for the region has to be the big-money, driving-in-circles phenomenon known as NASCAR. Race shops dot the landscape surrounding the city, bearing some of the biggest names in stock car racing. The metro area is home to one of NASCAR's premier venues, Lowe's Motor Speedway. Every Memorial Day weekend the track plays host to one of the most-attended sporting events in the country, the Coca-Cola 600. The Speedway hosts many other events throughout the year, including an annual autumn ritual where precious metals again congregate on North Carolina's fertile soil. We're talking about the Goodguys Southeastern Nationals, a gathering that never fails to draw thousands of slick 'sleds, hot rods, and brawny musclecars for one last hurrah before winter. This was the first time in several years that R&C had been back to the Southeast Nats, and we were simply blown away. We knew there were cool cars in the area, but the volume and quality was overwhelming. It was a nice surprise--kinda like stumbling over a rock that turns out to be gold.  Cycle fenders, channel jobs,...  Cycle fenders, channel jobs, and wide whites--the Goodguys Southeastern Nationals has lots of Right Coast flavor.  Pick a pair of customs and...  Pick a pair of customs and you'd be hard-pressed to top this little-known, Barris-built '51 Olds and the '60 Pontiac built by Detroit's Alexander Brothers, owned by Pat Orsillo and Lou Calasibetta, respectively. Watch for a double feature soon.  Frank Spittle calls his '33...  Frank Spittle calls his '33 Essex convertible "Charlotte's Oldest Hot Rod." In a history dating to 1940 the car has run a stock inline-eight, a full-race Cad, and a blown Chevy. It's got a big-block Chevy now and has not been repainted or upholstered since 1969.  Got air? Don Enlor's '40 sedan...  Got air? Don Enlor's '40 sedan does! Built by Mo & Curley's Rod & Custom, the fat Ford rides on an Air Ride Technologies-equipped Fatman frame with 17- and 20-inch Americans. A Steve Holcomb interior and sharp-dressed small-block are part of the package.  Perhaps the most radical custom...  Perhaps the most radical custom on site was Rob Gerring's fantastic '50 Chevy, with a hardtop-style chopped top, Cadillac taillights and front bumper, a pie-cut hood, and much more metalwork under its cinnamon-and-white finish. Tasty!  We could study Jim Roepke's...  We could study Jim Roepke's Model A roadster for days and still not find all the neat details. The molded windshield frame protects an industrial-looking cockpit with aircraft-style seats, a custom dash, Police speedo, and handmade stainless trim.  Charlotte was crazy with Cadillacs....  Charlotte was crazy with Cadillacs. Jim and Ellen Tucker's '41 coupe-turned-hardtop sits on a '96 Impala frame with an LT1, overdrive, and Boyd Coddington wheels.  Benny Manis' '49 fastback...  Benny Manis' '49 fastback steps out on a Nova subframe with 472ci Cad power and maroon rolls and pleats inside.  Steve Sorg's Shoebox Ford...  Steve Sorg's Shoebox Ford isn't overly fancy, but the frenched lights, rounded corners, Plymouth grille, and Chevy trim combine to make it a near-perfect mild custom. It earned the ROD & CUSTOM Pick, an award we felt was even more deserved after learning the coupe logged more than 6,000 miles last year!  There's a lot to like about...  There's a lot to like about Scott Bagshaw's '29 Ford, whether it's the channeled body, the tri-carb Hemi, the '54 Dodge gauges (from the same car as the Hemi), or the fact that it's a '50s survivor.  Mercs like C. Gilbert's '53...  Mercs like C. Gilbert's '53 just beg to be customs. This red 'sled gets help from a '57 Chevy front bumper, frenched headlights, chopped ragtop, and Packard taillights above a narrowed Buick rear bumper. Inside there are tan bucket seats, a handmade console, and a custom dash.  Alix Bernard brought his modified...  Alix Bernard brought his modified roadster to the speedway. The T-based fun machine wears all kinds of neat stuff--flatmotor, engine-turned dash, brass windscreen frame, and leather-wrapped spring atop a quick-change rearend.  It's tough to tell that Doug...  It's tough to tell that Doug Mauro's '48 Chevy has been on the road with the same paint since the '80s. Mods include a chopped top (5 inches in back, 3 in front), '42 Chevy fenders and grille, Pontiac rear fenders, Merc taillights, and a Nova subframe and drivetrain.  Ted Thomas' '50 Ford has some...  Ted Thomas' '50 Ford has some of the tastiest candy red paint we've seen in a while. The gold scallops are picture-perfect, too.  Over in the vendor area we...  Over in the vendor area we found Bob Walker's killer in-progress Deuce five-window on display in the booth for his vintage Hemi business, Hot Heads. Do you even need to ask what that blown mill is between the rails?  Tom Bryant runs Ply-Do, a...  Tom Bryant runs Ply-Do, a small business specializing in vintage Plymouth and Dodge parts. His '36 Plymouth convertible makes a great calling card, and a very cool rod.  Can you imagine a better parting...  Can you imagine a better parting shot than Bob McCreary's '34 five-window?
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