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Sweet SixteenThe Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals Hits Driving Age in Indy From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Damon Lee Photography by Damon Lee, Tim Bernsau
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Indianapolis is a car town, plain and simple. It has long held a reputation for speed and performance thanks to national- and international-scale motorsports events such as the NHRA U.S. Nationals and Indianapolis 500. For the last 16 years it has also played host to one of the premier outdoor rod, custom, and nostalgia drag racing events in the country, the Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals.Simply put, Goodguys Indy is the place to see and be seen for thousands of rod and custom enthusiasts from coast to coast but particularly for those in the nation's midsection. It typically serves as a "coming out" party for many pro builders' latest creations and an annual reunion for the thousands of folks who return every spring. Early June scheduling means it also kicks off the big summer show season in the central part of the country. This year's Hot Rod Nats, held June 11-13 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, continued the tradition with style. Thousands of cars filled the show 'n' shine field, hundreds of racers burned rubber down the 'strip, and all in attendance seemed thrilled to be surrounded by so much neat old iron. Another Indy tradition--rain--played its part on Saturday and Sunday, but most folks seemed to take it in stride, even when their tires settled into the soggy soil. A rain-shortened racing schedule was probably the weekend's biggest disappointment. Wet weather or not, there was still plenty of fun to be had in Indy. Whether you were participating in the Indy 500 Track Cruise, vying for a Boyd Coddington Pro's Pick, shopping for bargains in the swap meet, watching the fuel-burning diggers, drinking Pabst in the new Garage Grown area, or simply cruising the hotel parking lots at night, you were sure to find plenty of like-minded individuals to share the experience. After all, this is Indy, the most car-friendly city in the country.  In addition to the show 'n'...  In addition to the show 'n' shine activity, drag racing is a big part of the Hot Rod Nats, although rain cut competition short this year. We got to the tower just in time to see this red Willys and flamed Ford smoke some sausages. The Willys won the round 9.07 to 9.42.  Believe it or not, Ron Wiggins...  Believe it or not, Ron Wiggins began with a '29 Murray four-door sedan to create this one-off, Art Deco-flavored roadster pickup. The beltline is all that's left of the original sheetmetal; nearly everything else was hand-fabbed by Ron during the 10-year construction process. Watch for a full feature soon.  You'd never know by watching...  You'd never know by watching the American Hot Rod TV show, but Boyd Coddington's shop is still capable of turning out incredible one-off cars like this "Whatthehaye," a coachbuilt rod patterned after the luxurious '30s Delahayes. We saw enough road grime to know this Viper V-10-powered, independent-suspended, Marcel DeLey-bodied beauty gets driven, too.  Stinger's Hot Rod Shop built...  Stinger's Hot Rod Shop built this track-style '27 roadster a few years back, and collector George Poteet recently gave it a simplified makeover. If less is best, than this super-clean rod is a winner. We've got a feature coming in a few months.  A little rain doesn't spoil...  A little rain doesn't spoil the style of this '32 five-window, built and owned by Tommy Boren from Horn Lake, MS. Dual quads feed fresh gas to the Thunderbird Y-block, and Fenton headers route the spent stuff. Inside Tommy added a '57 Olds instrument cluster and loads of red leather.  One look at Kathy Lange's...  One look at Kathy Lange's '57 Thunderbird and you know it's a Bobby Alloway creation. Riding on an Art Morrison chassis, this Bird has fuel-injected 302 Ford power and sports subtle body mods like Nomad rear wheel openings and tapered front fenders. It's the 17x8- and 20x10-inch Coddington wheels that really give it the Alloway look, though.  By the time you read this...  By the time you read this we'll know whether Bob Klessig's '52 Chevy convertible is a finalist for Asphalt Ego-Rama '04. For now we're happy to show you another glimpse of the dark green, 292 six-cylinder-powered mild custom.  Most people screw up the design...  Most people screw up the design when they modify a mid-'50s Stude; John Martin actually did quite well by integrating Mercedes headlights, performing a subtle chop, and grafting Chrysler fins to his '53. A custom tube chassis and full-boogie big-block Chevy provide the requisite punch.  In addition to other corrals,...  In addition to other corrals, Goodguys set up a section for what they call Garage Grown Retro Rods and Kool Kustoms. We feared some participants would be irked at being segregated, but most appreciated the special parking.  The award for the most high-tech...  The award for the most high-tech Willys we've ever seen in our lives goes to this 'glass '41 crafted by Kenny Davis, who also built the silver '33 Ford on this month's cover. Based on a Jason Rushforth concept illustration, this Willys is powered by a 540-inch Merlin big-block backed by a 700-R4. It rolls on 18- and (gulp!) 22-inch rims.  We caught up with the unsinkable...  We caught up with the unsinkable and ever-entertaining Terry Cook at the Fatman booth, just in time to check out his latest Deco Ride, this Boattail Speedster. With Auburn-like styling, Dodge V-10 power, and modern underpinnings, it's got style and substance to spare. You can learn more at www.decorides.com.  We fell in love with David...  We fell in love with David and Ellen Rippy's unchopped, unchanneled '29 coupe on Deuce rails. Dave hand-fabbed much of the car but kept the hardware to keep it looking old-timey. Custom torsion bars give the Chevy-powered rod its killer stance. The paint is a Saturn color called Sunset Copper.  Just when you think rodding...  Just when you think rodding has lost its creativity, along comes Aaron Grote's '34 Chevy with a severely narrowed '60 Buick tail section making it look like a '60s show rod "spacetruck." We dig the concept.  Lou Dilda (driving) bought...  Lou Dilda (driving) bought this '36 Ford in 1952, sold it a few years later, and lost track of it. Gordon Allen from Avon, IN, bought it in 1993. Lou saw a picture of the car in a magazine, did some detective work, and tracked it down. The two have become friends via telephone and met for the first time in Indy. The roadster didn't have a ZZ4 small-block under the hood in the '50s, but it still brings back fond memories.  Carl Lindbeck from DePere,...  Carl Lindbeck from DePere, WI, won the Wonderful Woodie award with this one-of-a-kind '48 Ford longroof. The copper-colored, on-the-ground custom woodster runs an LT1 tied to a 4L60E transmission.  Taking on a '58 Buick hardtop...  Taking on a '58 Buick hardtop wagon as a project is challenging enough; chopping one seems almost suicidal! Keith Bright of Salina, KS, was up to the task though, as you can see from his red-and-black beauty.  When Ted Houchin needed a...  When Ted Houchin needed a winter project, he asked his buddy Brian Stinger to help him build this radical hot rod out of a derelict '46 Chevy pickup. The severely chopped and slammed two-seater rides on a custom frame, has Buick nailhead power, and wears a cut-down Terraplane grille flanked by early Buick lights. It found a new owner at Indy.  Justin Berry's friends in...  Justin Berry's friends in Illinois give him crap for putting red metalflake on his '61 Merc's top and white 'flake upholstery inside. Justin gets the last laugh, though, as he won a Killer Kustom award from Goodguys and gets his picture in R&C.  There was a long line to get...  There was a long line to get an autograph from Hot Wheels designer Larry Wood, who is a hero to any gearhead who was ever a kid.  We love seeing Tri-Five Chevys...  We love seeing Tri-Five Chevys as mild customs. Black suede, blue scallops, reworked side trim, flipper caps, and white tuck 'n' roll give Tim Traylor's '55 a cool look.
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