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Hello Columbus!The 7th Goodguys PPG Nats From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Damon Lee, Tim Bernsau
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Ohio doesn't get the respect it deserves. A lot of people don't realize that Ohio has the most miles of interstate highway per capita, the most railroad tracks per square mile, and the most miles of roller coasters. It has the most registered motorcycles and the most registered boats. The first gasoline-powered American automobile appeared in Ohio, along with the first traffic light, and the first service station. And most important of all, Ohio claims the most R&C readers (outside of California, that is). That's a lot of hot rodders. We figure most of them were in Columbus in July for the 7th Goodguys PPG Nationals. We counted more than 6,000 cars at this summer's event. The PPG Nats is open to vehicles through 1972. That means we get to see a lot of great customs in addition to all the rods-and the street machine crowd has plenty to look at too. One of the reasons people love Goodguys events is the fact that they have a great chance of taking home a trophy-and not just for big-budget, pro-built cars. As Goodguys head honcho Gary Meadors keeps telling us, it's not about tallying up points or searching for technical flaws, it's about digging cool cars, and in Columbus, they gave away more than 100 awards in real-world categories like Garage Grown, Ya Gotta Drive 'Em, Homebuilt Heaven, Chopped & Dropped, and Young Guys Pick. Of course, the big prizes in Columbus go to the winners of Goodguys Street Machine of the Year and the Street Rod of the Year. Kathy Lange's silver '57 Thunderbird, built by Bobby Alloway, took the Street Machine trophy. As you've probably read in R&C already, the Street Rod award went to Roger Ritzow's traditional but progressive flathead '32 roadster, built by Troy Trepanier. Just in case our words haven't persuaded you to give Ohio a little more respect, we'll try some photos. Take a look at some of our favorites from Columbus.  After researching mid-'50s...  After researching mid-'50s rods, Rick Wilson convinced Gilbert Propes to build him this dark blue Deuce five-window, powered by a '55-56 Dodge Red Ram Hemi with a '37 LaSalle three-speed. The coupe rides on the original rails and was finished just before its Columbus debut.  Last year we included this...  Last year we included this beautiful '51 Olds, now owned by Scott Morehouse, on our "50 Years, 50 Favorites" list. Seeing the cool convertible in Columbus only made us like it even more..  This trio of tough traditional-style...  This trio of tough traditional-style Deuce-grilled Tudors consists of (l to r) Larry Gober's '29, Lon Wren's '34 with a Deuce grille, and Mike Ogden's '30. All hail from Indiana.  Seventeen-year-old David Tirpak...  Seventeen-year-old David Tirpak totalled this '57 hardtop 23 years ago. He later rebought the car, and rebuilt it to look the way his dad Ernest would've driven it when he was a kid. The 283 is bone stock, the glass is original, and the 21-year-old paint looks great. The '53 Chevy grille teeth were installed between the '57 parking lights.  Alan Button's '32 three-window...  Alan Button's '32 three-window has been an award magnet all season long. Built by Dave Lane, the coupe was a contender for Goodguys America's Most Beautiful Street Rod prize. In Columbus, the Mouse-motored Deuce was a Street Rodder magazine Top 10 pick.  Fabulous Flames judging was...  Fabulous Flames judging was easy: Scott Salley's on-the-ground '49 Plymouth with red metalflake licks over a black basecoat applied by Deuce Customs. In two years, Scott transformed a 48K-original-mile four-door hardtop into a convertible. The interior is red vinyl.  Julie Weaver and Jeff Eischen's...  Julie Weaver and Jeff Eischen's track nose '29 runs a 302 with a T5, custom headers, and American Salt Flat Specials. Jeff did virtually all the work on the car, finishing the two-year project a month before the Nats.  We spotted Lou Armbruster's...  We spotted Lou Armbruster's '50 Ford in the Garage Grown section on Saturday and in the Award Winner area on Sunday. Lou treated the caramel-colored coupe to numerous custom mods and won Timeless Traditional.  Greg Porter blends old-school...  Greg Porter blends old-school style and modern attitude in his gold 'flake, Hemi-powered, multi-carbed, heavily-channeled '34 Plymouth coupe. Too cool!  Larry and Marge Ahle's '52...  Larry and Marge Ahle's '52 Olds 98 makes a classy custom convertible with frenched headlights, custom grille teeth, shaved emblems, Cadillac caps, deep burgundy paint, and upside-down Packard taillights. A 'Vette LT1 and overdrive automatic provide power.  Yeah, we know we just featured...  Yeah, we know we just featured it last month, but we can't resist bringing you another shot of Roger Ritzow's Troy-built Deuce, which took Goodguys' Street Rod of the Year prize at this event.  Longtime R&C readers may recognize...  Longtime R&C readers may recognize Jerry and Doris Johnson's '61 Olds from its feature way back in February '92. Jerry recently added Air Ride Technologies 'bags and American five-spokes with whitewalls, but otherwise the red Rocket remains in much the same form as it was more than a decade ago.  Art and Craig Morrison's '55...  Art and Craig Morrison's '55 Chevy looks a lot different now than when they submitted it for Asphalt Ego-Rama voting. The fresh paint, leather trim, big-inch small-block, and detailed Morrison chassis were enough to make it a top-five contender for Street Machine of the Year.  Paul Walter and Metropolis...  Paul Walter and Metropolis Speed and Custom right there in Columbus, put together this cool little '28 Ford modified roadster in 12 frantic weeks, starting with a Real Hot Rods body.  Young Brett Bunker pulled...  Young Brett Bunker pulled this cool '61 LeSabre out of a barn (it was infested with mice) and sprayed the wild House of Kolor hues himself after giving the car a clean shave. In fact, about the only thing he didn't do on the 364 nailhead-powered Buick was stitch the white vinyl over the Thunderbird seats.  The stock Ford 272 in Dennis...  The stock Ford 272 in Dennis Frings' '30 lakes modified roadster is fed via a '57 Interceptor Marine manifold and a pair of Carter sidedraft carbs. Pre-war fog lights house 5 1/2-inch sealed beams. Dennis says the aluminum-bodied car was built for less than $7,000.  Barry Lobek's latest Deuce...  Barry Lobek's latest Deuce is this '60s-themed roadster with redline tires, chrome reverse wheels, and the deepest burgundy paint you can imagine. A full-dress flattie rumbles under the bonnet.  In the '50s, Gary Abato's...  In the '50s, Gary Abato's father Tony showed a custom Olds," so as a tribute, Gary built this '29 sedan on Deuce rails using a blown '54 Olds 324, hydramatic transmission, and Olds rearend. No new parts were used, and the paint is the same gold as Tony's custom. Check out the Halibrand polished mag racing wheels, and the teardrop headlights mounted on the front bar.  Talk about your traditional...  Talk about your traditional hot rods. Brent Goode's '32 pickup was first built in 1956. Chopped 6 inches and channeled 8, it's powered by an Offy-headed '47 flathead with a '37 box, and rolls on early spoke rims. A hydraulic tank from a bomber is mounted in the bed.  The 2004 Goodguys Custom Rod...  The 2004 Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year, Doug Hoppe's '55 convertible, built at Lakeside Rods & Rides by Roger Burman, held a prominent position at the Goodguys Nationals. A 502 Ramjet big-block powers the convertible, and Air Ride suspension puts it an inch off the pavement.  This sweet-looking, Pennsylvania-based...  This sweet-looking, Pennsylvania-based '36 Ford roadster didn't have a tag in the window when we saw it at registration, so we'll just have to call the owner Mr. Lucky.
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