Who Was The Famous Rodder?We packed as much R&C history as we could into this, our 50th anniversary issue, but intentionally left out one important historical tidbit. It involves a future drag racing legend whose name appeared in the "little pages" of our first issue. When this performance personality and his fast '50 Chevy were profiled in the May '53 issue, he had already made a name for himself as a top-notch bodyman and hot-shoe on the circle tracks of Southern California. His ability soon attracted the attention of Don Blair from Blair's Speed Shop, and he began driving track roadsters for Blair, competing against future Indy stars such as Troy Ruttman and Jack McGrath.
Do you know who he is? We'll have his story in the July issue. In the meantime, the first reader to identify this well-known rodder will win a snazzy-looking R&C baseball cap. Mail your answer to Famous Name Contest, ROD & CUSTOM, 2400 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806, or E-mail it to rodcustom@primedia.com under the subject heading, Famous Name Contest. Good luck.
Mid-Americruise and Americruise EastWe've got two Americruise events for you this summer. On June 27-29, we will be back in Lincoln, Nebraska, for the 11th Anniversary Mid-Americruise, held at the State Fair Park. Then, on August 22-24, we head for the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for a brand-new Americruise East event.
Both events are sponsored by Flowmaster, hosted by ROD & CUSTOM, Street Rodder, Custom Rodder, and Classic Trucks, and are open to all pre-'65 rods and customs and pre-'73 custom and classic trucks. Registration for each event is $50 in advance, which includes one vehicle, one driver, and one passenger. To register by phone, call (877) 413-6515.
Keep reading R&C or check our Web site at www.rodandcustommagazine.com for updated tour information. At press time, we know that Jack Chisenhall from Vintage Air is planning on leading a tour to Bloomsburg, leaving from San Antonio, Texas, on August 17 and proceeding through Houston, New Orleans, Chattanooga, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and on to Bloomsburg.
Ego-Rama's A-Comin'This is the last time we're going to remind you to submit your '64-or-older rod or '72-or-older truck for this year's R&C Asphalt Ego-Rama. Ego-Rama is R&C's road trip shootout, with participants selected by the readers and a winner selected by the staff of ROD & CUSTOM. The competition includes dragstrip e.t.'s, highway performance, engineering, overall coolness, and more. Want to put your ego on the line? Send us a few photos of your car or truck, plus the official Asphalt Ego-Rama entry form (or a photocopy) from the April '03 issue of R&C. We must receive your entry by Friday, April 11.
Send photos and entry form to: ROD & CUSTOM Asphalt Ego-Rama, 2400 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806, or E-mail an entry and digital image of your vehicle to rodcustom@primedia.com.
Tim And Carrie Strange Honored By GoodguysGoodguys Rod & Custom Association knows that not every Goodguy is a good old guy and works hard to encourage younger builders to keep hot rodding going for a few more generations. One way Goodguys does this is with the Trendsetters Award, presented annually to a young individual or company in the hot rod industry. Husband and wife Tim and Carrie Strange, owners of Strange Motion Rod & Custom Construction in Cambridge, Illinois, received the '02 Trendsetter Award at the Street Rod Marketing Alliance (SRMA) banquet at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Tim Strange started Strange Motion when he was 23 years old. In the years since, he has produced a number of remarkable and well-known projects, including a Pro Street '54 Chevy, a '51 DeSoto, a '63 Buick Riv, and the recent "Special Mint" '53 Buick. A full upholstery shop was added in 2000, and Carrie handles all interior design and stitching.
Congratulations, Tim and Carrie, for outstanding cars and well-deserved honors.