Indy--it's a car town and that's that. Everywhere you go it's about the cars and the townspeople are asking what event is in town and where. Officially, it's the 14th K&N Filters Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts at Historic Indianapolis Raceway Park. (A special thanks goes out to this year's host club, the Indiana Street Rod Association. It's the effort of supporters and volunteers like this that make many an event become reality.) The people of Indianapolis, Indiana, always make you feel welcome and every year the Goodguys Indy get-together is a big hit. Part of the Goodguys and K&N Summer Series, Indy has something for every rodder. This year there were 357 pre-'72 race cars running the traps daily and over 4,500 pre-'64 street rods, custom rods, and classic trucks cruising Indianapolis Raceway Park and the city for the entire weekend. Add to that 202 vendors on the midway and you have one heck of a show. Oh yes, Indy summer of 2002 saw 63,000-plus spectators come onto the grounds to take in the sights, sounds, and smells--ah yes, the smells of fuel burning, front-engine diggers.
This year, again, there were 16 Top Fuel entries that made the tow to Indy and while all of them wanted the win, several had the lone remaining spot in the Goodguys 5-second club on their minds. Denver Schutz came closest to nabbing the last spot with his 6.006 in Friday's opening qualifying session. Saturday afternoon saw the Steiner & Burger car in the heat of the day with an eye-opening 5.924, which the car second in the lineup for Sunday's finals. Who was on the pole? How about the new Goodguys Top Fuel e.t. record holder Rance McDaniel who guided Jim and Bob McLennan's Champion Speed Shop Special to a 5.854.
Steiner's Sunday run started out with a first round holeshot loss to defending Hot Rod Nationals Top Fuel Champion Bob Muravez. Muravez's 6.121 at 240.89 beat Gerry's 6.047 at 239.42. Meanwhile, new record holder McDaniel posted low e.t. of the first round, zipping to a 5.883 to defeat a red-lightning Kent Terry. However, during the run, the Champion Speed Shop entry broke the crank hub, resulting in a massive thrash. Catching wind of their trouble and being low e.t. loser of the first round, Steiner and crew ceased the opportunity to run the semis via the Goodguys/VRA break rule. As Steiner did his burnout in the semis, replacing McDaniel, here came the Champion car, racing through the lanes attempting to get to the starting line. Time had run out and Steiner advanced to the final by defeating San Jose neighbor Brendan Murry, running 5.971 at 244.92 to Murry's 6.344.
The final round race was "calm" compared to Steiner's hectic weekend, as he blasted out a straight and true 6.117 at 244.56 to defeat an up-in-smoke "Radar" Roger Lechtenberg to grab his second straight Goodguys event win. Nostalgia Eliminator was run for the first time as a complete 7.60 index class at the Hot Rod Nationals. It attracted 15 entries from around the country, including Rich "Rio" Raymond, who towed from Northern California. The Nostalgia racers put on the best show of the weekend with a qualifying sheet that had all eight cars within two-tenths of each other. Prior Lake, Minnesota's Greg Benson and his 540 Mopar-powered '32 Bantam roadster prevailed Sunday afternoon, defeating Pat Ellerholz in a very close final with Benson's 7.639 covering Ellerholz' 7.670.
Another "big deal" at Indy is the STREET RODDER Top Ten award that's handed out at seven Goodguys events throughout the year. This years kudos' went to: Chuck Rowe, Millington, Tennessee, for his Alloway-built and Wade Hughes-flamed '33 Ford three-window; George Saab of Camdenton, Missouri, for his incredible all-aluminum 528-inch Hemi-powered '41 Willys; Gerald Yates of Baytown, Texas, for his Ridler contending '40 Ford sedan built by Scott Schneckloth of Sniks Rod & Custom; Bill Baldwin from Millersville, Maryland, with his phantom '40 Ford pickup built by the Hot Rod Garage; John and Pam Shay of Middletown, Indianapolis, and their '39 Ford convertible; Mike Belmont of Milford, Oklahoma, for his very hot rod looking all-steel '32 Ford roadster complete with an injected flathead; Chris Dixon of Toledo, Ohio, for a mind-stretching '32 Ford Lakes Modified; Vance and Candy Martin of Circleville, Ohio, for their '33 Plymouth coupe, which Vance has owned for 32-plus years (!); Whitt Brewer of Madison, Indiana, and his homebuilt and flathead-powered '27 Ford Lakes Modified; and Wyatt Fuller of Hickory, North Carolina, for his Greening Auto-built '33 Ford SpeedStar coupe. But, let's not overlook our sister publication, Classic Trucks, as they too had a Classic Trucks Top Ten. This also proved to be very popular, with some outstanding haulers taking home top honors.
Among the usual assortment of "fresh" cars debuted at Indy, we did notice accelerated activity at the Swap Meet & Cars-4-Sale Corral each day (there appeared to be some very good buys). As is typical with Indy each year you can count on a Poker Run that takes in the sights at the Speedway Museum and local race car shops. There was also a live rock 'n' roll band, Raydio Flyers, that played on Friday night while Saturday night echoed with the sounds of Endless Summer at the headquarters, the Adam's Mark Hotel.
It was an Indy that rodder's have come to expect and enjoy--the 14th was a hit, now let's gear up for next summer and see what the 15th has in store.
Bill Baldwin, Millersville, MD, debuted his one-of-a-kind phantom '40 Ford pickup built by the Hot Rod Garage of Denton, MD, and walked off with a STREET RODDER Top Ten. It features a chopped top and extended cab, shortened and narrowed MAC bed, a Ford SVO 302 V-8 with 3-2s for carburetion and numerous custom touches. | 
Mike Belmont, Milford, OK, received a STREET RODDER Top Ten for his homebuilt efforts with his all-steel '32 Ford roadster powered by an injected flathead in black lacquer with red leather interior. | 
John and Pam Shay, Middletown, IN, were awarded a STREET RODDER Top Ten for their '39 Ford convertible powered by a Chevy LT-1 with a 4L60E tranny, and an 8-inch Ford rearend. Interior credit goes to Clever Creations while paint and bodywork nods go to Raef's Auto Body. |
Vance and Candy Martin, Circleville, OH, captured another STREET RODDER Top Ten for their homebuilt black '33 Plymouth coupe powered by, what else, a 360 Mopar V-8 with a 904 tranny. Vance has owned the car for 32-plus years and he and Candy run up 7,000-plus miles a year, rain or shine! | 
Chris Dixon, Toledo, OH, has got them all thinking with his fresh approach to building a Lakes Modified with his silver and white '32 Ford roadster. That's why he went home with a STREET RODDER Top Ten. | 
Whitt Brewer, Madison, IN, was a staff favorite with his homebuilt all-steel '27 Ford Lakes Modified complete with flathead power, early-Ford three-speed tranny, sprint car nose, Halibrand quick-change, and race car interior. That's why he has a STREET RODDER Top Ten. He has been collecting parts for longer than some of the staff has been on this planet! |
Wyatt Fuller, Hickory, NC, captured a STREET RODDER Top Ten for his silver '33 Ford SpeedStar coupe. Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors did the incredible stitchwork while Greening Auto built the car and produced some spectacular interior aluminum work. You have to see it to believe it. | 
Wayne Godbey out of St. Louis, MO, was a big hit with his '57 Buick wagon complete with Americans and a 468-inch big-block. You gotta love it! | 
Norm and Jan Wehr of Morton Grove, IL, were on hand with their very cool chopped-top '39 Lincoln Zephyr morphed with numerous parts from a Lincoln Continental Mk IV. It's powered by a 460 V-8 with an Edelbrock 4-bbl. The frame was lengthened while the windshield is a Honda Civic turned upside down. |
Shann Appleman of Lancaster, OH, was on hand with his Pontiac powered Ford highboy coupe but we figure he wins the lowest headlight award. Hey, we liked this wide white with painted steelies look to boot. | 
The idea is to drive 'em, as shown by this very cool looking Deuce phaeton complete with luggage rack, greyhound, and wide whites. | 
Tim and Debbie Green of Ingalls, IN, brought their '36 Packard 120B built by Johnny Davis, Springport, IN. It's based on a Fatman frame with MII front and rear suspension and a 120-inch wheelbase. |
Steve Panarites of Jamestown, IN, brought his '29 Ford faux-phaeton complete with flathead and early-Ford tranny. Now, this is a hot rod! | | |