Goodguys Indy 2003

You'd be hard pressed to go to any event in the Midwest and not be "greeted" by some rain. But this year the Goodguys/K&N Filters 15th Hot Rod Nationals held at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) in Indianapolis, Indiana, was one for the books. The heavens opened up on both Friday and Saturday but managed to spare the crowd a bit on Sunday. Even rain showers couldn't diminish the turnout of many new street rods, custom rods, and classic trucks that were all worth weathering the storm for--literally!

Having continually offered 400-plus race cars and almost 5,000 pre-'65 streetable iron, Goodguys Indy has earned the reputation as the summer's debutant ball for cars. (If you don't believe us call a rod builder two weeks before Indy and ask what is he doing and how many hours a day is he working?) This year's Grand Marshall was Shirley Muldowney, the three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion (1977, 1980, and 1982), who was there to sign autographs. Oh yes, she was also the first person to win Top Fuel World Championship more than once. Additionally, there were over 200 exhibitor booths showing off the latest in "wish list" parts that every rodder would love to have. To this formal display of rodding ware were literally hundreds of swap spaces that held everything from toys to complete cars. Oh yes, there was also a "For Sale" area where dozens upon dozens of cars were up for grabs to the one who could make the deal. For those who like to take home "iron," there was the usual assortment numbering 75 different awards given out by the Goodguys. To this there was the Boyd Coddington Pro's Pick, the PPG Paint Pick, the K&N Performance Pick;,The Truckville Pick sponsored by Dodge, the Magnum Axle Real Hot Rod award, three U.S. Radiator awards, the Classic Truck Top Ten, and the STREET RODDER Top Ten.

There were many new rods debuted at Indy. Starting with Sam Mangarino's '37 Ford cabriolet, which was built by Lobeck's V-8 Shop in Cleveland, Ohio, from an original drawing by Thom Taylor. This car made the Great 8 at this year's Detroit AutoRama while in competition for the Ridler award. Another topflight rod was the '37 Chevy phaeton of Jim Hoffman from Canfield, Ohio, who had builder Alan Johnson's Hot Rods in Gadsten, Alabama, build his phantom. Based on a two-door sedan the top was chopped 1 5/8 inches while the windshield was laid back 4 degrees. More mods included headlights that were lowered 2 inches and '37 Ford taillights. The car also features a custom hood and a grille by Jim Wrench. Another notable hot rod was the Deuce highboy five-window belonging to car aficionado George Poteet of Memphis, Tennessee, from the confines of FastLane Rod Shop in Donahue, Iowa. What may be the subtlest but most significant modification to this rod is the use of Brookville roadster quarter-panels in place of the stock coupe panels. Once you realize the difference you appreciate the enhanced appearance. The car also features a '40 Ford dash and column, Tremec five-speed, Winters "banjo"-style rearend, and drilled aluminum Pete & Jake's I-beam axle. It's all powered by a Ford Racing Performance Parts 351 crate engine dressed with '50s-era Thunderbird valve covers. From the nostalgia camp was the '34 Ford pickup belonging to Paul Brewer of Hamilton, Ohio. While featuring a Deuce passenger car grille the sheetmetal work also includes a 5-inch top chop, a 6-inch channel, '50 Pontiac taillights, bobbed front fenders, and an old-fashion I-beam axle and Buick brake drums in front. And last, but not least, pushing the styling envelope is Johnny Freund of Nashville, Tennessee, with his Dupont yellow '33 Ford Vicky built at Alloway's Hot Rod Shop in Louisville, Tennessee. This Rat's Glass body is a fresh approach to the always-likeable '33-34 Ford Vicky body. To finish off the statement the Alloway chassis features full independent suspension with a Heidt's in front and a Winters wiggly quick-change in back. Inside is the obligatory Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors but this time Ostrich hides are used to cover the seating. Other interior goodies include the use of Classic Instruments and Lokar pedals and shifter. Power comes from an LS6 matched to a 700-R4 while the wheels are Billet Specialties wrapped with the latest BFG g-Force KDW rubber measuring 215R35/18 in front and 295R45/22 in back. (Look for more on this car and Bobby Alloway's personal Vicky built in a more traditional style in an upcoming issue of SRM.)

Well, there you have an overview of this year's Indy. Best bet, come on by next year and get your fill of street rods, custom rods, classic trucks, and plenty of good ol' fashion drag racing.

This '34 lowboy is as cool as it gets (check out the six-banger). It perfectly set the tone for the entire weekend, which, by the looks of it, turned out to be more fun for some than others, as shown here in the form of a new-style mud-based filler primer.

Even with all the rain, there were a few minutes of dry time to slip some quarter-mile action in. Saturday was the driest day for the races, and believe us, the track officials were on the ball, running cars almost non-stop all day.

It looks like Shirley Muldowney drew as much of a crowd for her autographs as the drags. Mmm, wonder why...

Walking through the manufactures row, or rows, many, many rows, we ran into one of our favorites. SurfRods out of Estes Park, CO, not only deals in the coolest vintage surfboards, but under that white tent they actually have one of the largest selections of Hawaiian and Hot Rod print shirts around. Hey, they're good people too.

Cute as a bug, and by the looks of the quad-topped Olds Rocket, plenty of get-up-and-go too. This sectioned model A has to be a bodyman's dream as there looks to be more glass than body.

We could see this beautiful '37 Chevy from halfway across the event. Further inspection revealed a truly well-built LT1-powered street rod with a perfect stance and flawless body and paintwork from Colona, IL.

Screaming deal number one: Check out this too cool '29 roadster for $11K or trade, from Kansas City, MO. Could anyone even build a '29 like this for that kind of money?

Screaming deal number two: We're sure you don't run across too many rust-free '36 anythings back in these neck of the woods, but we found this beautifully-kept low-mileage '36 Chevy coupe marked, "No Rust Ever," for around $10K. Not bad for a turnkey original as clean as this.

Screaming deal number three: Hot rod all the way, and in every way. Check out this '29 Ford truck complete with all the trimmings and priced right at well under the $20K mark. Take a close look at the amount of work gone into this truck and tell us this isn't a screaming deal.

This STREET RODDER Top Ten award winner is the latest from George Poteet of Memphis, TN. This black highboy '32 Ford five-window was built by Dave Lane of FastLane Rod Shop in Donahue, IA. Major points of interest are the roadster (yes, roadster) rear quarter-panels, 1-inch top chop, '40 Ford dash, and steel top insert that retains an original fabric look.	Another STREET RODDER Top Ten award winner is this '37 Chevy phaeton made from a two-door sedan. The phantom ride belongs to Jim and Nan Hoffman of Canfield, OH, and was crafted at Alan Johnson Hot Rods of Gadsten, AL. Sprayed in a PPG Emerald green metallic and topped with a Mercedes Hartzcloth material it features a cream leather interior stitched at Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors.
Mark Race of Ft. Dodge, IA, was on hand with his PPG black cherry #8 Kugel Muroc-roadster built at Lakeside Rods & Rides of Rockwell City, IA. It too captured a STREET RODDER Top Ten award. It features Kugel full-independent suspension, Boyd Coddington wheels, Dunlop rubber, a T56 tranny, and Classic Instruments.	You gotta love this original Deuce roadster sheetmetal resting on a Total Cost Involved chassis ridding on American's sprayed in a PPG Woodlawn Green belonging to Ken Barnhart of Rockford, IL (who just happens to have a shop named Ken's Street Rods). The paint and bodywork on this STREET RODDER Top Ten winner was aptly handled by Nardi's Rod & Custom shop.
Johnny and Linda Freund from Nashville, TN, took home STREET RODDER Top Ten honors with their fresh out-of-the-box Alloway Hot Rod Shop- (Louisville, TN) built '33 Ford Vicky. Dupont yellow is sprayed over the Rat's Glass body that's wrapped around Paul Atkins Custom Auto Interiors Ostrich upholstery. The full independent chassis also features an LS6 engine, Billet Specialties 22s in back and 18s in front, with the latest g-Force KDW rubber from BFG.	Another STREET RODDER Top Ten recipient was Mike Tarquinio of Pittsburgh, PA, for his mild custom '36 Ford roadster painted in PPG Sapphire blue over a 2-inch top chop, "suicide" doors, and Wescott fender skirts. Other appointments include a Total Cost Involved Chassis, a G.I.S. Auto Interior with United Speedometer prepped gauges, and assembly and crafting by JPL Street Rods.
Dare we say "shades of the past" were beautifully displayed via Paul Brewer of Hamilton, OH, with his STREET RODDER Top Ten winning '34 Ford pickup that features a Deuce grille shell, PPG red lacquer paint, 5-inch top chop, and a 6-inch channel. Power comes via a 312 Y-block outfitted with three Holley 2100s, nifty T-bird valve covers, Coker wide whites, and M/T Radir dragster slicks on steelies with Moon discs.	Nick and Melissa George from Wilmington, DE, captured a STREET RODDER Top Ten with their Sikkens custom mix orange '31 Ford five-window built by the Hot Rod Garage in Denton, MD. (Personal note: Nick bought the car on his 17th birthday and 20 years later on his 37th birthday he received his SRM Top Ten--good timing.)
Wayne Young of Roscoe, IL, brought home a STREET RODDER Top Ten for his '31 Ford Vicky that has a scratchbuilt roof with a 2-inch cut-down Deuce grille that has also been narrowed 2 inches and features a Dan Fink Metalworks grille insert. Hopperstad Customs out of Belvidere, IL, accomplished the nifty build style. Power comes from a 5.0L Ford, the tranny is a five-speed, and the rearend is a Ford 8-inch.	Austin Parker of Oxford, OH, was another STREET RODDER Top Ten winner for his outstanding effort with this '40 Ford pickup based on a Down's 'glass body and chassis with a Pro's Pick bed all sprayed in PPG black featuring Ohio-style flames. Other appointments include Billet Specialties wheels wrapped with BFG rubber, Dakota Digital instruments, a black and red leather interior, and a Flaming River steering column and wheel.