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Goodguys 1st Peak Chicagoland Nationals - Hittin' The Big OvalGoodguys 1st Peak Chicagoland Nationals From the March, 2008 issue of Street Rodder By Ryan Manson
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The Goodguys brought its Goodtimes to the Chicagoland speedway in Joliet, Illinois, this past september, kicking off the inaugural Peak Chicagoland nationals at the Chicagoland speedway. More than 2,000 hot rods, customs, trucks, and street machines through '72 gave the crowd, in excess of 45,000, plenty to look at throughout the week end. Perfect autumn weather combined with the drone of the Richard Petty Driving Experience nasCaR ride-along provided the atmosphere as the classics parked, cruised, and perused. The show kicked off early on Friday with a new feature at Goodguys events that has grown in popularity since the beginning of the year, and it's one that Goodguys plans on expanding next year-the street Challenge autocross presented by air Ride Technologies. Everything from rear-engined kit cars to musclecars to highboy hot rods participate for the best time around a predetermined course. If you've never seen an autocross event, they can be both comical and impressive as cars are put through their paces and pushed harder than what's usually encountered out there on the road. For those who prefer to drive in circles, the speedway was open all day with the Richard Petty Driving Experience conducting ride-alongs in a real-deal nasCaR race car. and if you just had to get some wheel time out on the course, it was open to all entries for the evening cruise under the lights, just like the pros. By sunday, the Goodguys staff had selected the winners and the Pro's Pick area was abuzz with the best of the best from the Midwest. some of the best cars from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, ohio, and points unknown were on hand, including 10 picked by the Street Rodder staff and entered in our Street Rodder Top 100 program sponsored by Turtle Wax. If you haven't heard about the program, log onto www. streetrodderweb.com to check out the cars from this year's field. With the great turnout and success of the inaugural Chicagoland nats, the Goodguys organization is proud to announce that the date and location are locked in for the 2nd annual Chicagoland nationals in 2008! Visit www.good-guys.com for more info, and we'll see ya there next year.  Bob simnick's slick '50 Ford...  Bob simnick's slick '50 Ford coupe was original in its appearance, although under the hood sat a Ford 5.0L V-8 backed by an aoD trans.  This mild kustom belonged...  This mild kustom belonged to yoder, In-resident Richard Pence. Flawless inside and out, the dark green hardtop remains true to the Chevy moniker with a small-block Chevy engine and TH350 transmission.  Jason Poul drove down from...  Jason Poul drove down from Watertown, WI, in this chopped and channeled "Crank'M out" '36 Ford pickup.  Can you say "Moonbeam"? This...  Can you say "Moonbeam"? This little gem was amongst a sea of swap meet vendors and cars for sale, including a few Model as and a half-dozen '50s cars just waiting to be customized.  They were three wide in Turn...  They were three wide in Turn 1 when the hot rods took over the Chicagoland speedway and got to flog their rides on the big nasCaR oval.  Here's another neat patina'd...  Here's another neat patina'd truck; this one was the real deal, hailing as an old hauler for the navy at their China Lake base in southern California.  Bob Cardwell is a Joliet local...  Bob Cardwell is a Joliet local and in addition to owning a Top 100 awardwinning '60 olds, he is also the owner of this '63 Buick Riviera.  So close and yet so far away....  So close and yet so far away. That's Jim Wokas' stock-appearing '33 Ford sedan on the left, and Mark and Theresa shoup's '34 Ford street rod on the right. While aesthetically very similar, the two cars are worlds apart when it comes to build styles.  Dave and Mary Glass are the...  Dave and Mary Glass are the owners of these two classic gassers. We're not sure if they drove them both from their Downers Grove, IL, home, but imagine seeing these two coming up in your rearview on the interstate!  We found a couple vehicles...  We found a couple vehicles for sale in the swap meet area of the Chicagoland nats that would have made great projects, including this patina'd F-1, and this '48 Ford coupe that was priced right and ready to drive home.  Once again, the street Challenge...  Once again, the street Challenge autocross course was getting abused by a handful of determined entrants pushing themselves and their vehicles to the limit.  We're unsure of the heritage...  We're unsure of the heritage behind Jim Cook's '28 Ford roadster, but it looked like it was fresh out'ta the barn with its '49 Merc engine, cracked and weathered paint and upholstery, and vintage build techniques.  George Pfalzgraf's 1952 Chevy...  George Pfalzgraf's 1952 Chevy DeLuxe is a real subtle stunner. Powered by a 235-horse straight-six, George and his coupe made the trek from Cedar Falls, Ia, to the Goodguys Chicagoland nationals and picked up a Top 100 award for their efforts.  Cedar Lake, In, resident Larry...  Cedar Lake, In, resident Larry Coleman was on hand with his beautiful, homebuilt '36 Chevy pickup. Larry shortened the stock bed and installed a 350ci small-block Chevy engine and 4L60 trans to power the full-fendered hauler.  John Thomson's nostalgiathemed...  John Thomson's nostalgiathemed '31 Ford Tudor had a Ford Pinto four-cylinder dressed to look like a vintage oHV conversion. a 4-inch chop, vintage stewart Warner gauges, F-1 steering box, and 4-inch dropped axle maintains the vintage theme.  This teal and tan '40 Ford...  This teal and tan '40 Ford convertible belongs to Plainfield, IL, local Gordon Woeltje. The drop-top rides on a set of Rodster's billet wheels shod in wide whitewall radials and is powered by a Chevy 350 combo.  Dan Ulreich's '50s-style,...  Dan Ulreich's '50s-style, flat-black '56 Ford F-100 rolls on red steelies shod in wide whites, matching the white-out under the hood. a Tri-power- equipped small-Chevy was dressed in vintage equipment and flanked by pinstriped panels.  Steve Hager's Waukesha, WI-based...  Steve Hager's Waukesha, WI-based convertible was originally a '46 Ford four-door sedan, but more than 50 body modifications make the conversion almost undetectable.  Joliet local Bob Cardwell's...  Joliet local Bob Cardwell's 1960 oldsmobile convertible's combination of fender skirts, Fiesta caps, wide whites, and white tuck 'n' roll interior made for one fine '50s-style custom. a 394ci olds motor powers the drop-top.  Mike Freund debuted this Tri-Five...  Mike Freund debuted this Tri-Five at the Chicagoland nats to an awestruck crowd. The Meadow Green and Candy mild custom sports a Tri-powered 283ci small-block Chevy backed by a TH350 trans.  Jim Ross' all-black '33 Chevy...  Jim Ross' all-black '33 Chevy coupe runs a potent Buick V-6 Grand national engine under the hood and was one of the most unique cars at the Chicagoland nationals.  Larry DeForrest's '61 Chevy...  Larry DeForrest's '61 Chevy Impala is a classic example of a '60s car built in a street rod fashion. The stock 348ci engine was hopped up to 408 inches and equipped with a Tri-power setup but otherwise appears stock.
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