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The 4th Annual Goodguys Great American Nationals- Party In The PoconosThe 4th Annual Goodguys Great American Nationals From the March, 2009 issue of Street Rodder By Jim Rizzo
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It's been a season of firsts for me this year when it came to Goodguys events. Not too long ago it was the Colorado Nats in Loveland, Colorado (a first for me, but the 11TH for the fans and participants), and just a few days ago the 4TH Great American nationals at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. I have to admit, these two first-time (for me) gatherings were my favorite shows of the '08 season. This year's Great American Nationals was held at Pocono Raceway-- a new venue for the show that offers a huge amount of room for show cars and a lot of space for cruising. As an added bonus, there's the racetrack that allows participants to exercise those lead feet and make a few laps around the track in their hot rods. Though Mother Nature tried her best to dampen the fun (and boy did she try) by offering up a good ol' Nor'easter immediately followed by an Atlantic hurricane, the brave souls that didn't let a bit of rain--well, okay, a crapload of rain--scare `em into sittin' on the couch rather than their hot rods, and they had a great time meeting and visiting like-minded rodders. Though the weather did play a part, the Goodguys still pulled off a great gathering and making the best of the situation and did their best (as always) to ensure that all that attended had as much fun as possible. Plenty of vendors were on hand showing and selling their wares, and the swap meet offered some cool finds for those with a sharp eye. The Special Featured areas were well represented from Homebuilt Heaven to the Trick Truck Corral. The weather lightened up a bit so the hugely popular Street Challenge Autocross ran with some really exciting passes by both street rods and muscle cars. And the always impressive Goodguys Pros Pick Area was filled with an impressive, albeit wet, selection of top-notch iron. Some of the more enjoyable parts of the show, for me anyway, were weather-induced. By that I mean that when the heavy rains fell, the folks all took shelter in the massive racecar garages and the gathering there produced masses of conversation between hundreds and hundreds of show goers--some acquaintances from previous GG events, but many whom were meeting for the first time--and we all know the best part of the street rodding hobby is the people you meet and the friends you make. So in this sense good ol' Mother Nature did us all a service. I'm confident that the Great American Nats and its new venue at Pocono Raceway is destined to become one of the Goodguys premier events in the near future--cuz as great as it was under pouring rain, I can't believe how great it's gonna be under blue sky and sunshine! The 5TH Great American Nationals at Pocono Raceway--be there, or be square--I sure will be! Turtle Wax Tech Tips
Winterizing Your Vehicle
For those of us that experience the cold, dampness, and the sleet and snow of winter, car care preparation beforehand is a must. That said, here's some good tips for winter storage. Recommendations:
1. Thoroughly wash the car with Zip Wax Car Wash and towel dry.
2. Remove any remaining tar and stains with Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover.
3. Seal any exposed metal from scratches with touch up paint or a Turtle Wax Color Magic w/Chip Stik. Now the car is ready for wax.
4. Remember, a car can be waxed in cool weather as low as 50 F.
5. During the winter visit the local car wash regularly or any time excessive soils accumulate on the car's exterior. When winter ends and as soon as the weather starts to warm up, get ready to re-wax to restore shine and exterior paint protection. 6. Seasonal car care which includes a good quality car wax like ICE Synthetic Paste Polish will keep a car looking it's best for years to come.
 Always a fan of '35-36 Fords,...  Always a fan of '35-36 Fords, Lee Marchi's pewter metallic '36 reinforced my affinity for this particular body style. Another thing that makes it a winner is the fact that it runs a Ford motor, a 302/four-speed combo to be exact.  Turtle Wax Presents Street...  Turtle Wax Presents Street Rodder Top 100
Bob Olah maybe a relative newbie in the street rodding scene (he's spent years as a muscle and sports car aficionado), but he sure has good taste when it comes to rods. Bob's '37 slant-back was built for the road with all the comforts and way more than enough ponies to turn a few heads. Above and beyond the best in the street rod aftermarket chassis and suspension wise (like a full-on Total Cost Involved chassis assembly); the sedan is outfitted with a 4.6L, 32-valve, DOHC modular motor courtesy of a late-model Lincoln. Backing the mod-motor is an AOD-E electronic overdrive trans and a 9-inch rear.  Nothin' represents white-knuckle...  Nothin' represents white-knuckle rides like a slammed and tubbed '41 Willys coupe. Long known for their drag strip prowess, the Willys also makes for one mean street rod, as well. Sheldon Siegle's deep black beauty is a perfect example, his no-nonsense beast runs a full-on Edelbrock, Barry Grant, Comp Cams, and Headman Hedders-equipped small-block Chevy backed by a race-ready TH350 trans and a beefy 9-inch Ford rearend. The Willys body retains its stock configuration, but the car's aggressive stance and huge rear meats exude a don't mess with me attitude that remains timeless.  Springfield, Pennsylvania's...  Springfield, Pennsylvania's Albert Torelli trekked through a good ol' Nor'easter to Pocono Raceway in his freshly finished '49 Olds 88. Albert's cool cruiser sports, among other mods, a 3-inch chop, a pie-cut hood with a tunneled custom rocket emblem, a split front bumper with '53 Merc Dagmars, a '53 Olds front grille bar used as a rear bumper, and a pair of rear fender skirts fashioned out of sections of a '59 Caddy roof panel. A 355-cube SBC nestled in a Fat Man Fabrications subframe is mated to a 700R4 overdrive transmission making freeway cruisin' a pleasure--even when navigating through torrential rainfall.  Jay Mead's Mishawaka, IN-based...  Jay Mead's Mishawaka, IN-based '48 Chevy coupe sports way more than its fair share of cool mods and upgrades, including a three-inch chop, widened and molded rear fenders, and frenched head and taillights. Jay also outfitted the coupe with a Camaro subframe and a stout SBC and automatic transmission for carefree cruising.  Speaking of roadsters, take...  Speaking of roadsters, take a peek at John Stephenson's rag-topped roadster. John's '33 was built to drive, with a traditional look combined with modern updates for comfy cruising and white-knuckle jaunts around town. The British Racing Green roadster is equipped with IFS for late-model-like handling, an extremely muscular SBC backed by an overdrive automatic, and a full custom-sewn convertible top with perfectly formed side curtains. And so the roadster's rather diminutive trunk didn't interfere with his long distance travels, John built himself a matching Mullins-style trailer for anything that wouldn't fit.  They say "first time's a charm,"...  They say "first time's a charm," and I gotta say, Denny & Sue Hurd's super sedan is a perfect case in point. This neat '33 Plymouth is the very first street rod this couple has ever tackled and was a completely home-built project from start to finish. Denny's project took a full three years to complete, and to this point has accumulated nine years and 34,000 miles on the road! Aside from sporting Denny's first-ever paint job, the '33 also received a three-inch chop, widened rear fenders, and a ZZ4 small-block backed by a 700R4 trans.  It seems like you can't have...  It seems like you can't have a batch of Top-100 picks without the venerable Deuce roadster being among `em. Well, this time around I ran across Barry MacCheyne's way-cool traditional roadster, and it really stopped me in my tracks. Barry's roadster is the epitome of a hot rod from its perfect stance to its Hemi powerplant. With a boxed chassis and a Brookville steel body as a starting point, Barry added a '57 Chrysler 392 backed by a Keisler five-speed and a coilover suspended 9-inch. A stock Deuce dashboard, a '40 wheel, a column-mounted tach, and an Auburn-style dash insert offer true traditional styling inside, while a pair of aluminum heads and intake from Hot Heads bring that vintage Hemi up to today's hot rod standards.  You just can't beat a '40...  You just can't beat a '40 Ford when it comes to hot rod material, and that fact wasn't lost when it came time for Scott Curylo to get to work. It's been twelve years since Scott completed the rodstoration of his drop-top, and as you can see, he's done an excellent job in both building and maintaining this awesome '40. The convertible sports a 2 -inch chop (a tough job for a working convertible), a custom interior, a 350/350 combo, a quartet of polished Americans, and a beautiful Amethyst Pearl paint job.  Allan Bernth's '29 closed-cab...  Allan Bernth's '29 closed-cab stopped me in my tracks as I navigated the rain-soaked grounds of the Pocono Raceway. Closed-cab pickups are cool, but this one is the epitome of a hot rod truck with its all-steel, stock height cab, painted wires, and resale red paint job. Allen's '29 is powered by a stout little 305 backed by a TH350 and a quick change rear.  When you spend ten hours a...  When you spend ten hours a day behind the wheel for a living, it takes an awfully nice hot rod to entice ya to spend even more time on the road, and so's the case with Bill Poindexter. Bill's beautiful bubbletop runs and drives every bit as nice as it looks, and as you can see, it looks awesome. Above and beyond a full body resto, Bill chose a full-house Ram-Jet small-block Chevy backed by a 700R4 and a 10-bolt rear as a more than muscular drivetrain. He then added a full complement of Air Ride Technologies suspension and a quartet of 20-inch wheels and tires for a real contemporary custom look.  Though the skies remained...  Though the skies remained dark all weekend, Larry Hill's '31 A was a major bright spot. The vivid orange coupe boasts a healthy tunnel-rammed SBC, a drilled visor, and a quartet of wide white-shod Radirs.  Here's a pickup I wish we...  Here's a pickup I wish we saw more of in the hobby. The '40 Chevy is a classic style that lends itself to rodstoration beautifully. Bob Koenig's silver beauty is a perfect example and will hopefully motivate some to keep their eyes open and root out some of these babies from the local barnyards across America.  Dave Beatty's Mountaintop,...  Dave Beatty's Mountaintop, PA-based '33 is prime example of classy contemporary-style three-window. A monochrome finish, full fenders, billet wheels, and black walls make for a look that's almost as timeless as traditional styling.  Larry and Theresa Wilcox's...  Larry and Theresa Wilcox's cool '57 Fairlane was looking good with a clean shave and a set of big diameter billets. Motorvation for this Fredericksburg, VA-based two-door is a muscular 460 backed by a C6 trans.  Jon Schuchart's all-business...  Jon Schuchart's all-business '38 coupe just has "the look." Jon motored up into the mountains in this slammed and tubbed hot rod from York, PA--minding those rain-slicked roads, we imagine.  Cindy Zimmerman's way cool...  Cindy Zimmerman's way cool '60 Pontiac Ventura is a perfect example of just how good early '60s GM bubbletops can look. Even in stock form these cars are nice, but a bit of imagination combined with a smattering of aftermarket accessories make `em true head-turners.  Though the rain did put a...  Though the rain did put a bit of a damper (pun intended) on the swap meet, there we still lots of cool items available. Most notable was this nearly mint '21 center-door Model T. For $4,800, it was amazingly complete right down to its diminutive banger and wooden spoke wheels.  Singin' in the rain, rooster...  Singin' in the rain, rooster tails that is. Todd Buehler made the trip to Pocono Raceway behind the wheel of his traditional '31 A tub along with his father, Gary, in his Deuce Tudor. At least Pop stayed dry on the way, though I bet Todd didn't mind too much.Note: Since returning to sunny SoCal, Gary has informed me that Todd was rear-ended on the trip home to New York--thankfully Todd was unhurt, but we wish we could say as much for the tub.  One of the things that make...  One of the things that make Goodguys events so much fun is the fact that there's nearly always a great mix of street rods, hot rods, muscle cars, and classic trucks--and Pocono was another great example. This lineup was punctuated by Mark Sartori's '66 Chevy II SS. Mark's Deuce (yes, it is considered a Deuce) is powered by a stout Ramjet 350 backed by a 700R4 overdrive tranny.  George Burke has one neat...  George Burke has one neat project in the works with his soon-to-be-completed '53 Shovelnose. The much-massaged Stude runs a full-house 383-cube stroker backed by a six-speed manual. Like many say, real hot rods have three pedals!  Ivor Mills' Chestertown, MD-based...  Ivor Mills' Chestertown, MD-based '56 Vicky sported nosed, decked, and shaved sheetmetal and a cool Chevy grille which looked right at home in the maw of the Ford hardtop.  I wasn't too surprised to...  I wasn't too surprised to run into an old friend at the Great American Nationals. Al Davis has got to have racked up tens of thousands of miles on his '28 A over the last several years. Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Al's been a regular at dozens and dozens of shows all over the USA. He's also run a number of legs of STREET RODDER's Road Tour over the last couple of years --that's what I like to see, hot rods built to be driven--kudos Al!  It was a great surprise to...  It was a great surprise to run into good friends Angel and Gary Newman in the Pocono's. The pair opted to make the trip to this show in their big-block 454-powered '59 Chevy wagon rather than their Flathead A coupe (that you'll soon be seeing as a full-color feature). The wagon provides a bit more of a civilized ride than the A, and can carry a lot more rain gear as well!  I'm happily running across...  I'm happily running across many more Mopar hot rods these days than I have in years. Stanley Amor's '32 Plymouth coupe is a really nice example with deep black paint, a really cool flame job, and a quartet of Torque Thrust Ds.  Another nice Ford-powered...  Another nice Ford-powered Ford I ran across was this Deuce roadster belonging to Jon Wood out of Worcester, PA. Jon's '32 is powered by a 347-cube small block backed by a Tremec six-speed--I bet this one's an E-ticket ride!  This '32 Chevy five-window...  This '32 Chevy five-window was one of my favorite finds at the show. Unfortunately, not once during the entire weekend did I ever find its owner, Martin Kolevar, anywhere near it. I would have loved to get the story behind it, but I'm just happy I was at least able to snap a couple of pics to share.  Hot Tar sundaes were all the...  Hot Tar sundaes were all the rage around this Good Human I Scream truck we spied at the show. This '54 ('55 first-series?) ice cream truck brought a smile to those of us old enough to remember the Good Humor man, though I don't recall bug catchers or superchargers being standard equipment.  Speaking of cool cars, we...  Speaking of cool cars, we don't see nearly enough of rods like Jim Ritchey's '39 Chevy two-door sedan. Bright yellow paint and a gaggle of flames make Jay's ride a standout.  Jim and Penny Vogel's unique...  Jim and Penny Vogel's unique '37 delivery is one classy commercial, and drew lots of umbrella toting admirers all weekend.
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