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11th Annual Good Guys Southwest Nationals- Fun In the Sun Before The Snow And Rain ComeA Little Fun In The Sun Before The Snow And Rain Comes From the May, 2009 issue of Street Rodder By Ryan Manson Photography by Michael Stanford, Ryan Manson
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Turtle Wax Presents Street... Turtle Wax Presents Street Rodder Top 100
Larry Hutchinson trekked down from Wenatchee, Washington for a little fun in the AZ sun in his '41 Studebaker Champion business coupe, earning himself a Top 100 pick in the process. The Stude sports a small-block Chevy mill topped with a Barry Grant induction system, roller rockers, and a Comp cam. A tilt column serves to mount a banjo-style steering wheel that controls the Heidt's tubular frontend. While the majority of the country is dragging out their umbrellas, snow shovels, tire chains, and winter clothing, the Southwest still enjoys very favorable weather. This fair weather is one of the reasons Arizona has become the Western equivalent of what Southern Florida is to the East. And judging by the handful of out of state plates-some from as far away as Alaska-we spied at the Goodguys 11th Annual Southwest Nationals, this trend is inclusive of rodders who want to make a run to the Southwest instead of the weather they may be experiencing back home. This mild winter weather trend that treats the Scottsdale, Arizona, area is only one of the reasons the Southwest Nats have lasted more than a decade. The event continues to grow in size, with over 3,000 cars this year and a 20% increase in attendance. And, while the weather is an added bonus, the Southwest Nats real appeal comes from the quality of cars the Southwest corner of the United States has to offer. From Colorado to New Mexico, California to Texas, the proximity of so many regions make it a great central gathering point for so many diverse hot rodding communities. In addition to those who make it out simply to show and shine, the Southwest Nats also features one of the larger swap meets and car corrals at any Goodguys event across the country. An indoor gathering of vendors in the exhibition hall can even sell you some tools or a few new parts for that project you purchased out at the swap meet. Being the season closer for 2008, the Southwest Nationals was, for the first time, where all of the 2008 "Terrific 12" award winners from around the nation appeared together. This included the 2008 winners of the Street Rod of the Year, Hot Rod of the Year, America's Most Beautiful Street Rod, and Street Rod d'Elegance. In addition to the premiere of the Terrific 12 as a group, Goodguys also handed out over sixty other awards throughout the weekend. The Southwest Nationals was also the season closure for the 2008 Turtle Wax/Street Rodder Top 100 award program and the final ten cars were picked from the batch out at WestWorld of Scottsdale. The cars have been posted on our website, www.streetrodderweb.com, and by the time you read this, the 2008 Turtle Wax/Street Rodder Magazine Street Rod of the Year will have been announced and highlighted on the site. It's gonna be tough deciding on one car out of the hundred we picked, which is why we left it up to you, our loyal readers. So if you need one last frolic in the sun, hop in your ride and head out to Scottsdale, Arizona, for the Goodguys Southwest Nationals, you won't be disappointed. Turtle Wax Tech Tips
Winter is here, be sure to prepare your vehicle properly to help protect it from the harsh elements. Recommendations:
* Give your car a good wash and wax before putting it away for winter storing.
* Protect the interior with a pair of floor mats and clean it with a product such as ICE Total Interior Care.
* Check the tires for proper tread wear. Thin or uneven tread wear reduces traction on wet or icy roads.
* Check the antifreeze and oil levels to prevent internal damage to your car and always keep your gas tank at least half full to help prevent gas line freeze.
* Keep an emergency kit in the trunk of your car with a first-aid kit, blanket, gloves, road flares, an ice scraper, and a cell phone or other communication device.  Mike DeVriendt's 1946 Ford...  Mike DeVriendt's 1946 Ford Sportsman convertible woodie was one rare breed indeed. One of approximately 100 remaining, Mike opted to hot rod his with an Ardun Flathead and a Columbia 2-speed rearend, a perfect combo for a Top 100 pick.  One of the nicest homebuilt...  One of the nicest homebuilt cars we've seen in some time is Fred and Denel Pickering's '48 Plymouth coupe. The subtle exterior mods belie the street rod's true identity, which the blown 383 Chevy, mini-tubs, and full roll cage artfully identify. The couple cruised in from nearby Phoenix and received a Top 100 pick for their efforts.  Jim Moilanen's mild custom...  Jim Moilanen's mild custom '39 Merc sedan is a study in modesty when it comes to building a mild custom. By removing a few minor items and adding later Merc hubcaps on chrome steelies shod in wide white rubber, Jim created a look that definitely got our attention and earned him a Top 100 award.  Jay Page brought out his immaculate...  Jay Page brought out his immaculate '63 Ford Falcon Squire wagon from his home in Bluffdale, UT, and blew everybody away, so there was no doubt when it came time to select it for a Top 100 pick. The green machine is powered by a Roush small-block Ford engine and features air-brushed woodgrain paneling, basket weave upholstery inserts, and tons of leather. A custom sound system and climate controls keeps the occupants comfy while an Air Ride suspension system ensures the ride is to match.  Bruce and Darlene Burton's...  Bruce and Darlene Burton's freshly finished Deuce 3-window coupe was on hand showing off the excellent capabilities of the Hot Rod Haven in Albuquerque, NM, the shop that built the coupe. The '32 features Schroeder steering, vintage Halibrand wheels, chrome heavy axle, and is powered by 371ci J2 Oldsmobile engine.  From Moore, OK, Otis Schmidt's...  From Moore, OK, Otis Schmidt's '29 Ford sedan had many interesting details, including the use of a Deuce windshield. The copper sedan dubbed the "Corrugated Flyer" is powered by a 350ci Chevy small-block fed by a quartet of Barry Grant Demon 98 carbs.  Frank McCrory's elegant '49...  Frank McCrory's elegant '49 Chevy convertible was another mild custom that got our attention. With more than a dozen modifications, the treatment was still subtle enough to not be too over the top and earned the Chevy-powered drop top a Top 100 pick.  To complement Frank McCrory's...  To complement Frank McCrory's '49 is Robert Mathieu's '50 Chevy hardtop. While Frank went the distance when it came to modifying the hood, grille, and front sheetmetal, Robert stayed true to the original GM design while shaving a few bits of trim. The metallic blue Chevy also sports dark purple ghost flames and is powered by a Chevy 350/700-R4 combo.  A true full custom, Ron and...  A true full custom, Ron and Norene Williams' Tucson, AZ-based '36 Ford had us well impressed with everything from its Jade Green paint to its '51 Olds engine with dual quads. The drop top features '38 Ford front sheet metal, '39 Lincoln rear fenders, skirts, and taillights, a '36 Ford front bumper and '37 Ford rear bumper, and rides on a dropped front axle and air ride in the rear.  We really liked the frontend...  We really liked the frontend treatment on Wiley and Peggy Miller's Yorba Linda, CA-based, '50 Ford. The candy sedan runs a ZZ4 engine backed by a 700-R4 transmission.  We're not sure who this Deuce...  We're not sure who this Deuce belongs to, but we like it just the same. Early Halibrand smoothies and a Flatty dressed in Cylcone heads and parallel carbs on a hi-rise intake manifold looked great.  For the first time in the...  For the first time in the history of both Goodguys and the Southwest Nationals, all "Terrific 12" award winners for 2008 from the four corners of the country gathered to appear together in Scottsdale.  George Poteet's Deuce Delivery...  George Poteet's Deuce Delivery (above, top) won Street Rod of the Year; Cale, Bridgett, and Carlee Kern's Deuce sedan (middle) won Hot Rod of the Year; and Joe Schott's Deuce coupe (below) won America's Most Beautiful Street Rod, respectively.  How about a pair of Model...  How about a pair of Model T Speedsters? The blue one on the left belongs to Robyn Martin and is a 1915 Model T powered by a Flathead four-banger, while Bill Shumate's red Speedster is of 1926 model year origin.  Erin and Darren Gimblin's...  Erin and Darren Gimblin's '57 Chevy pickup wears a beautiful shade of blue and is a perfect study in stance and simplicity.  The Southwest Nats has one...  The Southwest Nats has one of the largest swap meets of any Goodguys event, encompassing the entire outer rim of the car show. This Model A roadster pickup was priced at $7,900; not a bad start for a winter project.  Of course, there was also...  Of course, there was also Dodge Red Ram Hemi with it for another $950. Now all we need is a rearend and trans....  Jim Keaton's '36 Auburn is...  Jim Keaton's '36 Auburn is indeed a rare bird, and it's cars like this that make going to rod runs so interesting; you never know what's going to turn up. I've seen the dashes of many, but rarely get to see these old autos in their complete form.  There's no doubt that the...  There's no doubt that the spirit of Ed Roth still lives on in the hot rodding world, and it's guys like Craig Smith and his Phoenix-based roadster that constantly remind us what an inspiration Big Daddy was.  And now for something completely...  And now for something completely different...ever seen a Volkswagen Fridolin? We hadn't either. This "holy grail of Vee-Dubs" belongs to Marty and Aileen Wells on Scottsdale, AZ, and was originally built to the specs of the German Postal Authority.
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