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41st NSRA Louisville Nationals - The 41st Time Around Is A PlusYou Know You Are Doing Something Right When You Go To Louisville In August-Year After Year From the January, 2011 issue of Street Rodder By Brian Brennan, Chuck Vranas, Eric Geisert, Gerry Burger, Tim Bernsau Photography by Eric Geisert, Tim Bernsau
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It was a first but seemed... It was a first but seemed perfectly natural: A Model A sedan going one way and a '55 Chevy going the other on the Kentucky Exposition Fairgrounds, which has been the continuous home to the NSRA Nats since 1998. For years comedians, and road-weary journalists, have said, "If this is Friday it must be Springfield." Oftentimes the memory of going back to one location time and time again conjures thoughts of "not again," "boring!" and, my favorite, "who did I piss off?" Not so and no way. Louisville, by whatever happenstance, is the rodding capital of the world-not just the good ol' U.S. of A. We are talking about the 41st running (this is Kentucky) of the National Street Rod Association's premier event: the Street Rod Nationals Plus. Threw you a curve? What's this "Plus?" Could it be that the NSRA has acknowledged the modern day rodder's waist size has begun measuring on its second yardstick? Nope, it means there's a change for the first time in 41 years within this hallowed event. Don't get us wrong, the Nats Plus still offers everything non-plus Nats had come to be known for-10,000-plus (there's that word again) street rods, literally 750,000-plus (again!) square feet of indoor exhibit space (with incredible air conditioning), a Builder's Showcase displaying the finest rolling examples our hobby has to offer, new products (where the latest our supporting industry has produced is unveiled), Rod Repair Shop (for the unscheduled maintenance), numerous outdoor events, entertainment, and related activities. The NSRA Nats Plus had everything we have come to want (and expect) with one noticeable change. UPS was on hand once again... UPS was on hand once again to check vehicle weight (total weight, front versus rear, and wheelbase). The STREET RODDER/Alloway's Hot Rod Shop project build (see February 2011) five-window came in with a 109-inch wheelbase; 2,730 pounds with 1,261 on the front and 1,469 on the back-good balance. The Nats has always been a pre-'49 event until this year and the 41st annual event was expanded to cover post-'48 cars and trucks, and established a sliding scale so each year vehicles that are 30-years-plus may attend all NSRA events. Hence, the use of the word "Plus" when referring to an NSRA event. (Editor's note: The NSRA did produce a handful of NSRA Street Machine Nationals back in the '70s and the pre- and post-'48 events were held on bookend weekends. The NSRA was ahead of its time and it's unfortunate they didn't stick with the formula, for they had a winner.) All of us have seen plenty of pre-'49 street rods and are willing to see more more, and the Nats didn't disappoint. The bonus this year was seeing hot rod material from the '50s and beyond that offered a change of pace and some great new ideas. Were there some cars of questionable content? Of course, just like there is always pre-'49 iron (and 'glass) that could use a great deal of massaging, and that's how they were treated. Tim and Chris Lies came down... Tim and Chris Lies came down from Illinois with their '56 Ford two-tone wagon. It's fun seeing wagons, a model of car we normally wouldn't see at the Nats. Follow along as the rest of the STREET RODDER staff zeroed in on many of the worthwhile attractions at the Nats Plus-Eric Geisert takes us through both the Builder's Showcase and New Products; Chuck Vranas has a look at the '40 Ford (as it's the 70th anniversary) and his selections for the Best Ford in Ford; then, Tim Bernsau walks us through the aisles of the Swap Meet, always a favorite; and finally Bernsau and Gerry Burger walk a whole lot more aisles, showing us what was taking up all those parking spots around the Kentucky Exposition Fairgrounds. I on the other hand concentrated on the ice cream, sugar-coated baked goods, and fried edibles, of which I am not sure of the origin, but I am around to write this story so it couldn't have been that bad. Hope to see you next year in Louisville with the hot rod of your choice. NSRA Nats Plus
Builder's Showcase
For the past five years, the National Street Rod Association has set aside a portion of the large convention center (the cavernous hallway between the vendors inside and the cars outside) to showcase a select group of car builders. The idea is, as the NSRA's Tom Vogele tells it, with 10,000 to look at, why not celebrate the shops and the builders? It's a good idea, and 28 cars and trucks were put on display this time out, and STREET RODDER wanted to give you a taste of what was there.  If you like five-windows then...  If you like five-windows then how about this full-fendered Deuce belonging to Jack Sheppard from Grovetown, GA, riding on really big apple green wires.  Tommy Cofhren from Taylorsville,...  Tommy Cofhren from Taylorsville, NC, brought out his '55 Pontiac. These cars reigned supreme in the '50s with acres of sheetmetal and wagons full of chrome. The modern V-8s were just coming of age as these cars hit the streets bringing real meaning to street performance.  Mark Hayden of La Grange,...  Mark Hayden of La Grange, KY, drove in with his '54 Nash Metro. The car was definitely a hoot to see, especially stuffed with an LS powerplant but watching a big guy like Mark get out was even more entertaining.  Dan Wachtel of Athens, AL,...  Dan Wachtel of Athens, AL, and a member of the Muscle Shoals Car Club brought out his '56 Ford Crown Vic resting on five-spoke Americans-sits right and looks good. Only 9,209 Crown Victorias rolled off the assembly line that year.  You definitely didn't see...  You definitely didn't see rods like a '57 Ford Ranchero before this year; thanks to Steve Norfleet from Lafayette, IN, for driving down.  Whitey Shoemaker of Wildwood,...  Whitey Shoemaker of Wildwood, FL, had his '56 Ford Vic present in a mild-custom build with a louvered hood, shaved door handles, tuck 'n' roll pleats, spots, fender skirts, lakes pipes, and the obligatory fuzzy dice.  The '47 through early '55...  The '47 through early '55 Chevy pickup has always been in the pre-'49 mix but technically only '47 and '48 could attend the Nats-now all are welcome and participants and spectators are better off for it. This custom '47 Chevy belongs to Dwayne Lawrence from Paris, KY, a member of the Bourbon Street Cruisers, on hand with his pick-me-up.  The exhibit building was loaded...  The exhibit building was loaded with manufacturers and related companies showing the latest in rodding hardware. Here we find ourselves looking at Speedway Motor's latest offering-a traditional rod in mail-order readiness. (Look for the rest of the story in an upcoming issue.)  Dick and Vicki Burnham of...  Dick and Vicki Burnham of Swanton, OH, drove in with their '39 Ford coupe, looking good sittin' low on red steelies dressed with whitewalls.  Johnny Powell of Odenville,...  Johnny Powell of Odenville, AL, brought out his 427-equipped '61 Ford Starliner, another cherished rare Ford of the '60s rodders that the Nats wouldn't normally see.  Bruce Vath of Cincinnati had...  Bruce Vath of Cincinnati had his very righteous-looking five-window '36 Ford on hand resting very comfortably on polished five-spoke Americans.  Charlie Schmalz of Cincinnati,...  Charlie Schmalz of Cincinnati, is a member of the Hilltoppers Car Club and rolled in with his '56 Lincoln Continental MKII; again, you gotta get hot and bothered over the large sheetmetal rides of the '50s era. We will never see iron like this again.  When it comes to woodies this...  When it comes to woodies this is as good as it gets. The '47 Ford wagon belongs to Bob Oney of Lebanon, OH. He is also a member of the Rus-T-Notz (you gotta like that!) and the Cincy Street Rods.  Granted none of us would have...  Granted none of us would have ever imagined Camaros at the Street Rod Nationals but in this era of "Plus" events they are here to stay. Camaro Central had a long line of these rides that made for a scene to be seen.  The obligatory Tri-Five was...  The obligatory Tri-Five was on hand with this excellent example of a drop-top '55 belonging to Roger Woody of Christiansburg, VA.  Hailing from Norridge, OH,...  Hailing from Norridge, OH, Tom Karagicnis brought out his full-custom '49 Merc chopped 4-1/2 inches in front and 6 inches in back, 350 Ram Jet Chevy V-8 for power, and Dakota Digital instruments and Vintage Air cool breeze.  There isn't a hot rodder around...  There isn't a hot rodder around with a pre-'49 ride who doesn't wish he had a '62 Impala SS sprayed in PPG Sunlight Gold Opal powered by a 598-inch big-block made from a Dart block and heads with a sheetmetal intake, Tremec five-speed, and custom wheels like these Schott's all sitting on a Kenny Thompson chassis. A thank you to Dick Bales for stopping by the Nats.  You gotta love the sense of...  You gotta love the sense of humor that Bruce Passman of Gonzales, LA, possesses with his "full-size" Chevy Impala. We have all seen chop, channel, section, and shave, pie cut, frenched, pancake but what we don't often see is cutting in half, throwing the middle away, and welding everything back up!  Jim and Pat Talaga's '47 Ford...  Jim and Pat Talaga's '47 Ford Sportsman convertible was built by O'Connell Specialties in Plainfield, IL. Tim O'Connell built the car, which features a mahogany and maple wood layout by Dave Martin. Under the hood is a '95 Lincoln 4.6L engine mated to an AODE transmission. The top and interior was done at Schober's Custom Hot Rod Interiors while the paint was shot by Ron Kral.  Vintage Fabrication in Independence,...  Vintage Fabrication in Independence, MO, worked with Larry Pillard on building his '32 Ford coupe. For 15 years, Vintage Fab's Bobby and Karen Schumacher have built cars for customers, including a Ridler award contender. Pillard's coupe started with a Brookville body (with a cool winter grille), and the chassis rolls on an 18/20-inch Billet Specialties wheel combo. Under the hood is an all-aluminum 427 ZL1.  Jim Alley's charcoal and orange...  Jim Alley's charcoal and orange '55 Chevy Nomad wagon was reborn as a wild performance vehicle by Tucci Hot Rods in Marcy, NY. A twin turbo, 500-inch Chevy resides in Nomad, which turns on 20- and 22-inch Budnik wheels. An Art Morrison chassis is underneath, and Tucci used a '64 Impala windshield for a dramatic effect.  F And F Speed, based in Whitehall,...  F And F Speed, based in Whitehall, MD, built this stretched '31 Ford truck for Tom Jenkins. Fred Graefe did the metalwork and Dale Sheats did the bodywork, and there was a lot of both! The chassis was stretched 12 inches and the hood To get more legroom, 10 inches was added under the cowl, pushing the firewall forward. With a 2-inch chop and widened rear fenders (also by 2 inches), this is one long hauler!  Larry Griffey Hot Rods & Restorations...  Larry Griffey Hot Rods & Restorations did a lot of work on Donald Rish's '48 Chevy truck. It sits on 'rails from Fatman Fabrications, plus it was chopped almost 4 inches with the windshield laid back. The bed sides are from a '54, and the hood flips forward to reveal a 454/460-horse Chevy.  Street Rods by Michael, from...  Street Rods by Michael, from Shelbyville, TN, provided the chassis and assembly on this '32 Ford coupe for Brian and Lynda Perilloux. Painted with flat PPG paints, the three-window (a Redneck 'glass body) features a B&B upholstery interior, graphics from Gary Mizar, and a 350/700-R4 engine and trans combo.  Ken Nester owns this '61 Chevrolet,...  Ken Nester owns this '61 Chevrolet, which was built by Alloway's Hot Rod Shop in Louisville, TN (Alloway's had two cars in the Builder's Showcase this year). The car was an original six-clyinder car from California, but now sports a 502 Chevy with custom 409-looking valve covers and air cleaner. An Art Morrison front clip and a 9-inch Ford was used underneath, and the interior (from upholsterer Paul Atkins) copies the look of a '67 Nova SS.  Barry Penfound, from Penfound...  Barry Penfound, from Penfound Design in Elyria, OH, has built some stylish customs for himself over the years, and this '64 Cadillac is no exception. His idea was if GM built a '64 today, what would it look like? Using many Cadillac-inspired parts (cloth from a '77 De Ville, billet wheels that look like Caddy hubcaps, and seats out of a '66 Eldorado), Penfound finished the project with an original, but highly detailed, 429 Cadillac engine.  Jim Lewis owns this radical...  Jim Lewis owns this radical '40 Ford coupe, which was done at Ronnie's Hot Rods in Sentobia, MS. Ronnie Geeslin redid the chassis, adding new crossmembers and a RideTech airbag suspension. An LS2 engine was installed, and a custom console running between the seats highlights a leather and suede interior stitched together by Jeremy Legens.  Bob and Deanna Reed have had...  Bob and Deanna Reed have had several nice hot rods over the years (including a Ridler winner) and had D & D Specialty Cars in Van Buren, AR, build a '32 Ford sedan for them. On a Pete & Jakes chassis, the Tudor was channeled slightly, and a custom dash made from a '55 Oldsmobile dash. And if the custom interior isn't enough, then the '66 Buick Nailhead 'tween the 'rails takes it over the top.  Mickey and Vicki Smith's dramatic...  Mickey and Vicki Smith's dramatic '40 Standard convertible had a perfect 2-inch chop and pavement-hugging stance, thanks to a Kugel IFS, RideTech 'bags, and neat wire wheels by Wheel Smith.  With the 70th Anniversary...  With the 70th Anniversary of the '40 Ford celebrated this year, Bob Drake Reproductions picked the perfect time to showcase their new steel reproduction '40 Ford coupe body for everyone to check out.  It's not every day you come...  It's not every day you come across a '40 sedan delivery like Rohn Buffington's hauler with its tasty white and maroon body, Briz bumpers, and classic steelies.  With scorching flames adorning...  With scorching flames adorning an orange pearl-coated body, Terry and Fran Stade's DeLuxe convertible rolls on Foose wheels and easily grabs your attention.  Nothing says wicked like John...  Nothing says wicked like John Langston's '40 coupe slammed to the ground with a louvered hood, black icing, and just enough hot licks across its body.  Coated in black vibe, Mike...  Coated in black vibe, Mike Eaton's hopped-up '40 coupe had plenty of attitude thanks to an immaculate black leather bucket interior and American Racing wheels.  Looking like it was ready...  Looking like it was ready for a Saturday night run at a local dirt track, Gary Schwister's nostalgic coupe nailed the look of a period-perfect oval track racer.  Resplendent in deep forest...  Resplendent in deep forest green gloss, Larry and Vicki Tisdale's '40 DeLuxe sedan featured a razor-sharp body, tidy leather interior, and plenty of nostalgic flavor.  Nick and Gloria Schiavarelli's...  Nick and Gloria Schiavarelli's DeLuxe sedan showcased an alluring pale green exterior complemented by a tasteful white and yellow pleated interior, while rolling on wide whites.
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