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Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals - Inside The CircleTradition Continues At The Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals From the April, 2011 issue of Street Rodder By Tim Bernsau
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As you can tell from some of these photos, the Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals is held in the expansive infield of an oval track. The Kansas Speedway is home to various NASCAR races and, once a year, to the Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals. It's hard to get lost in the middle of a racetrack, but pack that place with 2,000 rods and customs, muscle cars, and trucks, add an assortment of special car corrals, extensive vendor displays, and an AutoCross, and at the end of three perfect days you realize you've been walking around in a circle and still haven't seen everything there is to see. There were other ways to win... There were other ways to win besides the show awards. The Street Challenge AutoCross is a popular component of many Goodguys shows. Street machines tend to dominate but the separate Street Rod class attracts earlier cars. The rods may not be as quick through the cones, but a few are, and all of them put on a great show. As you can also tell, this event is loaded with traditional hot rods. We were impressed by the number of early roadsters, coupes, and sedans built in a nostalgic style. We found a lot of newly finished projects as well as a lot of perennial favorites. From them all, we selected 10 additions to our 2010 Painless Performance Products Top 100 list. In addition, CLASSIC TRUCKS magazine gave away Finest 5 awards from the vast assortment of pickups. Dave Lane of Fast Lane Rod Shop hosted a special corral on Saturday to find his Builder's Choice picks. As always, the Goodguys reps stayed busy picking more than 100 additional awards. Thanks central state enthusiasts for bringing your rods and customs to the Mid-Western Nationals to show 'em off inside the circle.  We can't argue with the selection...  We can't argue with the selection of Russ Hess' '32 roadster for the Magnum Axle Real Hot Rod award. Hess' shaved Deuce highboy wears '40 Ford green paint and an original '51 Cadillac air cleaner on the 350 small-block.  This silver metallic slammed...  This silver metallic slammed sled started life as a '51 Ford business coupe. The winner of the Chopped & Dropped award has also been shaved and smoothed and nosed and decked. Owner Bill Patton of Leavenworth, KS, got help from his brother, Michael.  Linda Jackson knows it's more...  Linda Jackson knows it's more fun to drive a roadster than park it. Her son, Rusty, operates Odd Rod Creations in Carl Junction, MO, and built the screaming green Deuce with a Street & Performance 5.7L Hemi engine for go-power.  Paul Brase started with a...  Paul Brase started with a bare cab and ended up with this sweet '34 pickup. A Grant distributor with dual coils fires the Chevy 350 (the Ford ovals on the valve covers are add-ons). At the event, the almost-finished pickup had 7 miles on the odometer.  E.H. "Rooty" Root usually...  E.H. "Rooty" Root usually runs slicks or dirt track meats on his '25 T, but mounted these tires to run the 302-powered track roadster in the Street Challenge AutoCross. He also drag races the car. Rooty was a drag racer in the old days and was at the last race at Santa Ana Drag Strip in 1959.  Another time capsule '32 was...  Another time capsule '32 was Jimmy and Jo Houston's coupe, powered by a '50 Merc flathead with a single 94 carb. The Ford Winterleaf brown and the straw color on the '36-37 wheels are both early Ford colors, contributing to the Period Perfect award won at the event.  Here's another unusual Chevy...  Here's another unusual Chevy hauler. Russell Lane's '57 Suburban, packed with an LS7 was built at the Roadster Shop. It won a CLASSIC TRUCKS magazine's Finest 5 award and was a finalist in Goodguys' Truck of the Year contest.  Everyone loves Gassers (or...  Everyone loves Gassers (or should anyway) and John Sinfellow's '41 Willys is one of the reasons why. With that front tank and straight axle to the 10-spoke front rims and a 427 big-block for power, the only thing missing is a flagman. Hoosier tires pack the rear wheelwells.  Reminiscent of the look of...  Reminiscent of the look of the Model T trend of the early '70s, this '23 is equipped with a dressed-up small-block and Powerglide. Notice the polished 'rails and white tuck 'n' roll. Anne Lemke of Grafton, WI, earned the Terrific T prize.  With its blown 330 DeSoto...  With its blown 330 DeSoto Hemi, stance, Radirs and whitewalls, and elaborate interior, Keith Bright's wild '31 Chrysler looks like a Hot Wheels car. Sure enough, a Hot Wheels version was made. Mattel designer Larry Wood even autographed the dash of the sedan.  We've seen Jim Landsparger's...  We've seen Jim Landsparger's '30 coupe all over the place and still can't get enough. With a flattie with dual deuces, cheater slicks, red and white interior, front hairpins, rear split wishbones, and more, this Model A is a beaut.  Greg and Lana Mortland drove...  Greg and Lana Mortland drove their '32 Ford from East Alton, IL. The roadster, finished in black from the sheetmetal to the steelies, has been all over the country-and never on a trailer. The old-time components added up to a Timeless Traditional award here.  G.W. Gillman's long and low...  G.W. Gillman's long and low '28 Ford is pulled by a 241 Dodge Red Ram Hemi with an Offy intake and dual Strombergs tied to a six-speed transmission. The sport coupe body was chopped 4 inches and sectioned 3. An air tank from a B52 was modified to hold 13-1/2 gallons of gas.  Goodguys gave a Rodders Rep...  Goodguys gave a Rodders Rep award to this beautiful '31 five-window highboy coupe, rolling on dirt track tires. The 350 Chevy engine is topped with triple Rochester two-jet carbs and Olds Rocket valve covers painted beige to match the monochrome paintjob.  After watching the Gassers...  After watching the Gassers run at Mo-Kan Dragway, Butch Manning knew he needed one. His green '56 Chevy is an original car with the "old stuff", including the original interior. With a 302 DZ block race engine and Muncie four-speed, it runs 12s right now.  Well-known builder Dave Lane...  Well-known builder Dave Lane chose 10 deserving cars for Pro's Pick awards, including Melody Freeman's incredible '34 Chevy coupe, from Jonesboro, AR. Fit and finish and the mirror finish of the dark cinnamon paint are probably two reasons why.  Snow-white scallops complement...  Snow-white scallops complement the "distressed" two-tone paint on George Austin's '63 Bel Air wagon, and a closer look reveals a lot of well-done details. Red metalflake paint highlights the interior. This street cruiser sits on RideTech suspension components, with a 283 for power.  In case you thought all the...  In case you thought all the early coupes were Ford highboys, take a look at Bub Lovelady's eye-catching full-fendered '31 Chevy. A Cadillac air cleaner sits on top of the 350, and the interior features off white tuck 'n' roll, and a banjo wheel on a tilt column. Rambler wagons don't show... Rambler wagons don't show up much in rod and custom circles, and Ted and LuAnn Lesher's amazing '60 American took the Dare To Be Different award. The paint on this six-cylinder-powered custom is fantastic.  Ottawa, KS, pro builder Roger...  Ottawa, KS, pro builder Roger Ward's '32 roadster won the Deuce Doings award just like it did 20 years ago. Ward added a lot of contemporary elements to the mostly traditional Deuce, which has a blown 383 stroker motor underhood.  Thanks to a ZL1 engine and...  Thanks to a ZL1 engine and some beefy radials front and back, Bob & Karen Schumacher's '32 three-window has got to be a blast to drive. The paint and grille help set it apart. The coupe from Independence, MO, was another Pro's Pick award winner.  DeWayne Deck covered his custom...  DeWayne Deck covered his custom '59 Buick LeSabre in deep metalflake brown to go with the elaborate leather-covered handbuilt high-tech interior. Those injector stacks top a 543ci Donovan that used to run in a Funny Car.  With lots of low-key custom...  With lots of low-key custom mods to the exterior, as well as a grille full of bullets, copper paint, white and copper two-tone tuck 'n' roll upholstery, and a dazzling engine compartment, there's a lot to like about Hub Harness' '60 Buick custom.  The Plymouth Prowler was inspired...  The Plymouth Prowler was inspired by hot rods, so Craig Powers from Smithville, MO, returned the favor by modeling his '33 roadster on Prowler styling. The contemporized body rolls on a Pete & Jakes frame with IFS and runs a small-block. Painless Performance Products
Presents
Street Rodder Top 100
For the Top 100 program, STREET RODDER attends 10 particular car shows each year and picks 10 vehicles at each to make up the Top 100. For more on where those shows are and how they're voted on, check www.streetrodderweb.com. Tech Tip
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers come in many different amperage capacities and are used in circuits that have high loads and voltage spikes. An electric fan circuit is a good example of a circuit that a circuit breaker should protect.  Jim Clark, Hays, KS / '33...  Jim Clark, Hays, KS / '33 Ford roadster
The '30 Pierce Arrow Blue is a great paint choice for this tasteful and timeless '33, especially in contrast to the brown leather interior. The Ford in this Ford is a numbers-matching '65 427 engine, hooked to a C4 transmission. A set of '37 Nash gauges fill the dash. Check out the feature in this issue on page 98 for more details.  Jim Evans, Hammond, IN / '49...  Jim Evans, Hammond, IN / '49 Chevy Fleetline
You've already seen the feature on this mostly owner-built Chevy in the January issue. The visor and the highly detailed 235 I-6 engine are only two of many unusual elements, hood louvers, a functional light-up hood ornament, and black tapestry upholstery being others. Jim drove the newly done Fleetline 10 hours in the rain to get to Kansas City.  Bill Kullbom, Burlington,...  Bill Kullbom, Burlington, IA / '56 Cadillac coupe
Much of the exterior brightwork was kept, but door handles, emblems, and other trim were shaved to clean up the sheetmetal on this mouth-watering Series 62 hardtop. The interior is stock and restored and the exterior finished in Toyota Mica Red. The 500ci Caddy engine and transmission were pulled from a demolition derby car.  Chad Weaver, Paola, KS / '46...  Chad Weaver, Paola, KS / '46 Ford pickup
After years in a field somewhere, this just-finished '46 underwent the transformation from a neglected stocker into a chopped-and-channeled hot-rodded hauler-with bomber buckets, Pete & Jakes front suspension, modified Deuce grille, pie crust skinny whitewalls, Mac's Ratz 'rails, and a 350 with high-rise manifold and dual four-barrels.  Dusty Cromer, Lebanon, MO...  Dusty Cromer, Lebanon, MO / '53 Oldsmobile coupe
That paint (Dusty calls it "go man go copper") was the first thing we noticed about this shaved and lowered Olds, built by Danny McAlister. The paint covers all-original sheetmetal with some left over for the Dayton wire rims. The engine is a spotless Speed & Perforance LT1; the faux Oldsmobile valve covers didn't fool us at all.  Cory & Michelle Eberle, Ellis,...  Cory & Michelle Eberle, Ellis, KS / '25 Dodge roadster pickup
You'll find handbuilt stuff all over this drool-inducing non-Ford, non-Chevy hot rod, from the bed to the steering wheel mounted on an unsupported column, plus a dash built from VW hood steel with a '49 Nash uniscope gauge. Frank Wallic built those buckets, covered in distressed leather. Mike Keller built this former four-door.  Gerry Kerna, Cranberry Township,...  Gerry Kerna, Cranberry Township, PA / '41 Willys coupe
After a series of muscle cars, Gerry Kerna wanted a street rod, but wasn't ready to give up high performance. Her 502 Ram Jet-powered Willys, built (at RPM Motorsports) on a tubular chassis with a high-performance suspension, fills the bill. The two-tone paint, countless exterior mods, and a fully custom interior provide style to match that performance.  Leon Grover, Purcell, OK /...  Leon Grover, Purcell, OK / '56 Chevy Bel Air
Leon was too big to fit in a Corvette, so he went for this beautiful LS3-powered Bel Air riding on an Art Morrison chassis. Intro five-spokes and low-profile rubber look great on this revived "total wreck," built by Hearland Customs. The interior was fabricated from scratch and covered in Italian leather with aluminum and genuine rosewood trim.  Keith Bright, Salina, KS /...  Keith Bright, Salina, KS / '32 Ford roadster
A 331 FirePower Hemi and T56 six-speed combination should be adequate for this traditional Deuce highboy, cleaner than the inside of a soap bottle. A tuck 'n' roll narrowed S-10 bench seat and Harrison heater keep the cockpit looking vintage and the hairpins, Super Bell axle, and Kelsey Hayes spoke wheels do the same on the outside.  Larry Putter, Wellington,...  Larry Putter, Wellington, KS / '51 GMC pickup
When Larry found it, his '51 was a basket case-but not a goner. He tore it apart and redid it, using a 5.3L Sierra engine to keep it GMC, stock body lines and interior, Americans, and a dropped stance thanks to the RideTech suspension. The shadow-scraping pickup was finished in 2007 and debuted at this same event back in 2008.
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