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Goodguys First WIX Filters Speedway Nationals - Goodguys IndyFrom the April, 2012 issue of Street Rodder By Eric Geisert
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Gasoline Alley has to be one... Gasoline Alley has to be one of the most famous pieces of asphalt in the country, with racers from the past 100 years passing through this section of the speedway to get on the Indy 500 track. The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has had a long history with Indianapolis, starting in 1989 when they held their first event at the Indianapolis Raceway Park—an event that lasted 21 years at that location. But with weather and other problems seemingly always plaguing the show, Goodguys created a new show to be held in September (when the weather was better) and at a location that hot rodders would naturally want to go and see: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There are very few, if any, sites around the country that would have more automotive history than what you can find at the Speedway. Certain areas of Detroit might be older in automotive terms, but not by much; only a couple of years. And when it comes to hot rodders, they’ve long made up excuses to visit the sprawling facility, especially during the last week of May when the Indy 500 takes place. It just seems right that Jim... It just seems right that Jim Payne’s ’57 Chevy gasser is equipped with a 355 engine, a Jerico transmission, and a full rollbar. Payne comes from the tiny village of Laura, OH, just outside of Dayton. Recently the Goodguys First WIX Filters Speedway Nationals was held on the 250-acre infield (think 363 football fields in size) of the historic location. And though at some past Goodguys events where rodders were allowed to take their rides out on a low-mph lap of the famous 500 track and have their photo taken while crossing the famed yard of bricks that serves as a start/finish line, this new show was a four-day event where you could do that twice in the weekend plus have access to all parts of the facility. The WIX Filter Nationals had all the normal Goodguys fare you’d want: an autocross, swap meet, seminars, car show, specialty parking areas, and vendor displays, but you could also visit the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum where hundreds of vintage trophies, photos, and winning race cars from the past 100 years are all housed. Frank Rule rolls out of Muncie,... Frank Rule rolls out of Muncie, IN, on Foose wheels on each corner of his ’34 Chevy coupe. And, being at Indy, you might expect a little different spin on things, and famed racer “King” Richard Petty was on hand on Saturday for an autograph session. You could also take a ride at 180 mph around the track in a specially prepared Indy racer outfitted with two inline seats (you sit behind the driver). It was a little pricey to do, but we heard they sold out, and it seemed everyone we talked to who took the ride said it was incredible. The event was also the location where hot rodders could have picked up 1 of 10 Builder’s Choice awards (picked at this show by Rad Rides) or a STREET RODDER Top 100 award (sponsored by Painless Performance) while others were focused on the Goodguys/Gearstar Hot Rod of the Year award, which asks owners of their ride to drive a 150-mile reliability run one day as well as make a pass down a local dragstrip (burnout optional). The “It really works” condition of this award is appreciated by those who believe ya gotta drive ’em to be a real hot rod. That’s Marty Williams’ ’23... That’s Marty Williams’ ’23 T in the background and Lon Wren’s slicked ’n’ slammed ’29 Ford roadster in the foreground. Both are locals to Indy. This year’s winner of the Hot Rod of the Year award is a show ’n’ go double threat, as it was also named the ISCA’s Class Champion in the roadster division earlier this year. The Washington Blue original-steel ’32 Ford roadster is owned by Michael Tarquinio and features a ’57 Olds J2 engine for power. It’s always a big deal when some street rod organization makes a major change (like relocating an event) to their yearlong program, and they aren’t always successful when they do. But the Goodguys saw a need to improve upon what they started more than 20 years ago in Indianapolis and, with a new location at a historic automotive venue, the Goodguys’ WIX Filter Speedway Nationals is destined to be a major attraction for hot rodders for years to come. Painless Performance Products Presents 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.streetrodder.com.  Dick Bales, Easley, SC / 1962...  Dick Bales, Easley, SC / 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Painted a sunlight gold opal, Bales’ bubbletop rolls on big 19- and 20-inch Schott wheels and features custom work on the bumpers, dash, and interior pieces. Underhood is a 598-inch big-block for fun.  Larry Terpstra, Ottawa, IL...  Larry Terpstra, Ottawa, IL / 1930 Model A coupe Larry Terpstra went to O’Connell Specialties to turn his ’30 Ford coupe into an award winner. Chopped 3 inches and channeled the same amount, the coupe uses a TCI Engineering chassis, a Painless Wiring kit, and a ’53 Merc Flathead topped with twin Strombergs and Offy heads.  Steve Contris, Hokes Bluff,...  Steve Contris, Hokes Bluff, AL / 1954 Chevrolet truck Big Oak Garage helped Steve Contris achieve his dream of having a nice street rod when they went through this ’54 from the ground up. A smoothed hood, shaved body vents, custom rear inner wheel tubs, and Schott 18- and 20-inch wheels combined with a lively choice in paint color makes this hauler a stand out.  Doyle Thomas, Longview, TX...  Doyle Thomas, Longview, TX / 1963 Rambler 440-H hardtop Rutterz Rodz in Bristol, TN, got the call from Doyle Thomas to transform his ugly duckling Rambler into a crowd pleaser. Mike Rutter followed through with an Art Morrison chassis, a Paul Atkins interior, and an LS-7/4L85E engine and trans combo to great effect.  Bob Oney, Lebanon, OH / 1947...  Bob Oney, Lebanon, OH / 1947 Ford woodie Bob Oney has a owned a string of great hot rods over the years, which is a testament to what a great eye he has when building his rides. Originally this ’47 came out of California, and it still has almost 60 percent of its original wood. Oney also added the 350 Chevy and a black leather interior.  Brian Baker, Bellefontaine,...  Brian Baker, Bellefontaine, OH / 1955 Chevrolet 210 What looks like a pretty nice ’55 gets real interesting when you pop the hood and find an Arias Hemi underhood! The owner did all the work, which includes a Corvette front suspension on a custom frame, and installing a Winters aluminum rearend and 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties wheels.  Kevin Roberts, Maumee, OH...  Kevin Roberts, Maumee, OH / 1932 Ford roadster Kevin Roberts was happy when he won the Barry Lobeck Memorial Award at Columbus this year, and we think Lobeck would have really liked Roberts’ take on a ’32. A 4-inch chop, tons of louvers, and polished five-spoke Americans set the tone and a 383 Chevy pushes the rod down the road just fine.  Marty Bachand, Monee, IL /...  Marty Bachand, Monee, IL / 1934 Ford coupe Marty Bachand tells us there isn’t a trailer waiting at the hotel for his car after the event—something we like to hear. He also says his ’34 is a great driver, and it’s outfitted with a ZZ4 350 Chevy engine, Salt Flat Special wheels, and a Champ quick-change rearend.  Jack Downs, Colona, IL / 1936...  Jack Downs, Colona, IL / 1936 Chevy sedan Jack Downs has been building cars for decades, and they are all pretty nice rides. This one features a RideTech suspension and an injected 5.3L Chevy engine backed to a 4L60E transmission. All of the bodywork was completed at Jack’s D&H Body Shop in Colona, IL.  LeeRoy Neuweg, West Point,...  LeeRoy Neuweg, West Point, IA / 1932 Ford Tudor Starting with a Cornhusker chassis, LeeRoy Neuweg built his sedan up using a 300hp 327 and a TH350 trans as well as a Chassis Engineering axle and hairpins, along with Wilson Welding drum brakes. Paint came from Jim Cobbs in Marlon, OK. In the wiring world there are two terms that get confusing. Terminals are the copper or brass ends that are crimped on to the wire to make contact with a mating terminal. A connector is the plastic or rubber housing that the terminal many times snaps in to hold it in place.  Jerry Medlin’s ’23 track T...  Jerry Medlin’s ’23 track T (the black one) is parked next to Gerald Medlin’s track T (the orange one). Both cars look like they could have done some time on a dirt oval or two.  You don’t see a lot of ’32...  You don’t see a lot of ’32 Studebaker Rocknes around nowadays, let alone one as nice as Kevin Svarda’s full-fendered black coupe, which has an LT-1 underhood.  You say “Indy” and you think...  You say “Indy” and you think racing, so what would you expect out in the swap meet section of the show? We like belly tanks, and this one (which had been turned sideways) was listed at $1,500 while another seller must have cornered the blower market as he must have had a dozen for sale.  A work in progress, Kevin...  A work in progress, Kevin Anderson’s ’36 Ford custom has had the lid lowered 4 inches, a ’42 Mercury front bumper added, and a ’34 Plymouth gauge cluster installed up on the dash.  You say “Indy” and you think...  You say “Indy” and you think racing, so what would you expect out in the swap meet section of the show? We like belly tanks, and this one (which had been turned sideways) was listed at $1,500 while another seller must have cornered the blower market as he must have had a dozen for sale.  Gordon Peters’ highboy Deuce...  Gordon Peters’ highboy Deuce Tudor was in contention for the Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year award, having taken part in the shop tour drive, the drags, and the show ’n’ shine. We like the ’57 Olds motor and Muncie transmission choice.  Craig Striegle’s ’27 Ford...  Craig Striegle’s ’27 Ford coupe was built on an extended wheelbase and finished with gloss paint and pinstripes while Willy Trump’s Deuce roadster is subtle in its gray finish and laid-back windshield.  The show is held on the infield...  The show is held on the infield of the famous Indy 500 track, and Goodguys shared the space with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, which is filled with historic photos, past winner’s race cars, and trophies, such as the 5-foot-tall, sterling silver Borg-Warner trophy, which has the name of every winner of the 500 race since 1911 inscribed on it.  Del Cokley’s ’57 Ford is pretty...  Del Cokley’s ’57 Ford is pretty unique, plus there’s a big-block 406 backed to a Top Loader trans under the hood. Cokley is from St. Clair, MO.  The show is held on the infield...  The show is held on the infield of the famous Indy 500 track, and Goodguys shared the space with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, which is filled with historic photos, past winner’s race cars, and trophies, such as the 5-foot-tall, sterling silver Borg-Warner trophy, which has the name of every winner of the 500 race since 1911 inscribed on it.  With an interior still to...  With an interior still to go, John Myra’s ’28 Model A sedan was well on its way. He must like those A’s, as he won a STREET RODDER Top 10 award in 2009 with a black one.  Another Builder’s Choice winner...  Another Builder’s Choice winner was Leigh Anne Lemke from Grafton, NJ, who attended the event with her ’23 Ford T bucket. The chassis was homemade, and the interior is done in a white tuck ’n’ rolled leather. It’s one of the nicest T’s we’ve seen of late.  Nice! Skip Andrews’ custom...  Nice! Skip Andrews’ custom ’57 Ford Fairlane 500 was really stylish. Chopped 2-1/2 inches, the car uses a ’58 roof and headlights to achieve the look. Andrews is out of Gresham, OR, and he received a Builder’s Choice award for his ride.  The Hot Rod Garage in Oklahoma...  The Hot Rod Garage in Oklahoma had a story to tell about this one. The 409-equipped Deuce they built for Steve Kormondy and intending to enter in the Hot Rod of the Year competition was stolen (along with the truck and trailer) out of the hotel parking lot and then returned (without the car inside) the next day. Police found the car unharmed in a driveway of a vacant house outside of Indianapolis the following day, but by then it was too late to enter the show’s Hot Rod of the Year competition.  The Goodguys 2011 Gearstar...  The Goodguys 2011 Gearstar Hot Rod of the Year award was handed over to Mike Tarquinio for his stunning ’32 roadster, which was first seen at the Detroit Autorama early last year. The build concept is: What would Edsel Ford have done with a Zephyr roadster? One of the car’s highlights is the Olds J-2 motor backed to a Tremec five-speed trans.
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