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The Goodguys 3rd Spring NationalsScottsdale, Arizona From the August, 2012 issue of Street Rodder By Eric Geisert
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The grounds of the Westworld facility in Scottsdale, AZ, are laid out well and a perfect location for a big car show. On Friday night one of the... On Friday night one of the Goodguys TGIF parties was held at Squeeg’s Kustoms, a hot rod shop that has had a high level of success lately (including the building of last year’s AMBR winner), which fed hundreds of attendees and gave out prizes. They also had two race cars—a front-engine dragster and the other being a former Budweiser King Funny Car—for a mini cackle fest a couple of times during the evening. The photo above shows Squeeg’s assembly room. After a dozen years of running a successful outdoor car show (the Southwest Nationals) at the Westworld facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, Goodguys decided to expand their schedule of events by having two events per year at the venue and, three years into the new format, it looks like the Spring Nationals is a winner. Loads of pre-’72 cars crowded onto the grassy 19-acre Polo field over the three days, and with Goodguys opening up their events to all makes and models of American-powered vehicles for their Super Sunday Get-Together, the grounds were full of some great cars to check out. Those getting to the event on Thursday, which is the first show of the Goodguys’ season, could partake in a hot rod tour that visited local rod shops and, on Friday, a TGIF party was held at Squeeg’s Kustom Hot Rod Shop in Chandler. Host Doug Jerger provided food for the attendees, and spectators were eligible for free giveaways as well as be treated to a mini cackle fest between a front-engine dragster and a former Funny Car. At the Westworld facility, all three days saw action over at the Autocross track where competitors raced against a clock on a closed-loop course, and the owners of all sorts of vehicles, from race-prepped roadsters to the family truck, were all pushing their driving skills to the limit. Glossy paint or not, everybody... Glossy paint or not, everybody is welcomed at the Goodguys shows. In the background is Mark Angulo’s ’50 Chevy truck from Tolleson, AZ, and in the foreground, Robert Gonzales’ ’48 Chevy Fleet Master, also from Tolleson. Elsewhere at the event Goodguys exercised their usual level of expertise in producing a show that included special parking for trucks and Deuces, muscle cars and homebuilts, and one area for those who had driven more than 300 miles to get to the show (the Ya Gotta Drive ’Em group). The Spring Nationals was also one of the 10 stops in STREET RODDER’s Top 100 program for 2012, and 10 worthy cars were picked off the grounds to compete for the magazine’s Street Rod of the Year honors. The Southwest has always been a great place to find old metal to build a hot rod from, and the swap meet at this event was pretty good, too. Dozens of cars for sale and used parts to build ’em were available for some really good prices. Of course if you wanted to go “new,” row after row of aftermarket parts manufacturers were lined up, enticing rodders with their wares. Any way you cut it, the Goodguys’ Scottsdale event, with its great location and spectacular Arizona springtime weather, will most assuredly grow into a major show for the organizers. And with the expansion of their show schedule, you now have two times a year to experience it.  Leonard Sedillo’s had “Frankenstein”...  Leonard Sedillo’s had “Frankenstein” painted on the door of his ride, but he looks to be on the right track with his highly customized ’52 Chevy.  Over in the Deuce Doin’s parking...  Over in the Deuce Doin’s parking area, Rick Rennebohm’s Vicky had a ’60s vibe going on, due to the ’65 327 underhood, the basic black paintjob, the Eddie Martinez upholstery job, and the gray Halibrand wheels.  Making a four-door into a...  Making a four-door into a two-door by shaving the rear door handles has been a simple customizing trick done for years, and Kevin Glanzer’s ’56 Buick showcases that perfectly. A 322 Nailhead is underhood, and the black roof and scallops to match makes for a great paint scheme.  Brent Haines built his ’46...  Brent Haines built his ’46 pickup from scrap parts, and Roy Nelson’s ’33 REO “Flying Cloud” has got to be a pretty rare car.  It’s one thing to build a...  It’s one thing to build a nice car like Bob Jimenez did with his ’47 Plymouth convertible (complete with a 340 motor), but he also was hauling a homebuilt trailer behind it.  This ’50 Crestliner was one...  This ’50 Crestliner was one of many complete cars for sale over near the swap meet area. Originally a California car, it seemed to be a pretty solid piece for $5,250, or best offer. Folks tried to low-ball the owner, so he decided to keep and restore it himself.  Middle: You don’t see a lot...  Middle: You don’t see a lot of original steel T-buckets around, let alone ones driving around on the street with a set of wheelie bars hanging off the rear! Don Hachey owns this emerald green ’20 Ford bucket, and that’s a 327/350 engine and trans combo.  The latest in men’s fashion?...  The latest in men’s fashion? Nope, just a trick way to carry an intake manifold around while you look at cars.  The action over at the autocross...  The action over at the autocross track was hot and heavy all weekend. Though Kelly Thelen’s tiny Legens car was making the most of its time on the course, it wasn’t being timed for competition.  On the other end of the spectrum,...  On the other end of the spectrum, Bret Voelkel, president of RideTech, recently bought a stock ’48 coupe and wanted to get some times out of it before RideTech does its time-lowering magic. Voelkel did the course in 54.774 seconds.  Compared to Jim Sheridan in...  Compared to Jim Sheridan in his black ’34 roadster, who won the Street Rod class with a time of 36.755 seconds.  Dennis Russell in his ’33...  Dennis Russell in his ’33 Factory Five roadster wasn’t far behind Sheridan with a best 36.918 run. 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.streetrodder.com.  Richard Walpole, Chandler,...  Richard Walpole, Chandler, AZ / 1933 American Speed highboy Traditional with a little bit of customizing to set it apart, Richard Walpole’s convertible was built at Squeeg’s Kustoms in Chandler, AZ. An H&H Flathead is under the louvered hood, and the car rolls on 16-inch steelies. Gabe Lopez did the buffalo hide interior, and abalone shell was used in the gauge insert. (See page 104 in this issue for a full feature on this car.)  Eddie Aston, Waddell, AZ /...  Eddie Aston, Waddell, AZ / 1940 Ford sedan Eddie Aston’s ’40 Ford sedan sits right, due in part to the build done at Bouchard Street Rods. You might also notice the bright red paint (courtesy of PPG), and the ’39 Ford doors and trim. Taillights were lowered, too, and Armondo’s did the tan leather upholstery work. Underhood is an all-chrome ’n’ polished ZZ3 that Aston says delivers 430 hp.  Aaron Hamel, Mesa, AZ / 1932...  Aaron Hamel, Mesa, AZ / 1932 Ford roadster Aaron Hamel surprises folks when he says this roadster has been finished for nine years—it looks great for its age and 11,000 miles on the odometer. The body is from Brookville Roadsters and is powered by a simple 350/700-R4 engine and trans combo. Driven regularly, Hamel also says “It’s black, basic, and fun!” and we believe him.  Larry Christensen, Arvada,...  Larry Christensen, Arvada, CO / 1932 Ford roadster Pinkee’s Hot Rod Shop has put a lot of work into this roadster, which started as a steel body from Brookville Roadsters. Frank Wallic created the custom bomber-style seating, which looks to have 1,000 hand-bucked rivets in it. Up front a 392 Hemi wasn’t enough, so a Hilborn electronic fuel injection system was used. The big motor backs to a TKO 600 five-speed, and a quick-change rear handles the power.  Dan Sobieski, La Habra, CA...  Dan Sobieski, La Habra, CA / 1932 Ford pickup All steel, this full-fendered Deuce is about as straight as you can get a pickup, thanks to the work done at Poor Boys Hot Rods in La Habra, CA. PPG Black with a Mercedes black leather interior, the car is so subtle you might not notice the three-window dash or the Pines Winterfront grille. That is until you pull the hood sides up and find an eight-stack fuel-injected 327 backed to a Tremec five-speed trans.  Mike Spezia, Peoria, AZ /...  Mike Spezia, Peoria, AZ / 1940 Ford sedan Fords from 1940 are hot nowadays, but Mike Spezia already knows that. He owns this sedan with a Rod Factory chassis with RideTech gear, four-wheel disc brakes, and 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties wheels under the fenders. A ZZ4 motor is under the hood, and a pleated oxblood interior looks great against all that black paint.  Ted Fuchs, Scottsdale, AZ...  Ted Fuchs, Scottsdale, AZ / 1940 Chevrolet cabriolet Not a lot of ’40 Chevy Special DeLuxe convertibles out there, and even less have been rodded. This one has a full Fatman Fabrications chassis and gets its go from a ZZ4 crate motor. Tan leather was used everywhere inside, as was a steering wheel from Juliano’s.  Wes Rydell, Grand Forks, ND...  Wes Rydell, Grand Forks, ND / 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Foose Design built this ride for Wes Rydell and his wife, Vivian, and started with an Art Morrison chassis. A 427 LS2 motor powers the ride, and the top, hood, and trunklid have been cut and reshaped. The dash came from a ’56 Chevy, as did the front bumper. Think show cars don’t get driven? This one has 30,000 miles on it since it was finished in 2007, when it was crowned the Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year.  Jim Eckard, Glendale, AZ /...  Jim Eckard, Glendale, AZ / 1948 Chevrolet Built in 1985, this kustom has worn the years very well. Along with a significant chop, the chassis has been reworked to include an Olds back half and a ’74 Nova front clip. The interior is pleated white material with maroon piping, and the engine-trans combo is a 350/350 setup.  James Butler, Prescott, AZ...  James Butler, Prescott, AZ / 1929 Ford roadster Lots of subtle work was done at Squeeg’s Kustoms to make this roadster look the way it does. A ’32 shell, a louvered three-piece aluminum hood, a black leather interior, and ’40 Ford wheel all add to the look. The cockpit was lengthened 3 inches and the windshield was chopped 6 inches. Power comes from a 350/350 combo. If you have a manifold atmospheric pressure sensor (MAP) with a hose attached from the manifold, be sure it has not weakened and collapsed, which will cause a rich fuel mixture to occur and driveability issues.
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