#Kenneth Hilborn | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

itsworn · 7 years

Text

Over 100 Photos as the Southeast Gassers Battle at Brainerd

Old drag cars are cool, and a group based out of the Carolinas is sweeping the nation as one of the premier nostalgia drag racing groups. The group is called the Southeast Gassers Association, led by Quain Stott, a world champion Pro Mod racer who has poured his heart and soul into making this group an accurate representation of the heyday of drag racing. And while his extremely strict rules can cause some confrontation among other nostalgia groups, the folks who are serious about real heads up drag racing will adhere to Quain’s rule package if they want to join the up-and-coming organization.

The idea is to rewind the clock to 1967 in regard to the cars’ appearance, while also keeping things safe for the drivers. All cars are required to have a straight front axle and a manual transmission, along with a lengthy list of requirements for each classification. As of now, the Southeast Gassers features A/Gas, C/Gas and D/Gas, which are separated by cubic inch-to-weight ratio, just like the old days. A/Gas must weigh 6 pounds per cubic inch, C/Gas weighs in at 8 pounds per cubic inch and D/Gas weighs in at 10 pounds per cubic inch. These weight requirements offer an equal playing field, and other rules in the extensive package offer door-to-door racing, with lots of RPM, big wheelstands, and unpredictable action.

The most recent Southeast Gassers Association race was held at historic Brainerd Motorsports Park in Ringgold, Georgia. Formerly known as Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip, the track has been in existence since 1957, and moved to its current location in 1963. The track now runs eighth-mile racing on a weekly basis, and it’s a perfect venue for the Southeast Gassers to do battle. With 50 period-correct gassers on hand, the crowd of thousands were treated to two rounds of qualifying and then four rounds of eliminations to crown a champion in the three classes.

It came down to Todd Oden’s 1958 Chevy from Alabama, taking out Josh Pruitt in the D/Gas finals. Next was Michigan’s Rusty Sampsel in the “Bad Banana” 1955 Chevy, outgunning Dean Harris and the “Gray Ghost” Chevy II in the C/Gas finals. In the final race of the night, it came down to Jimmy Finley’s Mustang fastback, and Donovan Stott’s “White Trash” Anglia. Donovan cut a .007 light and made a killer pass to narrowly beat the Mustang from South Carolina.

Before qualifying, every participant had to pass through tech inspection, which included a weigh-in. Rick Cathcart’s “Troublemaker” Studebaker truck must weigh 10 pounds per cubic inch, per the D/Gas rules. The racers are then required to weigh-in after every winning pass in eliminations.

The staging lanes were packed at Brainerd Motorsports Park and the track crew kept the action rolling all evening, despite some breakage and a major oil down.

Todd Oden pilots this heavy Chevy, a 1958 Delray, powered by a high-winding 283ci small block. Todd qualified first, and then mowed through the competition on his way to a D/Gas victory.

Torturing the slicks and toting the front wheels, Dean Harris is a heavy hitter in the C/Gas ranks. His “Gray Ghost” Chevy II made it all the way to the finals on this late-summer day at Brainerd Motorsports Park.

The “Southern Flyer” Ford Falcon of Gabriel Burrell gets plenty of hang time on this qualifying pass. The A/Gas prepared Ford is running Jimmy Huff horsepower.

When Kenneth Phillips drops the hammer on this A/Gas Corvette, everyone in the ZIP code takes notice. The small block Chevy revs to the moon and makes big-time horsepower, but it wasn’t enough to beat Donovan Stott in the semi-finals.

Josh Owens from the hit TV show “Moonshiners” is a part of the Southeast Gassers Association, piloting a C/Gas Chevy aptly named “White Lightning”.

Jimmy Huff is tough on slicks, but he’s a crowd favorite with high-RPM, tire melting burnouts. Jimmy’s “Hoopty Wagon” is a Ford-powered Falcon station wagon that runs in the C/Gas category.

The “Bad Banana” is a real-deal, old-school race car, and Rusty Sampsel is the guy behind the wheel. His father, Jack, built the car decades ago, and Rusty is making him proud with outstanding performance. Rusty went on to win the C/Gas category.

A crowd of thousands filled the stands surrounding Brainerd’s eighth-mile drag strip, while Tony Turner blazes the slicks on his 1939 Dodge coupe. The high riding coupe runs a stroked and Hilborn-injected 392 Hemi for power.

Race organizer, Quain Stott gets in on the action with his A/Gas Willys, leaving with the wheels up, against fellow wheelstander Ben Christopher in his Anglia. These small block Chevy powered gassers put on quite a show, but they’re more concerned with who turns on the win light.

As the sun went down, the racing action intensified, as the heads up racing format separated the men from the boys. And though he’s one of the youngest guys in competition, Donovan Stott handled his short wheelbase Anglia and took home the A/Gas victory.

The post Over 100 Photos as the Southeast Gassers Battle at Brainerd appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/100-photos-southeast-gassers-battle-brainerd-2/ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Hot Rod Network

0 notes

itsworn · 7 years

Text

Hot August Nights 2017: The Heat Meets The Street In Reno

Seeing the streets of downtown Reno packed with street rods, muscle cars, classic trucks, and other assorted varieties of specialty vehicles is a sight that brings enthusiasts from all over the country.

Hot August Nights is a weeklong celebration of America’s best hot rods. The first Hot August Nights was held in Reno in 1986. This year’s event, the 31st annual Hot August Nights, attracted approximately 6,000 vehicles to Reno and the adjacent city of Sparks. Downtown Reno is the hub of the event, but it’s only one of numerous locations where the action is. The fun continues at many of the area resorts, as well as smaller hotels, drive-in restaurants, shopping centers—virtually any spot with a parking lot. Many of the Hot August Night participants make the rounds, and spectators might see their favorite vehicles at different locations throughout the week. Many of the local resorts sponsor their own judging and give out their own awards, typically in cash. An ambitious car owner with a worthy car can end up winning at several places. In addition to the show ’n’ shines, each location features vendor displays, live music, and driving activities.

Hot August Nights is one of the events where STREET RODDER awards winners in the Painless Performance Products Top 100 program and Ford Performance Best Ford In A Ford program.

Reno in August is the place to be. There is no other car show like Hot August Nights.

The Hot August Nights Cup

The most coveted prize at this event is the Hot August Nights Cup presented by Downtown Reno. The vehicles that compete for the Cup represent the top tier of street rodding—Ridler and AMBR contenders and other superheroes of the specialty car universe. Fifty vehicles are pre-selected to compete and are displayed in downtown Reno. Judges then choose the 10 finalists, each of which receives awards. Only one wins the big prize. In 2017, builder Steve Mank, builder Eddie Potestio, and show promoter Reggie Tibbets served as judges. They chose the 10 vehicles shown here and picked Bruce and Peggy Wanta’s 1936 Packard, built by Troy Ladd from Hollywood Hot Rods, as the Hot August Nights Cup Best of Show. See detailed coverage of these 10 finalists at hotrod.com/articles/the-top-winners-in-the-2017-hot-august-nights-cup-contest.

Bruce & Peggy Wanta’s 1936 Packard Roadster, built by Hollywood Hot Rods The “Mulholland Speedster” rides on a figure eight shaped frame and features unique independent suspension components. The Lincoln V-12 runs Hogan heads and is topped with a Latham-Hogan supercharger. The top flips 180 degrees into the deck.

Bruce Leven’s 1951 Ford Club Coupe, built by Wicked Fabrication This wild Shoebox combines race car, early sports car, and custom car elements. The Novi Indycar-style wheels were built from original Halibrand castings. The Shaver Racing Engines Lincoln 368 is topped with rare Hilborn injectors converted to EFI.

Ron & Dianna Maier’s 1957 Chevy Nomad, built by A&M Deluxe Customs Every modification made to the classic 1957 Nomad body enhances the car. The “Shomad” got an Art Morrison chassis, LS7 Corvette engine, and a long list of body and interior modifications, including a 2-inch chop and leather-covered front and rear bucket seats.

Rob & Julie Freeman’s 1956 Volkswagen Beetle, built by Browns Metal Mods The “Berlin Buick,” is based on Rob’s concept and design. The oval window Beetle’s back seat was eliminated to make room for the electronic Hilborn-injected 1961 Buick 215 small-block V-8 engine. The tube chassis features independent suspension.

John & Sheila Emacio’s 1956 Chevy Nomad, built by G3 Rods The Nomad sits on an Art Morrison chassis and is powered by a Jack Gibbs 409 engine with Inglese injection, backed up with a Gearstar 4L80E transmission. The grille opening was customized with mesh. The custom interior is covered in red leather.

Ted & Colleen Hubbard’s 1930 Ford Model A coupe, built by CAL Automotive Creations This factory steel Model A, built by Andy Leach, wears a 6-inch chop and Paleozoic Blue paint, with a distressed leather interior. The ARDUN OHV aluminum Flathead is fed via a classic S.Co.T. blower with a Winters quick-change rearend in back.

Josh & Tamara Hodges’ 1969 Chevy Camaro, built by HED Industries Speed Shop The Camaro is modified with widened doors and fenders, and a bunch of scratchbuilt parts, such as the hood, grille, front bumper, and functional air ducts. A 441ci Magnuson-blown LS7 engine makes 1,000 hp, backed by a TREMEC six-speed transmission.

Kenneth Rathmann’s 1932 Chevy Sedan, built by Fab-Worx The two-tone Chevy, built by Steve Chapman, features a small-block Chevy crowned with a trio of two-barrel carbs. The two-tone paint is beautiful, but peek underneath to see an incredible polished and plated chassis and suspension.

Adam Simms’ 1953 Chevy pickup, built by Phil Ferrari Hot Rods The truck’s exterior mods include frenched headlights, shaved panels, and a remote-controlled bed floor. The engine compartment holds an injected Chevy 502 big-block. The chassis includes a Mustang II–style frontend and four-bar rear. Plush leather fills the cab.

Jerry Logan’s 1960 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, built by Kindig-It Design The “Copper Cadillac” is well known from TV’s Bitchin’ Rides. The chopped, slammed, and lowered body features candy Brandywine paint, copper trim, and bullets everywhere. An Art Morrison chassis was specially built for the 454 Ram Jet–powered car.

Painless Performance Products/STREET RODDER Top 100

’60s GM Truck Front Crossmember Tired of those squeaky steel-on-steel “A” frame bushings in your 1960-1966 GM truck? The crossmember from a 1974-1986 truck will bolt right in with only a couple of holes that need to be drilled. Are rubber A-arm bushings now in your future?

There is no shortage of awards at Hot August Nights. The Top 100 prize package (a cool jacket, plus magazine and web coverage) isn’t as lucrative as the big money prizes given out by the Hot August Nights Cup or by some of the casino resorts around town, but the glory that accompanies a Top 100 win is unequalled. We hope these 10 winners agree. For more photos and videos of STREET RODDER’s picks, go online to http://bit.ly/2htzrCc.

1937 Chevy Pickup | Dale & Rozanne Buck | Mesa, AZ When Dale bought the truck from his father 49 years ago it was a workhorse, used it to haul stuff, for transportations, dates, errands, and family trips. Now it’s packed with a supercharged 383 stroker engine with dual carbs, riding on a modified MII front suspension and Chassisworks rear, and Mickey Thompson wheels and tires. The body and bed feature more than 25 modifications, including a one-piece hood and shaved sheetmetal, finished in tangerine and cinnamon paint. The cab is updated with bucket seats, Mooneyes gauges, modern audio, A/C, and yards of brown leather.

1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille | Larry Hanson | Gig Harbor, WA Larry bought his mile-long 1959 Cadillac 17 years ago, from the son of the first owner, who died. The 63 Series Coupe De Ville had been parked for 28 years under a carport. The rusted Caddy was torn down for a frameoff rebuild and most of the sheetmetal was replaced. Bob Salstrom helped with much of the heavy lifting. Now the candy purple Cadillac looks and rides better, powered by a dressed-up 454 with a 4L60 transmission. The interior combines modern elements, like digital gauges and a contemporary steering wheel, with classic two-tone tuck ’n’ roll Naugahyde.

1936 Ford Club Cabriolet | Michael Mongiello | Eagle, ID We don’t see many 1936 Club Cabrios, especially one as nice as this one. Only 4,616 were produced, and Michael believes there are only around 200 in existence today. This one was purchased from the original owners in Minnesota, and was street rodded with help from Griffin Rod & Customs, Danny Ingram, and others. The custom Dayton wheels were painted Tacoma Cream to contrast the Cloud Mist Gray (a 1940 Ford color). The lighter color is also used for pinstriping and on the valve covers and air cleaner cover on the Chevy 383 stroker engine. A Glide bench is covered in deep brown leather.

1940 Ford Coupe | Ken Machado | Reno, NV The reddest street rod at the Atlantis Resort was this homebuilt 1940 DeLuxe coupe, driven from Ken’s house, 2 miles away. The car was inspired by the Flathead 1940 Ford coupe Ken drove in high school (and drag raced in B/Gas). This time, Ken built his car strictly for the street (and shows), and with features not available in his teenage years, including a 480hp LS3 engine backed by a 4L65E trans, and a TCI suspension. Sheetmetal changes include the big-block firewall and low-key rear wheeltubs. Ken’s coupe won the Best Street Rod prize at the Atlantis in addition to STREET RODDER’s pick for Top 100.

1952 Ford Victoria convertible | Jay & Dianne Skow | Quincy, CA Jay and Dianne’s Vicky is a true custom survivor. Jay used his lawn-mowing and newspaper route money to buy it when he was 15. He cut off the top when he was 16. After Jay’s 45th high school reunion, Dianne encouraged him to redo the car, which had been ignored for 42 years. The body-off rebuild was done with old-school components, such as the 1957 Thunderbird 312 Y-block with triple 94s. Fatman and RideTech components are out-of-sight suspension upgrades. The shaved, nosed, and decked body has 1958 Lincoln headlights, a 1958 Buick grille, and inverted 1956 Packard taillights.

1965 Chevy Impala Two-Door Wagon | Richie Valles | Agua Dulce, CA The idea behind the wagon was to combine the looks of a GM concept car and the style of a ’60s custom, with some lowrider flavor. It had belonged to an old woman in Hollywood who used to drive it to Vegas to see Elvis perform back in the day. Richie redid the car at his shop, Unique Twist Auto Body in Burbank, converting the body to two doors, chopping the top, modifying the front and rear, and adding Buick Skylark wheels. Suede covers the 1966 Impala seats. The 327 engine, in old-time custom tradition, was left simple. Richie took a chance with candy magenta paint, and people love it.

1933 Willys roadster | Vaughn Veit | Buffalo, MN Vaughn’s car collection includes every body style of 1933 Ford. This rare Willys is one of his non-Fords and probably the rarest; only 71 Willys roadsters were built that year, and very few remain in the United States. The car turned up in California and was built from rusted parts at Roy Brizio Street Rods. The Flathead runs Navarro heads and intake, and a pair of Stromberg 97s. Underneath, an Art Morrison chassis modernizes the ride. Sid Chavers finished the interior. The painted wheels are one-offs built by Curtis Speed. Vaughn recently had the Willys in our photo studio. Look for a full feature soon.

1956 Chevy Nomad | John & Sheila Emacio | Chattaroy, WA Three days after winning its Top 100 award, this 1956 Nomad took Fifth Place in the Hot August Night Cup contest. In 2011, John and Sheila won Top 100 with a different 1956 Nomad. That one was silver and black with an LS6. This one runs a Jack Gibbs 409 with Inglese sidedraft injection and a Gearstar 4L80E. The car was built at G3 Rods and sits on an Art Morrison chassis. The wheels are from Billet Specialties. Billet aluminum side trim is from Atomic Machine. Dark red leather was used throughout the interior. John calls it a “finessed hot rod,” and says the white paint highlights the car’s build quality.

1954 Hudson Metropolitan Convertible | Ted Whipple | Reno, NV Yes, there are Hudson Metropolitans. Built by Austin, Metros were badged as Hudsons in 1954 when Hudson merged with Nash. Ted bought his from the original owner’s widow, and builders Ken Carford and Ricky Ruiz helped him resurrect the rusting car. MG Midget suspension parts support the stock frame. The 2.3L Ford engine was donated by a 1985 Mustang II with a C4 trans behind it. JBM wheels measure 14 inches. Interior touches include the vinyl and tweed covered bench, Stewart Warner gauges, and a Moto-Lita steering wheel. Ted drives it a lot, shows it a lot, and answers questions a lot.

1950 Chevy Fleetline | Mitch & Pam McDonald | Foresthill, CA In addition to pro-built rods, we like to recognize “real world” owner-built street rods, such as this 1950 Fleetline. This was a two-owner car when Mitch bought it from a friend five years ago, and began modifying it to his taste. Now it features a one-piece windshield, a filled hood, and a mild rake—with a dual-carbed 427 Chevy big-block engine for plenty of power, a Heidts IFS frontend, and four-bar rear. The beautiful interior includes SRT Challenger seats upholstered in black and tan leather. Five-spoke Americans measure 17 and 20 inches and roll on a set of Pirelli tires.

STREET RODDER Magazine’s Best Ford In A Ford A 1929 Model ATudor With Factory Steel and Homebuilt Style

YEAR: 1929 MAKE: Ford MODEL: Model A Tudor Sedan OWNER: Blayne & Karen Brokens STATE: Idaho

We were at the Peppermill resort when we spotted Blayne and Karen Brokens’ homebuilt 1929 Ford Tudor sedan, black and shiny as a pair of wedding shoes, but with genuine hot rod attitude—a nice rake, just-right chop, and Ford power.

The full-fendered Model A had been street rodded by its previous owner when Blayne and Karen bought it and brought it from Minnesota to Idaho. That was 20 years ago. By then the sedan was ready for some updates and upgrades. The interior was redone with two-tone gray leather upholstery, a Lecarra steering wheel, VDO gauges in the 1932-style dash, and a JVC audio system in the overhead console.

The factory steel has a 4-1/2-inch chop, a filled grille shell, and lots of louvers in the hood top and sides. A 4-inch dropped I-beam axle with Posies springs enhances the stance. Aldan coilovers suspend the Ford 8-inch rearend. The BFGoodrich tires are mounted on Weld Pro Comp five-spoke wheels.

To keep Ford power flowing through the Model A, Blayne kept the 351 Windsor that came with the car, rebuilding it with Edelbrock heads under Ford Motorsport valve covers, and an Edelbrock intake under a Holley carb. Ford introduced the 351W almost 50 years ago, and Ford Performance still offers Boss 351 crate engines based on this time-honored engine.

Blayne and Karen drive their Model A at local cruises around Pocatello and to farther-away shows such as Hot August Nights, where they won the STREET RODDER Best Ford In A Ford award presented by Ford Performance.

Read more about Blayne and Karen Brokens’ 1929 Ford at hotrod.com/articles/hot-august-nights-2017-homebuilt-1929-tudor-wins-best-ford-ford.

The post Hot August Nights 2017: The Heat Meets The Street In Reno appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hot-august-nights-2017-heat-meets-street-reno/ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Hot Rod Network

0 notes

itsworn · 7 years

Text

The Top Winners In The 2017 Hot August Nights Cup Contest

Participants in Hot August Nights have the opportunity to display their vehicles at individual judging events all over the area. There is show car judging with big money awards going on at the biggest resorts as well as several opportunities to win in downtown Reno.

The big prize, the really big prize, is the coveted Hot August Nights Cup presented by Downtown Reno. This pro-judged category draws the best street rods and muscle cars in the country for the chance to win part of the cash and product awards valued at more than $100,000. This year, that prize went to the “Mulholland Speedster,” Bruce and Peggy Wanta’s 1936 Packard, built by Troy Ladd and the fabricators at Hollywood Hot Rods.

Like the “Mulholland Speedster,” most of the vehicles that show up to compete for the Cup are already well-known—from television, magazines, and from the winners’ circle at other prominents shows such as the Detoit Autorama and the Grand National Roadster Show. These are the superheroes of the specialty car universe and Hot August Nights is the arena for a showdown.

The 2017 contest started long before anybody showed up at Hot August Nights. Vehicle owners and builders applied in advance to compete for the Cup, and 50 were selected for competition. Those 50 semifinalists were displayed in a designated area in downtown Reno from Wednesday through Friday. A trio of judges spent that time reducing the field to the Top 10 qualifiers. This years judges were builder Steve Mank from Spike TV’s “MuscleCar,” builder Eddie Potestio of Eddie’s Rods & Customs in Pueblo, Colorado, and show promoter Reggie Tibbets of The Supernationals Auto Show in Albuquerque.

The Top 10 finalists were exhibited inside the Reno Sparks Convention Center on Saturday before returning downtown for the awards presentation. All 10 finalists received a Hot August Nights jacket and trophy. The top five winners also received a five-night stay at Eldorado Resorts, and generous product awards from Adam’s Premium Car Care Products, ididit, Painless Performance Parts, Optima Batteries, and AMSOIL. Cash prizes of $30,000, $18,000, and $10,000 were awarded to the First, Second, and Third Place winners, announced on Saturday evening by My Classic Car host Dennis Gage..

Hot August Nights Cup Best of Show 1936 Packard Roadster Owners: Bruce & Peggy Wanta, Bellevue, WA Builder: Troy Ladd / Hollywood Hot Rods, Burbank, CA

Bruce and Peggy’s Packard, aka the “Mulholland Speedster” as been dominating the show circuit in 2017, starting with winning the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster prize at the Grand National Roadster Show in January. The coachbuilt roadster from Hollywood Hot Rods was styled after a 1936 Packard using designs by Eric Black. The car rides on a figure eight shaped frame and features uniques indpendent suspension components. The Lincoln V-12 runs Hogan heads and is topped with a Latham-Hogan supercharger. One of the most popular features of the car is the top, which flips 180 degreess into the deck.

Second Place 1951 Ford Club Coupe Owner: Bruce Leven, Mercer Island, WA Builder: Craig Wick / Wicked Fabrication, Auburn, WA

In addition to success in motorsports, Bruce has owned some remarkable street cars. This 1951 Ford combines elements of a race car, an early sports car, and a custom car. The radically reshaped body was done so well it avoids looking like a departure from the classic shoebox style. The Novi Indy car style wheels were built off the original Halibrand castings. Another collaboration with Wicked Fabrication, the Ford is powered by a Shaver Racing Engines Lincoln 368 with rare Hilborn injectors converted to EFI. The suspension was custom fabricated around an Art Morrison chassis.

Third Place 1957 Chevy Nomad Owners: Ron & Dianna Maier, Hillsboro, OR Builder: Aaron Atnip & Mark Spurlock / A&M Deluxe Customs, Cornelius, OR

Customizing a Tri-Five Chevy body can be tricky business. There’s a reason these cars are classics, and one false slice can undo that. The team at A&M made numerous mods to the body of Ron & Dianna’s ’57 Nomad and every one of them incredibly enhances the car. The “Shomad” as it’s called, got a new Art Morrison chassis and an LS7 Corvette engine, plus a long list of body and interior modifications including a two-inch chop, custom hood, and leather covered front and rear bucket seats. Gold and pearl paint completes the picture.

Fourth Place 1956 Volkswagen Beetle Owners: Rob & Julie Freeman, Watertown, NY Builder: Gary Brown / Browns Metal Mods, Port Leyden, NY

We can’t think of a Volkswagen fan or a Buick fan who could have ever predicted Rob and Julie’s amazing combination of an 1956 oval-window Beetle and a Buick small-block V8. The “Berlin Buick,” which is built based on Rob’s concepty and design, had its back seat eliminated to make room for the electronic Hilborn injected 1961 Buick 215 engine. The tube chassis features independent suspsension and RideTech shocks. The Buick influence continues to the exterior, most noticeably with the portals. The paint is a combo of Tonic Brown and Ginger Beer.

Fifth Place 1956 Chevy Nomad Owners: John & Sheila Emacio, Chattaroy, WA Builder: Jay, Chuck & Ryan Gruba / G3 Rods, Rapid City, SD

Nomads nabbed two spots in the Top 10 with John and Sheila’s ’56 taking Fifth Place. The Emacios met the Grubas at Hot August Nights in 2015, later teaming up for this car. There is an Art Morrison chassis underneath. Under the hood is a Jack Gibbs 409 engine with Inglese injection, backed up with a Gearstar 4L80E transmission. Outside, the drip rails have been shaved and corners were radiused. The grille opening was customized with mesh, above the flipped front bumper. The custom interior is covered in red leather. The Nomad also received a Street Rodder Top 100 win.

Sixth Place 1930 Ford Model A Coupe Owners: Ted & Colleen Hubbard, South Bend, NE Builder: Andy Leach / CAL Automotive Creations, Bennington, NE

Spectators at the 2017 Detroit Autorama witnessed the debut of this Model A, a Great 8 Ridler contender and another Andy Leach build to make it into the Top 10 in Reno. Of these ten, it’s the closest to the popular image of a street rod. The Ardun OHV aluminum Flathead is fed via a classic S.Co.T.-blower with a Winters quick-change rearend in back. The 6-inch-chopped coupe body is factory steel with countless mods the factory never dreamed of—finished in Paleozoic Blue paint with conntrasting distressed leather in the cockpit. The unique EVOD wheels set off the coupe’s personality.

Seventh Place 1969 Chevy Camaro Owners: Josh & Tamara Hodges, Bakersfield, CA Builder: HED industries speed shop

Since Hot August Nights is open to 1976 and older cars, it draws amazing muscle cars like Josh and Tamara’s 1969 Camaro—and is phenomenal. Built by HED Industries, the car has been cosmetically modified with widened doors and fenders, and a bunch of scratchbuilt parts, such as the hood, grille, front bumper, and more—and those air ducts are functional. The Camaro is power by 1,000 horses in the form of a 441ci Magnuson-blown LS7 engine with a Tremec six-speed. Detroit Speed front subframe and a four-bar rear add to the muscle of the Hodges’ ride.

Eighth Place 1932 Chevy Sedan Owner: Kenneth Rathmann, Tranquility, CA Builder: Steve Chapman / Fab-Worx, Fresno, CA

Ken’s ’32 Chevy sedan is a favorite at Hot August Nights and has had a lot of success there as well as other shows such as the Grand National Roadster Show, where it won Best Rod. Among its wins in Reno was Street Rodder’s pick as a Top 100 car a few years ago. This year, Kenneth’s two-tone Chevy returned to take its place among the Cup finalists. Built by Steve Chapman, the Car features a small-block Chevy crowned with a trio of two-barrel carbs. The two-tone paint is beautiful, but peek underneath to see an incredible polished and plated chassis and suspension.

Ninth Place: 1953 Chevy Pickup Owner: Adam Simms, Napa, CA Builder: Phil Ferrari / Phil Ferrari Hot Rods, Rancho Cordova, CA

Building this beautiful burgundy five-window ’53 was a collaborative effort between Adam and Phil Ferrari. The truck was another big winner at the GNRS and elsewhere before impressing the Hot August Nights judges with its countless exterior custom modifications—from frenched headlights to shaved panels, and a modified bed with remote-controlled wood floor. The cream white engine compartment holds a fuel-injected 502-inch Chevy big-block tied to a six-speed transmssion. The chassis includes a Mustang II style frontend and four-bar rear. Plush leather fills the cab.

Tenth Place 1960 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Owner: Jerry Logan, Salt Lake City, UT Builder: Dave Kindig / Kindig-It Design Salt Lake City, UT

The “Copper Cadillac” attracts a crowd wherever it goes, and has become a celebrity from it’s appearances on television’s Bitchin’ Rides, and as King of Kustoms at the Sacramento Autorama. The chopped, slammed, and lowered Caddy Coupe De Ville was built by Dave Kindig. Barrels of candy brandywine paint were sprayed over the extensively customized body, which features copper trim and bullets everywhere. An Art Morrison chassis was specially built for Jerry’s extra-long custom, rolling on EVOD 20-inch wheels under the power of a GM 454 Ram Jet big-block engine.

The post The Top Winners In The 2017 Hot August Nights Cup Contest appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/the-top-winners-in-the-2017-hot-august-nights-cup-contest/ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Hot Rod Network

0 notes