Builds
Most every pre-’48 car came with fender/body welting, consisting of a simple combination of a narrow strip of vinyl (or similar material) folded over a small-diameter woven cord and glued shut. Its purpose was, and still is, to insulate one piece of body metal from another when bolted together—not an electrical or temperature insulation, but essentially to eliminate squeaks and rattles, and to prevent paint from chipping (or cracking) as the two pieces flexed and vibrated together under normal road use. Generally referred to as fender welting, this product can also be found throughout certain car models; used to mount grilles, running boards and bumper gravel shields.
When it comes to indoor car shows, the Grand National Roadster Show is, and always has been, one of the finest in the country. This show originated in the Bay Area, and for years it became known as the Oakland Roadster Show.
Over the last several years, the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, has established itself as one of the nation’s premier hot rodding events. This event, along with the Detroit Autorama and a few others, has proven to be one of the main events at which builders choose to debut new cars, and trophies are as hotly contested here as at any show in the country. But Columbus is about more than just trophies—it’s about bringing your own car, no matter what kind of shape it’s in, to hang out with the owners of the other 6,000 vehicles that will be there, and to have fun at Goodguys’ premier event.
While there’s numerous automotive events spread across the nation that center on specific kinds of automotive interests, be they classic cars, street rods, muscle cars or super rods, there’s one that welcomes them all. It’s a place where friends gather and new friendships start. The Goodguys 8th Columbus Nationals is an event for all reasons, drawing cars from across the Midwest, along the Eastern seaboard and from as far away as California, Oregon and Arizona. The event is held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, and with everyone in attendance and all of the cars parked side by side, with a sea of semis supporting all the exhibitors, there was little space left.
The 2007 Grand National Roadster Show was a huge hit, as the celebration of the ’32 Ford kicked off in great style. Various builders, writers and hot rod industry figures throughout the country voted on hundreds of candidates for the 75th anniversary of the ’32 Ford. Though no pickups made the Significant 75 list it was still a sight to see, as some of the most famous ’32 Fords ever built were present. From the 75th anniversary to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum located next to the Fairplex, there was a lot to see and do.
At home at a concours event, George Lange’s ’68 Camaro begs for closer inspection, as it is much more than it seems. Capable beyond most people’s wildest imagination, its laser-smooth lines are complemented beneath the flawless luster of DuPont’s Ash Gold Metallic paint. Call it “Alloway style.”
In 2002, we rushed to print “first-look” coverage of the cars in contention for the 2002 Ridler Award. Since the number of finalists totaled eight, we elected to call them “The Great Eight.” The folks in Detroit liked the term so well that, beginning this year, the “official” name for the chosen finalists has become The Ridler Award “Great 8.”
