Just like the beginning of summer-or the end of it, for that matter-there are certain things that come and go, year in and year out, that we all expect and, often, highly anticipate. Well, the Goodguys yearly to-do in Columbus, Ohio, that little thing we've all come to know as the PPG Nationals, has come and gone once again, just as the warm weather has finally succumbed to Mother Nature's winter chill.
Unlike the weather's annual turn for the worse, the Nationals tend to leave more smiles on faces and, maybe more so, leave folks with eager expectations for next year's big to-do. Even though we're typically in work mode each year, we have to admit that we too share the same expectations. The Goodguys PPG Nationals is just one of those shows that has so much to offer everyone-yes, including representatives from the magazine world-that it's really hard to find much, if anything, to dislike, regardless what camp or school of thought you're from.
This past edition, which turned out to be the 11th anniversary of the Nats, followed in the footsteps of its predecessors: great vehicle and spectator turnout, great weather (with but one quick rain shower over the weekend), a sizeable swap meet, and some pretty interesting national awards presentations (though for the non-truckers-the Street Rod and Street Machine of the Year honoring). All in all, simply another great Nats to chalk up in the record books-and more reason for the Goodguys to repeat themselves next year! See you then.
Finest Five
Last month's cover model, Dwayne Fietzer's groovy green F-100, was also appropriately a recipient of Finest Five honors in Columbus this past summer. If you haven't already had the opportunity to check out the feature, do so-this '55 is worth a closer look! | 
Runner-up for F-100 of the Year at the F-100 Nationals, held earlier in the summer in Knoxville, TN, Harold Robinson's '56 Effie is all that, and then some! From its extensive body mods all the way down to the 454 big-block (maybe a deciding factor in the above-mentioned?!), you can see this is one first-class truck. |
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Kevin Bapst's completely homebuilt-and driven hard-'68 Chevy C-10. Low down, in many respects, the Fleetside may look a bit weary for wear, but it's powered by an aluminum 406 big-block and rides on a full custom Air Ride Technologies chassis. | 
This slick little beauty is Bob Owens' gentlemanly chopped '40 Ford-ain't she purty? Beyond its exterior, the black beauty lies on an S-10 chassis and runs a 350/200-4R combo. Oh, and did we say it was also all homebuilt? |
Our final Finest Five beneficiary is Brad and Lorie Stanley's '46 Chevy. Another owner-built hauler (and owned for nearly a quarter century now), the Bow Tie is a nice mix of resto, hot rod, and custom. We dig it! | 
What's all the commotion for? In the back of Dennis Henderson's '65 Econoline is... |
...a 6.0L twin-turbocharged monster of a motor! That and the fact that you don't see many Econoline pickups in the first place, let alone screamin' green meanies like this! |  |
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