From the Goodguys (Monday, 16 May 2016) press release: California Model A Roadster Wins Goodguys 2016 Tank’s Inc. Hot Rod of the Year Award by John Drummond (@John D) - Roseville, California duo Brian George and Ben York captured Goodguys 2016 Tank’s Inc. Hot Rod of the Year honors in Nashville with this PPG Midnight Blue ’31 Ford roadster. Brian George and Ben York of Northern California’s Roseville Rod & Custom have teamed to build several top tier street rods over a span of several years. Their latest venture, a dark blue ‘50s style hi-boy roadster took home Goodguys 2016 Tank’s Inc. Hot Rod of the Year last weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. Two years ago, they set out with a plan to build a hot rod hi-boy for the express purpose of competing for Hot Rod of the Year. “We built this car specifically with this award in mind. We wanted a car that honored ‘50s and ‘60s hot rodding as well as a car that paid tribute to the dry lakes roadsters of that era,” George said after winning on Sunday. Taking the Hot Rod of the Year crown back to Northern California was no easy task. A loaded field of over 42 entries (the largest field ever for this specific Goodguys Top 12 award) set out Friday, May 13th for a 100-mile reliability run through the back country of Tennessee, then made 1/8th mile sprints down Nashville’s Music City Raceway before returning back to Nissan Stadium – home of the Goodguys 11th Nashville Nationals. George’s roadster not only completed the circuit in fine fashion, his dragstrip burnout and 1/8th mile run captured the spirit of this award. The car runs strong and looks fantastic, a testament to Ben York’s vision and craftsmanship. The mighty Model A roadster features masterful metal shaping with a reworked cowl, rolled firewall, DuVall windshield and a handmade Pines Winterfront grille behind E & J headlights. The hot rod’s heartbeat is a supercharged flathead Ford Ardun OHV conversion by H&H Flatheads. It’s as potent (375hp) as it is pretty, polished to the nines by Sherm’s Plating in Sacramento. Inside the driver’s compartment is an era-appropriate brown leather interior by Dave Putnam. Handling and stance are spot on with a dropped and drilled front axle and buggy spring rear end while the rod rolls on black steel wheels and Coker Tire Firestone bias ply tires. Interestingly, George’s Model A was the first roadster ever built at Roseville Rod & Custom. Not bad for a maiden voyage! However, York and his team are no strangers to building pre-war beauties. In 2009, they won Goodguys Street Rod d’Elegance honors as well as America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod with Marvin Bok’s 1939 Ford convertible. We will have a full feature on this magnificent Model A roadster in the September issue of the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette.
... and here's a short video feature on the 2016 HROTY: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153798776949888
That Roadster is off of the charts. Perfectly planned and executed with all of the right vintage speed parts
Here's a couple of @stingbean's pics of the 2016 HROTY (culled from his Goodguys Nashville 2016 Pics thread):
Mike Herman (@Capitan Insano) built the 2016 HROTY's flathead (with ARDUN OHV conversion and S.Co.T supercharger): https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152906628838019
Yet another pic of the 2016 HROTY in Nashville ... this one from the facebook page: Once again, the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association Hot Rod of the Year is rolling on Coker Tire products! Brian George and his 1931 Ford Model A roadster, built by Roseville Rod & Custom, completed all of the stages of the Hot Rod of the Year competition (held at the Goodguys Nashville Nationals) and took home the victory. This car has tons of awesome metalwork, an Ardun-headed Flathead with a supercharger, and of course, a set of Firestone Deluxe Champion blackwall bias ply tires!
Earlier this year, Brian's roadster was shown at the 3 major indoor car shows on the left coast: 1) Debuting at the 67th Annual Grand National Roadster Show (January 29-31, 2016): ... where it took home the following: 2016 Best Rod award 2016 H & H Best Dressed Flathead Award 1st place in the Altered Street Roadster 28-31 class
2) At the 66th Annual Sacramento Autorama (February 12-14, 2016): ... where it took home the following: 2016 Manuel Arteche Memorial Award 2016 Best Rod award 1st place in the Altered Street Roadster pre-1935 class
3) At the 60th Annual Portland Roadster Show (March 18-20, 2016): ... where it took home the following: 2016 World Cup Of Hot Roddin' Award (+ $5,000) 2016 Best Rod award 1st place in the Altered Street Roadster pre-1935 class an Outstanding Individual Display award
Looks ten times better out in the wild with real sunlight on it! I didn't realize it was the same car from the indoor shows last winter.
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