The 1932 Ford Sedan of Cale, Bridgett & Carlee Kern of Bedford, Indiana won the Goodguys 2008 Hot Rod of the Year award presented by Hot Hues at the Goodguys 20th Hot Rod Nationals Sunday, June 8th. The family of three had quite a weekend in Indy, having just finished a yearlong thrash to build the car the night before the event began at one o'clock in the morning.
This year's Hot Rod of the Year competition featured twenty-five eager participants. The Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year competition is a driving and dragstrip event held annually at the Hot Rod nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park. This year's participants drove a 100 course through greater Indianapolis which took them on a track cruise of the Indy Motor Speedway, up to the small town of Sharpsville, Indiana then back to O'Reilly Raceway Park for a run down the world famous Indy dragstrip.
With all the mandatory criteria completed it was up to the selection committee to select the overall winner. The aesthetics of the Kern's '32 Sedan, it's exposed and seriously polished Nail head Buick engine, the subtle chop and channel and the cool story behind the car was enough to stamp the sedan the Hot Rod of the Year. This freshly finished hot rod is truly a family affair said Cale - a mechanic and hot rod builder by trade. "The only thing we didn't do as a family on this car was the upholstery," he said. "My wife Bridgett did a lot of the design and chose the colors and look of the car. She also handled all the final sanding and prep of every panel on the car. She reads all the magazines and visits all the Internet chat rooms keeping up with what's going on. My seven-year-old daughter Carlee was right there with me every day building the engine. She lapped the valves!"The Goodguys/DuPont Hot Hues Hot Rod of the Year Award is presented annually at the Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals in Indy. Hot Rods 1948 and earlier are eligible. The basic criteria calls for street driven hot rods that make noise, have a mean attitude and scream the word "Hot Rod." For a closer look at this award visit www.good-guys.com.
Tech Specs:
Goodguys/DuPont Hot Hues 2008 Hot Rod of the Year Winner
Cale, Bridgett & Carlee Kern, Bedford, Indiana
1932 Ford Sedan
- 401 Buick Nailhead
- Winter's Quick Change
- 1.5" chop, 1" channel
- Handmade chrome lakes style headers
- Pleated red & cream interior
- 1940 Lincoln Zephyr Dash
- Schroeder Side Steer
- Originally a right hand drive car from Argentina
- 1/8th Mile Fun Run Stats: 10.414 @ 65.26mph