Good guys accompany classic beauties at State Fairgrounds

DesMoines Register: Good guys accompany classic beauties at State Fairgrounds

Independence Day means more than just fireworks, picnics and hot dogs in Des Moines. It calls for American hot rods, trucks and muscle cars - by the thousands.

For the 20th consecutive year, the Iowa State Fairgrounds will host the Goodguys Heartland Nationals car show, bringing classic-car owners from more than 25 states and spectators by the tens of thousands.

The event Friday through Sunday will take charge of the fairgrounds, which Goodguys Rod and Custom Association founder Gary Meadors fell in love with 20 years ago, when the annual event began.

Since then, the show has attracted auto-enthusiast and lovers of every sort, including Des Moines east-side residents Justin and Margaret Wares, who were married there in 2005.

"The Christian Rodders hold a service every Sunday, and the preacher from the Christian Rodders married us in supposedly the oldest church in Iowa (located) on the fairgrounds," Justin, 51, said.

1956 Chevrolet
A 1956 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery, garnished with congratulatory soap-text and tin cans, awaited the couple's exit from the church, which was packed for the ceremony. The same vintage classic - sans wedding decor - will return to the fairgrounds at this year's Goodguys show, where the Wares will spend another anniversary on July 2.

Justin, a yardman at Sunset Beach Auto Salvage south of the fairgrounds, bought the rare car near Marshalltown. He found it in a corn crib in 1997.

The sedan looks like a car, but is built like a panel truck, with no rear windows and a back that opens up. Justin's find was originally used by Montgomery Ward as a delivery vehicle and later drag-raced in the 1960s before it ended up abandoned on a farm.

"It was pretty rough, but they're pretty rare and I had always wanted one," he said. "The whole hood, fenders and all that were off the car and there was no drive train."

It was a perfect project for Wares, who said he has about 10 classic vehicles he has finished and owns maybe a dozen others that are works-in-progress or waiting to be started.

Refurbishes classic
"About all I do is screw around with old cars when I'm not working," he said. "It's all I've ever done."

The tan and white '56 Chevy is now lowered three inches and features Bel Air trim and chrome, digital instruments, a 350 transmission and power brakes and steering.

"I've gotten a lot of compliments over the years, because it's a bit of an oddity," he said of his refurbished classic, which will join the lineup of more than 3,500 cars next weekend.

But not all vehicles at the Goodguys event will be completely redone.

South Des Moines resident Joe Nobile looks forward to showcasing his 1960 Studebaker Hawk, which recently won a trophy for Best Classy Classic at the Peace Classic car show.

"It's all original except for the wheels and tires," said Nobile, 69. "It only has 52,000 or 53,000 miles on it. It's been a pampered car - you might say."

Nobile started working on cars when he was 16 and has attended the Heartland Classic every year since it came to Des Moines. His two-door white Studebaker will add one more car to a list of many classics he has shown in past years.

"I'm retired, but (the event) is always my vacation," he said.

Nationwide attraction
Nobile said he usually gets together with two or three friends and spends the whole weekend on the fairgrounds, relaxing and enjoying meeting people from all over the county.

"People come from way out of state for it, even California," he said. "There's something to do almost nonstop."

This year features a range of automotive-themed family activities and entertainment as varied as the show cars. These include AutoCross races Friday and Saturday, fireworks Saturday night, live music, hot rod how-to seminars and make-and-take model cars for children.

Wares said he looks forward to the automotive swap meet every year, where people sell and exchange used parts of older cars.

All registered classic vehicles - through 1972 - are eligible for a number of awards and trophies, such as the Low Lid award, for the car with the lowest roof, and the Homebuilt Heaven, for the best hot rod or custom built entirely in the owner's home or garage.

One lucky registered-car owner will also leave the event with Project Clean Air '55, a 1955 Chevrolet convertible, custom-built by Ironworks Speed and Kustom and Kenny Davis Hot Rods. The drawing for the vehicle will take place at the awards ceremony.