Cruising across the rolling plains east of Omaha may not sound too exciting for most folks, but it sure lifted my spirits back in the first week of July. I was near my old stomping grounds, back in the region of the country I'd called home for nearly a quarter century. Gazing out at the far-off horizon and absorbing all the sights, sounds and feelings of the open countryside was reassuring for my soul, which needs a break from the Southern California suburban sprawl every now and again. It felt good to take that drive, and even better knowing my destination.

The Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines used to be a regular summer stop for my father and I when I was growing up. And it was always a car show that brought us there. For years we attended custom car events at the facility, and when Goodguys came to town in the early '90s we put the Heartland Nationals on our agenda too.

I've been absent from the Heartland Nationals for too many years now, so when the opportunity came up to cover the 2001 event July 6-8, I snagged it with a smile. Despite my long absence, I was greeted by plenty of familiar sights--both cars and people--when I rolled through the fairground gates on Friday. There were a lot of new sights too, as you might expect when there are more than 3,000 vehicles on tap. In short, the event was like a trip down memory lane, only better. Not only did I get to see some old friends and favorite rides (plus hang out with Dad), but I also got to check out all the cool new customs from around the Midwest and across the country. It was the best of old and new, and that's a hard combination to beat.

The King is back! Dave Stuckey's...        read full caption The King is back! Dave Stuckey's "King of the Mercs" from the early '80s has been brought back to life by the caring hands of Carson Chatwell and his friends. The revival of the '51 included mechanical updates like an LT1/700R4 combo, Mustang II front suspension and Boyds wheels, plus fresh paint over the wild bodywork originally performed by Stuckey.

Dave Hall's '55 "Newmad" was...        read full caption Dave Hall's '55 "Newmad" was the talk of the show and earned Custom Rod of the Year honors as well as a CRM Top 10 pick. Designed by Chris Ito and built by Steve's Auto Restorations, the car is virtually all hand-built and sports a radically redesigned body, full custom chassis and a 500-inch aluminum big-block.

M.K. John penned the design...        read full caption M.K. John penned the design and The Body Shop (Grand Island, NE) executed the bodywork on Dean and Pat Jodry's beautiful '49 Plymouth. (That's not a typo. Plymouth carried the '48 style until the mid-year '49's were introduced.)The one-time coupe is now a Carson-top convertible with a '55 Kaiser grille, '53 Buick headlights, '52 Studebaker taillights, and molded lines everywhere. Earning a CRM Top 10 pick was practically a given.

It's a custom. It's a hot...        read full caption It's a custom. It's a hot rod. Hey, it's both--a custom rod. Dave Wolk's basic black Merc is a perfect example of traditional hot rod styling applied to a custom-oriented car. A dual-quad Chevy small-block, five-speed tranny and P.S. Engineering knock-offs back up the performance image, but the Merc became a CRM Top 10 shoe-in when I spied the cool red interior with Impala seats, a 'Vette wheel and a '56 Olds dash.

Is it real? That was the main...        read full caption Is it real? That was the main question surrounding Chris McAuliffe's '50 Buick wagon, a four door-turned-two door with convincing woodgrain paintwork by Ron Steward. Other modifications to this CRM Top 10 pick (and Custom Rod of the Year finalist) include a 2.5-inch top chop, custom-built upper and lower tailgates, an Air Ride Technologies suspension and 455-inch Buick power.

Tim and Carrie Strange made...        read full caption Tim and Carrie Strange made quite a splash in the summer of 2001 with their clean '63 Riviera. Dubbed the Rivette, the stylish Buick sports Corvette LS1 power, big Colorado Custom wheels and an Air Ride Technologies suspension. Tim performed the bodywork and paint on the CRM Top 10 pick, while Carrie stitched the UltraLeather interior.

Basic black is just the right...        read full caption Basic black is just the right finish for Dave LeMieur's '54 Buick Century, and gave it enough attitude to earn a CRM Top 10 award. Starting out with a 36,000 original mile car, Dave shaved the hood and doors, lowered the suspension, bolted up 17-inch American Torq Thrusts and had a new basecoat/clearcoat finish sprayed on the body. It still sports the original Dynaflo-backed 322ci Nailhead.

Rich Mutert may only be in...        read full caption Rich Mutert may only be in his early twenties, but he has already made a name for himself with this '50 Chevy. The Oxford Green Fleetline features a smooth body, Air Ride suspension, big billet wheels and a full custom interior. In addition to a Custom Rodder feature last issue, the Chevy earned a CRM Top 10 pick at Des Moines and was a Custom Rod of the Year candidate.

After a 4-inch section job,...        read full caption After a 4-inch section job, 2-inch chop and numerous other body mods by Donn Lowe, it's hard to tell that Frenchy Fugere's pearl yellow custom began life as a '51 Plymouth convertible. The reshaped body sits on a '72 Grand Prix chassis, rolls on Colorado Custom wheels and Coker radials, and is powered by a three-carb 340 Mopar V-8. A CRM Top 10 pick? You bet!

"Born to be mild" would be...        read full caption "Born to be mild" would be an appropriate tag line for Al Newmann's '63 Olds Holiday coupe. The early-'60s mild custom treatment--shaved hood and deck, remote doors, Sapphire Blue paint and Astro Supremes on skinny whitewalls--really works with the crisp Olds styling, and caught our attention for a CRM Top 10 pick.

Paul White drove all the way...        read full caption Paul White drove all the way from Portland, Maine in his '49 Chevy, and was rewarded by being a CRM Top 10 pick and contender for Custom Rod of the Year. Built by Extreme Rod & Custom, the chopped and sectioned Chevy features New Beetle headlights, '00 Corvette taillights, suicide doors, Nautic Blue paint and a ZZ430 crate engine backed by a 700R4.

Oldsmobiles like Eddie Simpson's...        read full caption Oldsmobiles like Eddie Simpson's '49 coupe have been prime hot rod fodder from day one. This one got the contemporary treatment with a lengthened '84 Monte Carlo frame, Air Ride suspension, Weld wheels, a hot Chevy small-block and mild body mods. Eddie benefited from my lack of math skills by being the 11th pick for the CRM Top 10. Congrats, Eddie!

Traditional mild customs are...        read full caption Traditional mild customs are still alive and well as evidenced by the taildragging '56 Ford Victoria belonging to Des Moines residents Dan and Debbie Davis. This one had the look down pat with a tube grille, lakes pipes, flipper caps, wide whites and plenty of tuck-n-roll.

Though we're more accustomed...        read full caption Though we're more accustomed to seeing them as nostalgia drag cars, Tracy Haatvedt's '63 Sport Fury proves that B-body Mopars can make nice contemporary customs, too. A tube grille, Billet Specialties wheels and mild dechroming work well on this Plymouth.

With so many done as contemporary...        read full caption With so many done as contemporary street machines, it's nice to see a '50s-style mild custom '55 Chevy. Dick and Sue Freund got the period look down just right with wide whites, chrome wheels, a 'Vette grille and a louvered hood.

It's been around for a while,...        read full caption It's been around for a while, but Don and Carol Davis' '53 Chevy is still looking brilliant in its candy green coating. Tasteful body mods and a hot 250-inch six just sweeten this candy Chevy.

Here's evidence of how slick...        read full caption Here's evidence of how slick a '50s car can look without a ton of modifications. Henry and Sharon Mills shaved the handles and emblems on their '56 Olds 88, painted it red and white, then lowered the suspension and bolted on 17-inch Halibrands. Simple, clean and cool.

Remember Wes Rydell's '50...        read full caption Remember Wes Rydell's '50 Chevy Fleetline four-door from a few years back (Jan. '98 CRM)? Well, 23,000 miles later the Boyd-built beauty is still on the road and looking great. Wes recently had the paint two-toned with silver to give it a whole new look and cover all the rock chips!

Gary Mathern has been cruising...        read full caption Gary Mathern has been cruising this '50 Buick around the Des Moines area for a long time now, but it still looks great. Red wheels wrapped in wide whites lend a hot rod flair, but the shaved trim, purple paint, frenched lights and lakes pipes are pure custom.

Chad Ringen is a Minnesota-based...        read full caption Chad Ringen is a Minnesota-based rodder who specializes in late-'50s Fords. His personal ride is this red '57, which sports a FatMan front suspension, 16-inch Budnik wheels, and small-block Ford power with an overdrive transmission.