None of us are able to predict when a defining moment may happen, but down deep you can sense it's coming. That can truly be said about this year's 7th Annual Goodguys Rod & Custom Association's PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. The banner event of the year for Goodguys didn't disappoint. What it did do was send a statement to the rodding world that all is good with our hobby.

Often referred to as "Columbus," rodders everywhere know it to be the crown jewel of the Goodguys' summer menu of rodding get-togethers. It has been looked upon as Goodguys' largest (a record 6,067 entries), the one with the greatest diversity (open to pre-'73 cars and trucks), and all are sandwiched neatly around 450-plus vendors. The year 2004 proved a point and then some! Columbus has joined the "short" list as one of the nation's largest and most influential rodding events--it's clearly on the "A" list for those wishing to get the most out of their rodding season.

The three-day event is blessed by its geographic desirability to the center of the rodding world in Ohio. Adding to its luster has been the historically good weather. Hey, in the Midwest, a day's worth of rain isn't all bad, although this year was dry and sunny throughout.

The combined staffs of CRM, SRM, and CTM all agreed on one thing for sure: Come Friday, it was obvious this was going to be a special event. Normally a Friday at any event will serve as a barometer as to what the participant and spectator turnout will be for Saturday, traditionally, the most attended day for participants and spectators alike. Incredible, as Friday at Columbus was clearly the largest Friday our staffs had ever seen, and we knew it was going to be a whopper on Saturday and Sunday, which it was.

Goodguys serves up Columbus as the showcase for several of their most prestigious awards with the selection of the Goodguys Street Rod of the Year and the equally prestigious Street Machine of the Year. Columbus has developed a following of its own where the new and "recently" new rods and machines of all types vie in the highly competitive ranks for many honors, but none more hotly contested than the above mentioned. It should also be noted that our three magazine titles perennially offer up their Top Ten awards, adding dramatically to the "basket" of recognition that can be reaped by those in attendance.

Street Rod of the Year, presented by Eagle One, was won by Roger Ritzow of Franklin, Wisconsin, for his superbly crafted and detailed '32 Ford highboy roadster built by Troy Trepanier and his team at Rad Rides by Troy out of Manteno, Illinois.

Recognition for the Goodguys/Popular Hot Rodding Street Machine of the Year, presented by Baer Brakes, went to Kathy Lange of St. Louis, with a '57 T-Bird built by Bobby Alloway and his team at Alloway's Hot Rod Shop out of Louisville, Tennessee.

Well, that about wraps it up for another year in rodding's central community, the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus. See you next year, as it promises to be even better.

Shane and Channa Felger's...        read full caption Shane and Channa Felger's '62 Galaxie makes all the rounds. The red-over-matte-white (urethane paint with flattener) hardtop runs a stock 390 and radial whitewalls on Dodge wheels. The interior features a simple and stylish top-stitched pleat job. Shane pilots the sled around during daily duties.

You can't accuse Air Ride...        read full caption You can't accuse Air Ride Technologies' Bret and Sharon Voelkl of flying in anything but first class, and their '62 Buick proves it. Instead of pricey chrome, Bret treated the wagon's brightwork (including stainless) to silver spray. He followed suit by burnishing the Billet Specialties hoops and the Nailhead's aluminum goodies with an abrasive pad. The look is distinctive and tasteful.

We can identify with Mitch...        read full caption We can identify with Mitch Stilger's automotive obsession. This '62 was his first car; he got it as a teen. He's now 22, and he's since dropped it with Air Ride Technologies' springs over 17- and 20-inch Intros. He designed the antifreeze-over-oil-black combo (Twist and Shout Designs) and shot it with a mix of House of Kolor Kandy Lime Gold and Organic Green over a silver base. It's a real driver, too.

New Buffalo's (MI) Jim Simmons...        read full caption New Buffalo's (MI) Jim Simmons found his '62 Impala at Goodguys' Indy show three years ago as a low-mileage stocker. He's since dolled it up with a fresh spray, big discs all around, and 17-inch Intro wheels.

Clay Johnson and his '65 Olds...        read full caption Clay Johnson and his '65 Olds have one hell of a story. Clay's parents bought the Jetstar fastback brand new; he even has the photos of him as a boy next to the car to prove it. He ditched the 330 for a stouter 425, bagged it with Air Ride Technologies' springs, and sprayed it BMW Orient Blue. This was Clay's Jetstar's first show; the paint still smelled!

You say it takes too much...        read full caption You say it takes too much to play ball in this field? We say look at Eric Brockmeyer's '62 Rambler. He found it as a cherry-pie stocker, dropped it over 17-inch Boyd five-spokes, and had the local Maaco paint shop freshen up the shine with white and flames. No, it's little flat six won't light any fires, but the meager $3,500 total investment got the Brockmeyers to the gig from Melbourne, FL, at 26 miles per gallon and in serious style!

We dug Jason Graham's '53...        read full caption We dug Jason Graham's '53 Chevy when we first laid eyes on it, but we fell in love with it when he told us the story. He did everything on the car completely by himself except for the headliner and seats. It features '55 headlight buckets, '54 rear quarters and lights, a Camaro subframe, a Nova axle on leafs, radial whitewalls, and a throttle body-injected small-block. Check these stats: 20 mpg with the air on for--get this--$7,500. This was Jason's car's first big event, too.

There's no doubt that wagons...        read full caption There's no doubt that wagons are popular, but we're bummed that we don't see enough Plymouth wagons done up like Dave Titus' '51. It runs late-Chevy running gear, an updated IFS, and acres of straight body. This was one of the many cars that premiered at this year's show.

Todd and Jayne Hare's '57...        read full caption Todd and Jayne Hare's '57 Lincoln Premiere started as a hardtop, but he incorporated an early-'70s Pontiac convertible windshield and top mechanism to transform it into a drop-top. The Lincoln runs a 460/C6 combo, big-inch Boyd Coddington wheels, and what must've been gallons of pearl white paint.

Derick Samson yanked his '62...        read full caption Derick Samson yanked his '62 Chevy wagon's body from the frame for his project. He set the chassis up with Air Ride Technologies' air springs, one-off big-inch discs, and 18- and 20-inch Americans. Derick designed the interior (Samson Design) and commissioned Custom One to upholster it. He finished this car a scant few weeks before the show and still made it as a Custom Rod of the Year finalist.

David Martinez drove Rob Gerring's...        read full caption David Martinez drove Rob Gerring's `50 Chevy hardtop custom out to the event. David himself hardtopped the car and worked a '48 Merc rear window and '53 Cadillac fins and decklid into the coupe. He also pie-cut the hood, rounded the corners, and lowered the headlights. It's a custom in the most traditional sense, yet it wears a House of Kolor's Cinnamon Pearl and Snow White Pearl spray by Gary Brown.

Don Cornett definitely took...        read full caption Don Cornett definitely took the less-traveled route. He started with a '51 Henry J, but instead of pointing its nose sky-high and cutting its wheelwells, he dumped it in the weeds and made an ultra-low cruiser. It features a Fat Man Fabrications frontend with Air Ride Technologies' springs, a 350/350 combo, and stock wheel centers and caps with wider rims. Rick Futrell at Keowee Auto Seat Cover (Dayton) stitched up the interior with red hides from Paul Atkins.

Gib Sagnalen has a creamsicle-cool...        read full caption Gib Sagnalen has a creamsicle-cool '56 Buick. The St. Paulian built the car with a 427/35o combo, a late GM subframe, smoothies, and an orange-and-white tuck job. We couldn't dream it any neater!

Enough time must've passed...        read full caption Enough time must've passed between the 1970s and us; things of the era are starting to look not so bad. Brian Test's '70 Thunderbird actually looks pretty damn good. He must've pried the grandfather's fingers off the wheel for the green giant; it's absolutely positively neat as a pin. It features 18- and 20-inch chrome wheels, a good lowering from Air Ride Technologies' springs, and late-model mirrors.

Frank and Bev Ferry deserve...        read full caption Frank and Bev Ferry deserve a long-distance award: they drove their '49 Olds 98-series sedanette all the way from Cortland, WA! It sports a subframe, air springs, and '90s GM seats, so the miles probably just melted away.

Bill Killkerry has big numbers...        read full caption Bill Killkerry has big numbers on his mind. He lives in Eighty Four, PA, and built a '55 Nomad with a 350 Ram Jet, a 700-R4 trans, and shod it with 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties. He also had a six-figure price tag on it, but we can't imagine how much more it would've cost to replicate it.

We certainly identify with...        read full caption We certainly identify with this Plymouth sedan; we can't tell if we're coming or going. One end features a flat-six wheezer while the other runs a 502 Chevy (even if it's a plastic one).

We never got the official...        read full caption We never got the official name, but the names Pete and RePete kept circulating around this late '40s Chrysler sedan. It sports Americans, a late-model drivetrain, and a subframe. It's big, it's black, and it's a beautiful beast.