view larger image

The red, raked and bad-to-the-bone '33 Ford three-window coupe of Lemont, Illinois' Greg Gilbertson was crowned Goodguys 2006 Hot Rod of the Year presented by DuPont Hot Hues. The award was presented Saturday night, June 10th at the Goodguys 18th Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis. For this year's Hot Rod of the Year competition, Goodguys devised a special criteria for contestants which involved driving their cars around the city of Indy, up Highway 31 sixty miles to Kokomo, then back to IRP for a mandatory 1/8th mile pass down the quarter mile.

Gilbertson's rod, powered by a hefty 502-inch big block Chevy was crowned the overall winner beating out four Ford roadsters including Kevin Alstott's '35 roadster, Rich Guasco's '29 roadster, Al Vander Werth's full-fendered '32 roadster, and Stan Wilson's '32 roadster.

In the 1/8th mile drag test, Gilbertson's coupe logged the fastest 1/8th mile of all competitors ripping off a 89mph blast.

view larger image

"I built this car as a traditional hot rod using the best components available today but I wanted it to perform and look traditional," Gilbertson told the capacity crowd at the Saturday night award ceremony.

DuPont's Ron Skyrme presented Gilbertson with his award and summed the new competition by saying "DuPont is very proud to be part of the Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year award. It's what hot rodding is all about - getting out and putting these cars on the road and testing their performance. This competition is only going to get bigger and better."

Goodguys and DuPont Hot Hues will again present the Hot Rod of the Year at Indy in 2007.