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The exhibit is being billed as a celebration of California's finest custom cars, and will feature significant vehicles from the past six decades. The spectrum will range from classics like the Jack Calori '36 Ford (which won the Early Custom Cars Class at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance), to memorable modern creations like the Thom Taylor-designed Frankenstude. The vehicle roster was still being finalized at press time, but you can bet it will be impressive. A special panel discussion where enthusiasts can meet and talk to some of the legends of customizing has also being scheduled for Saturday, August 26. More details are available on the museum Web site (http://museum.nhra.com) or at www.customrodder.com.

Other upcoming NHRA Motorsports Museum exhibits include a display of drag racing photography from the 1960s, plus a celebration of American Racing's 50th birthday. According to Thacker, the exhibits represent a natural direction for the museum. "Over the last few years, the museum has been building momentum with new exhibits and attractions. I want to keep that going by adding more exhibits and events that highlight motorsports as well as the Southern California car culture. We have lots in store, so stay tuned."

Win A Goat For Christmas OK, so it may not be a chopped Merc or a low-slung Impala, but we can't imagine any enthusiast turning down a free GTO. Now that Flowmaster is finished using its 2004 Pontiac GTO as a test mule for new products and a long hauler on the Hot Rod Power Tour, the company wants to give it away just in time for the 2006 holiday season in the Win The Flow's GTO Sweepstakes.

As you might expect, this bright red GTO sports a Flowmaster exhaust system featuring mandrel-bent 2.5-inch tubing, a Scavenger Cross-Over assembly, Super 40 mufflers, and stainless tips exiting in the stock location. The LS1 engine gets a bit more bite from a Centerforce clutch, K&N induction, and some GM Performance Parts goodies, while Budnik wheels, Nitto tires, Baer brakes, and Hotchkis let it turn and stop with grace.

There's no purchase necessary to enter; just log onto www.flowmastermufflers.com and click on the Sweepstakes link to sign up. The lucky winner will be announced between November 20-25, 2006.

CasicrAward Winners Every year during the winter show season, several Primedia magazine titles team up with Championship Auto Shows International-producers of the World of Wheels and Autorama events across the country-to sponsor a series of specialty awards. Custom Rodder has been pleased to be a part of this tradition, and once again sponsored the Custom Rodder magazine award at CASI events during the 2005-2006 show season.

While Custom Rodder staffers can't be on hand at every event to help select award winners, the CASI and ISCA crews do a fine job choosing representative cars on our behalf. Shown here are Lee Town's '60 Impala, which took the award at the Houston Autorama back in November, and Buzz Houston's '50 Olds, which won in Kansas City in March. These cars and other Custom Rodder magazine award winners can be see on www.customrodder.com.

Cruisin' Again Even though we engage in a bit of friendly competition with the guys across the hall at Rod & Custom, we'll always show them support when they're doing something right. Americruise is one of those things, so we're happy to see them reviving the event this year.

The 2006 Americruise will be held July 28-30 at the State Fair Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. Two caravans will lead rodders there-a West Coast tour sponsored by TCI Automotive and leaving from Southern California; and an East Coast tour sponsored by Air Ride Technologies and departing from Fatman Fabrications in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both tours already have a variety of fun and interesting activities lined up along the way.

In the past, some Americruise participants have argued that the event at the end never quite measured up to the fun they had on the drive there. This year should be different, because the show in Lincoln will include several voluntary events for testing the limits of your rod or custom, including an autocross course and a Go & Whoa competition. Of course, there will be plenty of plain ol' showin' and shinin' going on, too.

There should still be time to sign up and attend this year's Americruise by the time ou read this. Need more info? Then just clicSk on the Americruise logo at www.customrodder.com, or call (877) 413-6515.