Custom Car Magazine

19 January 2023

Is there such a thing as a starter rod? Maybe, maybe not. But we’re pretty sure that if there is, Kelvin Clough’s is not the first example you’d think of. A steel bodied ’32 roadster built to the sort of standard that wins shows? That’s what he set his sights on. And he had to build it on a clock, too – because back home, a young lady was waiting to be whisked to her school prom… Adam and Chris Nowak’s Roadrunner was built to the highest of standards too. It’s a racer, not a show car – but they set their sights on running 10s in a streetable 440 that looked as stock as possible. And that’s exactly what they’ve got. If you’re into your racing, our report on the National Finals at Santa Pod is a fitting round-up of the deciding event in some many class battles. And if you’re into your rods, Jody and Niki Gething’s Pop and Anglia are two of a not quite kind that do a very good job of keeping it in the family. Their dad still joins them as tail-end Charlie on the way to shows… aboard his classic Roller. That’s a convoy you won’t mistake for anything else. The annual Hospice Run convoy was worth seeing, too, as a line of rods dressed up for Christmas delivered presents for kids and funds for the charity that looks after them. And on the other side of the country, the Brass Monkey Run did its usual job of getting people out and about after Christmas and giving their cars a rare taste of the winter air. Not that it’ll stay winter for long. And there’s enough in this month’s issue of Custom Car to get you revved up for the summer ahead. Whether you’re building a starter rod or one like Kelvin’s, it’s going to be a vintage year…