Goodguys' Street Rod of the Year

Dennis DeCamp Scores With His F-32

By SMM Staff   Photos Courtesy of Goodguys

Dennis DeCamp of West Covina left the Los Angeles basin in June for a one-man, 2,516-mile voyage across America, with plans to just have fun while hitting some car events along the way with his street rod.

His journey turned to jubilation Saturday night, July 14^th, when his bright red IndyCar-influenced 1932 roadster was named Goodguys/Classic Instruments 2007 Street Rod of the Year at the 10^th PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’ve shown this car all over the West Coast and kept getting runner-up, so I thought I’d come east,” he said to the crowd. His decision and ensuing summer road trip paid great dividends.

DeCamp’s roadster blends IndyCar styling with Ferrari elegance and performance. The car’s sleek aluminum body was hand-made by renowned craftsman Marcel Delay. Barry White’s Street Rod Repair Company handled the painstakingly detailed task of assembling the car, named the “F-32”. The roadster made its debut in January of this year in Pomona, Calif., at the Grand National Roadster show where it was a contender for the “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” crown.

A West Coast indoor show circuit campaign followed before landing in the Top 5 for the Goodguys Street Rod d’Elegance in Del Mar back in March. The red roadster was also chosen as Andy Granatelli’s personal pick at the Wheels and Waves event in Santa Barbara . Being crowned Street Rod of the Year is DeCamp’s highest industry honor in a lifetime of hot rodding. Now 62, he first started dabbling with hot rods as a young man in Southern California . He’s very active in street rodding, and is currently a member of the “Cal Rods” and “Street Rods Forever” car clubs.

With the Street Rod of the Year crown in his bag, the long ride home to West Covina was a relaxing, happy journey. “I was very nervous before they announced me as the winner,” DeCamp confessed. “All day Saturday here in Columbus I was on pins and needles. When I’m golfing, I can change the way my game is going if I’m losing or playing poorly . . . but this was an entirely new experience. With this process – you can’t do anything but hope and wait. I wanted this award more than anything!”

Tech Specs

“F-32” Ford roadster, owned Dennis DeCamp, West Covina, Calif.

Overall Fabrication and Construction: Barry White’s SRRC.

Body: One-off custom handmade by Marcel’s Body.

Wheel Design: Chris Brown of B.W. SRRC.

Interior: Custom Italian leather by Gabe Lopez.

Chassis: Custom fabricated chassis by Barry White’s SRRC featuring   inboard Indy-style front suspension.

Engine: All-aluminum Windsor 427 Ford by Jon Barrett of Oklahoma.

Wheels: Custom one-off billet aluminum wheels with magnesium anodized centers and knock-offs.

Body and Paint: Tony Correa