Welcome to Hot Rod Iowa

I've often wondered, while leafing through my most current HOT ROD mag or now, looking at the various car blogs and e-mags, why we've not received the same respect as our coastal brethren. Hey, there's some great car stuff happening in the Midwest! Iowa has a rich history of racing, building and tinkering with cars (and trucks!).

follow the build!

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Jim Volgarino
Editor

So that's the impetus for developing this site where you'll find articles of interest about all things IOWA car-related, a directory of WHO DOES WHAT where you might discover a builder or vendor/supplier you never knew was within our borders, .

Above you'll see current students of the Hawkeye Community College Auto Collision Technologies program in Waterloo, Iowa who will be taking on a project none of them have ever experienced...building a professional grade custom pickup that will be used to not only provide exposure to the school's auto technology programs but allow

them to have a direct hands-on part in creating a hot rod masterpiece, all under the direction of Terry Van Dyke, a 30+ year veteran of hot rod, custom and restoration work in the Cedar Valley area.

As the program's primary instructor, Van Dyke wanted to share his expertise to expand the student experience in all areas of automotive refinishing and give them solid knowledge of all the aspects of the processes necessary to create a show-winning vehicle.

"There is a great opportunity for a younger generation to enter the high technology field of auto refinishing and restoration," explained

1972 Chevy inTENse C10

and a listing of all the CLUBS that keep the car hobby alive and fun in our great state

Terry Van Dyke

Take a look at the ARTICLES about Iowa gearheads, past and present, and there's even some great VIDEOS.

Van Dyke. "All the processes used in refinishing today's contemporary vehicles also translate over to custom vehicle building.

Disassembly, assessing damage, creating a working plan for the project, all of those areas are part of what we teach in the Hawkeye Community College program."

Van Dyke explains that many of the students completing the auto refinishing course will be great candidates for the growing number of restoration and rod shops looking for young talent so building a custom truck just makes sense.

And a NEW FEATURE is starting up for this coming year...a continuing progress blog of a custom 1972 C10 truck build happening at

Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, directed by Terry Van Dyke, instructor in the Auto Collision Technologies program and an old-hand custom car builder himself.

Send your email below for regular updates on all articles and events on Hot Rod Iowa !

Special thanks to our Hot Rod Iowa Sponsors

Chevrolet bowtie logo used by permission, General Motors Corp.

The 1972 Chevrolet C10 shortbox has been dubbed inTENse and has already attracted some recognizable heavy hitter sponsors in the hot rod world...Ring Brothers, Yogi's, LMC Trucks, Wilwood, Street Rod Designs among others. A listing of sponsors is below.