The 1995 Goodguys Spring Nationals was held a decade before the Goodguys Del Mar Nationals. The Spring Nationals was a fixture at the Fairplex in Pomona. With its close proximity to so many hot rod shops, legends and history, the event was always a good
The Reverend Billy F Gibbons One day in 1998, just after the November ’97 re-launch of the SO-CAL Speed Shop my mentor and boss Pete Chapouris said, “Grab your camera, we’re going to Billy Gibbons ZZ Top warehouse in Texas.” Billy Gibbons, front man of ZZ Top
One of the first things I noticed when I came to work for Goodguys in the fall of 1990 is how loyal everyone was to each other and what a tight-knit fraternity hot rodding was. Goodguy Gary was very close friends with guys like Bill
Fremont Raceway (1959-1988) was known for many things. Located in the bayside marshlands 30 miles Southeast of San Francisco it featured the best “bite” and “air” of any quarter mile in the United States. The land was owned by Southern Pacific Railroad who doled out
The 1996 Goodguys Pacific Northwest Nationals is today's time capsule. The mid-summer event is second oldest Goodguys national event on their schedule. Held each July – it is the Northwest’s signature summertime hot rod show enveloping the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup with
The Oakland Roadster Show, popular for over 65 years now, could be a candidate for the Survivor show. Initially called National Roadster Show, it has remained surprisingly popular despite having changed location six times over the years, attracting crowds from across the country. The current
Laying in a hospital bed, recovering from illness or injury, affords the mind a certain freedom to free-associate, to review life’s choices, map a new path forward. There is perhaps no greater example of this than the late Bill Simpson, the man who made safety
There are legends of hot rodding, and then there are legends. Carroll Shelby squarely falls in the latter category. Few hot rodders of the post-War era — and the term “hot rodder” is far too limiting a term in this instance — left a mark as
The 1970s were a mythical and magical time for Northwest Drag Racing and Seattle Intl National Raceway was the epicenter. Nitro Funny Cars were in their zenith, and Seattle Intl Raceway “Innnnnn Kent” with Bill Doner and Steve Evans at the helm was the home of
Long before Texas Motor Speedway was built, Goodguys Rod and Custom was holding the Lone Star Nationals down in the great state of Texas. First held at Southfork Ranch in Dallas, it was moved to the Dallas Fair Park before heading back to Southfork Ranch
