Hot Rods in Pleasanton! A Gallery of Goodguys
Just yesterday, the curtain closed on the 31st edition of the Goodguys West Coast Nationals at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds – hot rods were everywhere! The “Crown Jewel” of all Goodguys events nationwide, the West Coast Nationals was the pride and joy of Gary Meadors – the late founder of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association who passed away in December of 2015.
Gary’s legacy casts a large shadow here. To this day it remains the largest gathering on 1972 & earlier hot rods, customs and classics in the Western United States. Although Goodguys was officially founded in 1983, they didn’t start doing full blown rod & custom festivals until the spring of 1987. The West Coast Nationals was one of them and remains the oldest running Goodguys event of them all – a jewel indeed!
This event is like a hot rod homecoming. Everyone who plays with old cars rallies here from all over the country and in some cases far away international lands. The Danville Dukes, The LA Roadsters , The Franklin Syndicate, Clutch Burners and many other hot rod clubs fly their banners here with pride. They seek fellowship and hot rods. Particularly alluring are the 1940 and earlier cars, many of which have significant history.
Special awards are a big deal in Pleasanton too, a lot of which are centered around 30s Ford hot rods. The Stroker McGurk award is selected by Tom Medley’s son Gary to an outstanding, old school hot rod roadster. The Jim Ewing (Super Bell) Memorial award goes to a killer coupe. The Deuce Bruce Memorial award goes to a ’32 Ford while the Billy B Memorial award goes to a ’29 Ford hi-boy. The place teems with history.
With you faithful Fuel Curvers in mind – we wondered around the show field in search of the most bitchin’ early Fords, Chevys and Mopars. As you would image, the blue oval brigade made up 90% of the hot rods. It was a spectacular weekend. Temperatures blistered in the upper 90s. It was perfect roadster weather. The crowds came out too. Tens of thousands of them to ogle the hot rods and shop the midway and swap meet. But the main attraction was the hot rods you see here.
If you want to make plans to get here next year, the dates have been set for August 24-26, 2018. You really need to add it to your bucket list. It’s hot rod heaven!
