Street Rod d’Elegance Award, Goodguys AutoCross and the Prowlers, the oldest continually operating car club in the US highlight this year’s event
Photo by Tom Peter, Del Mar 2014
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association heads to the scenic Del Mar Fairgrounds April 10-12th with 2,500+ hot rods, customs, classics, muscle cars and trucks to SoCal from all over the country and continent. Besides all the eye-candy, this event includes three days of AutoCross, a chance to meet the Prowlers (the oldest car club around), and a parts midway to find exactly for what you’ve been looking for forever. This is sure to be a great weekend, even for the kids!
At the 15th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals at the Del Mar Fairgrounds fans will get a close up glimpse of just how eclectic the modern day hot rodding scene is though in spirit – the Goodguys core message is unchanged after over 30 years – having fun with cars. Acres of 1972 & earlier show cars glistening with candy colors will sprawl throughout the scenic fairgrounds. It is a trip back in time for many. The sight of all of those classic cars takes many of us back to a simpler time in our history.
The Street Rod d’Elegance, presented by March Performance, will be a highlight of the event this year in Del Mar. Street Rods through 1948 vintage are eligible for compete for this prestigious honor. The award will be selected from the street rods entered in the indoor car show. The Street Rod d’Elegance award is designed to honor a gorgeous, elegant street rod.
The Prowlers, one of the oldest car clubs in existence, will be honored at the event with a special indoor display at the Del Mar Nationals. The club is the oldest continuously operating hot rod club in the world and will be on hand to show off their cars and offer people the chance to shake hands with the history of hot rodding. Founded by seven San Diego hot rodders, these guys decided to form their own club and then join the now-legendary Russetta Timing Association, which allowed all cars models and body styles. Currently, their active membership counts 15 active members, two associates, three lifetime, and six honorary members and a super collection of really cool hot rods.
For those who have the need for speed, there is Goodguys AutoCross, a closed performance race course, where vehicle speed and agility meet to battle it out in a weekend long fastest-car-wins contest of speed and skill. Again this year, the Goodguys event season will showcase the AutoCross Shootout Finals qualifying at each event. The Duel in the Desert, the Final Shootout will take place at the 18th Southwest Nationals, November 21 at WestWorld.
For those who need to do some shopping for a project, there’s the midway featuring multi-million dollar custom big rig tractor trailers (a show in and of themselves) offering high-performance parts and accessories. Having the chance to interact directly with manufacturers has long been an appealing aspect of Goodguys events. Throw in a giant used car parts swap meet and Auto Trader Classics car corral (world’s coolest used car gathering) and it’s literally auto-utopia for any red-blooded American with motor oil in their veins.
Photo by Roger Rohrdanz, Del Mar 2012
There are fun things for the kids to do, including a model car program sponsored by Revell that sends the little one’s home with their very own model kit forging big dreams to one day come back to the show with a life-sized version. There is also the PPG coloring contest and other kids’ games.
Goodguys K&N Filters All American Sunday on April 12 offers owners of American made or powered show cars and trucks of all years to come inside the event and show off next to the 1972 and earlier iron. All American Sunday participants are eligible for awards and can join in the AutoCross on Sunday. Registration for All American Sunday takes place on site at the Del Mar Hilton on Sunday, April 12 beginning at 7 am.
Goodguys events originate back to 1983, when official car nut Gary Meadors founded Goodguys back in the spring of ‘83 as a way to get car people and hot rod aficionados like him together to show off their cars, trade ideas, listen to some live music and have a little fun. The vision behind the Goodguys events was simple: to welcome all genres of American car enthusiasts with a lean towards V8 powered, low-to-the-ground eye catchers like hot rods from the 30s & 40s, lead sled customs from the 50s, Muscle Cars from the 70s as well as the new breed of American Muscle like 5.0 GT Mustangs, Z28 Camaros and more. What started over 30 years ago is now a strong, 22-event series that allows car guys to meet and hang out with car guys. The spirit of hot rodding is alive and well at the Goodguys events for sure in the generations of cars on display.
The Goodguys 15th Meguiar’s Del Nationals gates are open Friday and Saturday from 8am to 5pm and Sunday 8am to 3pm. General admission is $20, kids 7-12 $6. Del Mar Fairgrounds parking is $10. Visit www.good-guys.com to purchase event tickets or to register a show car. Call Goodguys @ (925) 838-9876 for more information. $17 general admission tickets are available at good-guys.com until midnight, 4/9 only.
Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Goodguys is celebrating 38 years of shows, swaps, rodding and revving this year! Check out the schedule of events HERE and plan your visit!
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association
PO Box 9132
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 838-9876