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Fall Finale – Wrapping up the Goodguys 2019 Season with a Bang!

Autumn may be approaching, but that doesn’t mean the Goodguys good times are coming to an end. The comfortable days and cool nights of September, October, and November are perfect for laid-back cruising, long hot rod weekend getaways, and road trips! From the southeast to the southwest, Goodguys has you covered with some great late-season destinations that will keep your wheels rolling and your tank filled with hot rod enthusiasm. It all culminates with a spectacular season finale at the Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale that you don’t want to miss!


Colorado Nationals

Our awesome autumn kicks off with the 22nd Colorado Nationals at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland September 6-8. It’s a wonderful time to be on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains – the days are warm, the nights are cool, and the scenery is spectacular! The mile-high fun includes a TGIF party Pinkee’s Rod Shop, plus the thunder and smoke of our Nitro Thunderfest, Burnout Competition, and a great AutoCross course with Saturday’s Western States Shootout presented by Pennzoil. You can even bid on a new ride at the Specialty Auto Auction! To top it off, we’ll select finalists for Muscle Car of the Year, Scott’s Hot Rods Truck of the Year Early, and Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year. Come rock the Rockies!

What to see:
• Take a spin up a twisty mountain highway to Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park!
• Sip some suds at local breweries like New Belgium or O’Dell in Fort Collins, or cruise down to Coors in Golden.


Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals

The Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals is a fall tradition as rich as college football or carving pumpkins! Rolling into the infield of Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth September 27-29, this Texas-sized spectacle has it all – a fun hotel party, huge swap meet, Nitro Thunderfest, Burnout Competition, a huge AutoCross course for the Summit Racing Big Hoss Shootout, plus a Track Cruise around the high-banked oval! Bring your shopping list for the Summit Racing Super Shopper Experience, and see who’s selected as the final finalist for the 2019 Muscle Car of the Year, Griot’s Garage Muscle Machine of the Year, Scott’s Hot Rods Truck of the Year Early, and LMC Truck of the Year Late. See y’all there!

What to see:
• Cruise to nearby old town Roanoke for a great selection of restaurants and night life.
• Come early or stay late to spend a day at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.


Kentucky Nationals

We had a great inaugural Kentucky Nationals event in Lexington last year and can’t wait to build on that success for another amazing autumn experience at Kentucky Horse Park October 11-13. The setting for this event is ideal, with plenty of space for a hard-charging AutoCross track to host the Southern Shootout presented by Holley EFI. There will be more horsepower on display during the Burnout Competition, plus a huge swap meet. The cars are the stars here, though, with an expansive show-and-shine area from which we’ll select the first finalist for the 2020 Muscle Car of the Year running, plus a Fuel Curve Pick and a PPG Dream Car. Come celebrate horsepower surrounded by horses!

What to see:
• Arrive early and experience a scenic Hot Rod Tour around the Lexington area on Thursday, followed by a great Kickoff Party!
• Visit some of the great local distilleries, like James E. Pepper, Bluegrass, or Buffalo Trace.


Autumn Get-Together

It will be a fun and patriotic sendoff to the NorCal event season when the 30th Autumn Get-Together rolls into the Alameda County Fairgrounds November 9-10! We’ll have stirring patriotic tributes all weekend long in honor of Veterans Day, including our popular annual Vettes for Vets parade. There will also be a fun Vintage Camper Display, plus the always-entertaining Smash 4 Cash Demolition Derby! Need more action? How about AutoCross racing featuring the Fall Shootout presented by AutoMeter, plus a Burnout Competition and Nitro Thunderfest exhibitions. There will be special truck displays inside, as well as the first 2020 finalists selected for the Scott’s Hot Rods Truck of the Year Early and LMC Truck of the Year Late.

What to see:
• Visit the quaint shops and cool restaurants in old downtown Pleasanton.
• Enjoy wine sampling at Pleasanton and Livermore wineries like Wente, Retzlaff Vineyards, Rubino, or Ruby Hill.


Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals

We always send the year off with a bang in Scottsdale and we’ve got an incredible finale planned for the 22nd Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals presented by Barrett-Jackson! It all goes down at WestWorld of Scottsdale November 15-17, with a massive field of cars highlighted by our Top 12 “Of The Year” winners. The always-exciting Duel in the Desert will showcase the country’s best cone racers and crown the Goodguys FAST AutoCrosser of the Year. The swap meet here is always huge, as is the presence of top aftermarket vendors. Add in a Thursday Hot Rod Tour, rumbling Nitro Thunderfest exhibitions, a Burnout Competition, plus All American Sunday sponsored by Spectre Performance, and you’ve got a spectacular season-ending sendoff!

What to see:
• Spend an evening in Old Town Scottsdale for Southwest-style dining and great shopping options.
• Celebrate Chevy trucks at Dino’s Git Down Friday evening in Glendale!

Editor, Goodguys Gazette

Damon Lee began snapping photos at car shows when he was 10, tagging along with his father to events throughout the Midwest. He has combined his passion for cars and knack for writing and imagery into a 20-year career in the automotive aftermarket, writing for titles like Super Chevy and Rod & Custom and, more recently, working for respected industry leaders Speedway Motors and Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.