Friday First Look! 34th West Coast Nationals presented by BASF

It feels good to come home! Goodguys’ Crown Jewel event, the West Coast Nationals, is celebrating 34 years this weekend in Pleasanton, California and marks the first California event for Goodguys in nearly two years. Needless to say, it’s quite the homecoming celebration!

The West Coast Nationals is a week-long celebration. The happenings kick off on Monday with the annual running of Gary Meadors Memorial Hot Rod Week – a week of driving hot rods, visiting local hot rod shops and private collections, and reconnecting with old friends. On Monday the group ran up to the Sacramento area, Tuesday we visited the central valley, Wednesday ran up to Santa Rosa, and Thursday it concluded with a Poker Run through Pleasanton.



We kicked the gates open to the Alameda County Fairgrounds this morning as the sun rose and spews of hot rods, street rods, muscle cars, classic trucks, and customs poured into the event. The showin and shinin was joined with a bustling swap meet, Goodguys CPP AutoCross Series, Deadend Magazine’s indoor car show display, the Goodgals Gallery, vendors and exhibitors, a Brush Bash, Nitro Thunderfest dragsters, a fun kid’s zone and model car show, and tons of Goodguys Goodtimes!

We’re gearing up for a busy Saturday which will bring the crowing of another Goodguys 2021 Top 12 award winner with the announcement of the BASF America’s Most Beautiful title!

Until then, take a peek at this gallery of fine rides we spotted today and be sure to stay tuned to Goodguys social media channels all weekend for more action from the 34th West Coast Nationals!

Photos by Steven Bunker & Marc Gewertz

Director of Media & Marketing

A lifelong car kid, Steven grew up around drag strips – his name may sound familiar because his grandfather is Bob Bunker, a Pro Mod pioneer who piloted the “Folsom Flash” ’55 Chevy from the ’70s through the ’90s. Steven’s father, Bob Bunker Jr., heads up Bunker Motorsports and is a regular in the West Coast racing scene, building chassis and race cars for more than 30 years. With genetics like that, it’s no wonder Steven has a passion for both cars and motorsports. In addition to helping his father and honing his fabrication skills at Bunker Motorsports, Steven began shooting photos at the drag strip and capturing the action with his Canon camera. He is now artfully crafting stories around the awesome machines at the shows, as well as the men and women behind them. When he's is not on the road covering events, he spends his downtime out on the water fishing, building his 1962 Chevy Nova, or cruising his 1987 GMC Suburban.