Goodguys 2018 Kentucky Nationals Photo Extra!
The Kentucky Nationals held in Lexington was a new event for Goodguys in 2018. There was plenty to show from this new, scenic venue that didn’t make the latest pages of the February Gazette so we’re here to expand on the coverage with a Kentucky Nationals Photo Extra!
A different kind of “horse” took over the spacious Kentucky Horse Park in mid-October – and that was Horsepower! Thousands of cool customs, HOT hot rods, classic trucks and powerful muscle cars rolled in for a full weekend of Good Times.
With added activities such as a hot rod cruise ‘round town and kickoff party on Thursday, to the live music, exciting kids’ games, a tire-smoking burnout contest, AutoCross racing, a massive swap meet and more the weekend happenin’s kicked off early and didn’t seem to end!
The state of Kentucky has been well known for thoroughbreds, bluegrass, bourbon, and college basketball – but Goodguys will be taking over again in 2019! See for yourself by joining us October 11-13, 2019 for the 2nd Kentucky Nationals in Lexington!
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- We found Gordon Simpson’s ’78 C10 over in the Trick Truck corral. A Big 10/Bonanza model, the truck is lowered using CPP suspension components and upgraded with a 700R4 transmission.
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- We found Jack Miller’s ’53 Pontiac over in the Ya Gotta Drive ’Em area after it drove 420 miles to Lexington from Peoria, Illinois. A 350/350 drivetrain combo helps the lowered Poncho cruise down the road.
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- Larry & Sandra Lilly – Williams Town, KY – 1928 Ford Model A
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- Bruce Borne added a little class to the event with his stately and rare ’40 Packard convertible, which retains its stock appearance but has updated mechanicals, including LS1 power and a 700R4 transmission.
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- Grant Hukle – 1966 Shelby Cobra Replica – 50.858
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- Brian and Melanie Caudill brought out their ’73 Ford F250 rollin’ on big-inch billet wheels and sporting brilliant green paint.
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- Corvette knock-off wheels look great on Steve Hagewood’s ’57 Chevy two-door wagon, as does the gloss-silver-and-satin-black paint combo. There’s a 283/five-speed setup under the hood.
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- We couldn’t get enough of Thomas Lilly’s ’61 Parkwood wagon! Thomas and his family and friends piled in and cruised on Thursday’s Hot Rod Cruise with ease thanks to a ZZ4/TKO package. Thomas drives this Parkwood everywhere and still has the window stickers displayed to prove it!
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- Way Cool Wagon award winner – Not many first-gen Novas sit quite like Mark McGaughey’s. The slammed stance and 17-inch steel wheels with factory caps look so right on this ’65 wagon! A 350c.i. Chevy engine cruises it down the road while a tan leather interior with Vintage Air keeps things cool inside. Ruby Red Metallic paint finishes the super straight body.
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- Jerry & Deanna Glunt – Indiana – 1934 Ford Pickup
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- This killer little Plymouth sedan is owned by Larry and Ann Gudenrath from Illinois and rides on independent front and rear suspensions with QA1 coil-overs all around and a Gen III Hemi between the rails!
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- Tim Wells – Louisville, KY – 1932 Ford
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- Class Act award winner – “Class Act” perfectly describes Bob Lathery’s ’50 Chevy hardtop rolling on wide whites and Caddy caps. Not much needed to be done to the stock body and trim, but some hand pinstriping was applied to the hood and roof. Gray bucket seats are found inside with a Lokar shifter and Auto Meter gauges, while a 350c.i. Chevy engine and Turbo 350 transmission get it down the road.
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- We don’t run across many ’69 Ford XLs, and even fewer as nice as Mike and Sally Brown’s. Ford 390c.i. V8 power is backed with a C6 transmission which gets the Chris Brown-designed wheels moving.
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- Betty Hampshire’s ’55 Ford Crown Victoria cruised in looking sleek with a lowered stance, shaved trim, fender skirts, and a ’54 Chevy grille.
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- Don’t tell Shannon Yeast that four-doors aren’t cool! His ’60 Buick LeSabre will prove you wrong.
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- Richard Giesey was seventh quickest during the weekend when the Southern Shootout qualifying order was determined. He advanced out of the first round before loosing in round two to Jared Leisinger in the Summit Racing Corvette Roadster.
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- Ron Scott Jr.’s “Z06” ’63 Corvette is the perfect blend of style and performance!
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- Paul Abbate cruised down from Valparaiso, Indiana in his clean ’51 Ford motivated with a 302c.i. small-block Ford backed with an AOD transmission.
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- Classic Chevy Pick award winner – Larry Hoerner – Mooresville, KY – 1942 Chevy Coupe
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- Ann Bechtel found this ’49 Chevy Fleetline in the Goodguys swap meet in Columbus back in 2004. She and husband Larry spent several years building it into this tasteful custom with a filled hood, frenched lights, ’53 Buick grille, Olds windshield, frenched ’59 Cadillac taillights, and a DuPont Copper Sunset finish.
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- Rick Fizer – Lexington, KY – 1935 Ford coupe
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- Marge & Jay Hall – Galena, OH – 1955 Ford
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- Sharing underpinnings with Fox-body Mustangs, late-’70s and early-’80s Ford Fairmonts have plenty of performance potential. David Wilder’s ’78 wagon looked great lowered over five-spoke wheels.
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- Thornton Thomas – Proctorville, OH – 1948 Pontiac
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- James Spencer – 1966 Chevy Nova – 59.464
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- Tim Ekberg – 1984 Camaro – 59.480
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- Coolest ’50s award winner – The ’48 Desoto Surf Green paint on Kris and Johnny Mort’s ’50 Chevy pickup caught our eye, as did the great stance, Olds hubcaps, and wide whites. The suspension is made up of a TCI IFS with a 9-inch rearend, while the 307c.i. small block is topped with triple deuces on an Offenhauser intake. The ’61 Impala steering wheel added a nice touch.
Photos by Steven Bunker & Todd Ryden
