Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel Curve

Goodguys Road Tour – 2,000 Miles, Five States and 50 Cool Cars

The Goodguys Road Tour, officially named the “Hall of Fame Road Tour” has developed into one of the best-organized cruises in America. That’s partly due to its boutique status. The car count is purposely kept to a minimum so everyone can (usually) fit into the same hotel, drive together, eat together, and hang out together during the top-flight stops along the way.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel Curve

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveGoodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveFirst held in 2014, the road tour has taken a different route each year meandering down to Texas Motor Speedway for the Goodguys Lone Star Nationals. Only one of the four tours experienced challenging weather. Usually, the fall season is best for uninterrupted road jaunts but to be honest, it really doesn’t matter. The tour regulars could care less if their cars get dirty. To them that’s half the fun.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel Curve

Officially presented by Detroit Speed, Summit Racing, Customs and Hot Rods of Andice, JRi Shocks, Griot’s Garage, Sprayway, and Mothers the tour took off from DSE headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina with Ed Capen of Goodguys leading the procession. What struck us as we hit the road was the lineup of immaculate and historic machines. Wes Rydell of North Dakota brought two Goodguys Top 12-winning machines – the Foose-built 1954 Chevy (Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year in 2007) and “Agness” – his Rad-Rides by Troy-built 1940 Olds. Not to be outdone, Harold & Tracy Chapman fired up their radical Pro-Touring 1968 Corvette – winner of Goodguys 2015 Muscle Machine of the Year. Another Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year – Bill Raper’s 1954 Pontiac also took to the open roads.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel Curve

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveWhen it comes to Pro-Touring machines, the “Godfather” Mark Stielow was well represented. He had his new green patina LT4 powered ’69 Camaro on the road along with three other Camaros he built now in the hands of new owners. Kyle Tucker brought along his 1970 Camaro – the well-known, AutoCross Championship-winning blue Test Car. Roadster Shop was represented with their Spec Series ’74 C/10 and a sweet Impala while the Goolsby Customs clan rolled in the new Goodguys ’67 Giveaway Camaro, George Poteet’s new ’67 Chevelle and Jason Fisher’s ’72 Chevelle. RideTech’s Bret and Sharon Voelkel are also on board with Bret’s Buick GSX for more GM goodness. There were many others as well, chewing up the road miles in their sweet rides.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveGoodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveSome thought the event should be called the “Hall of Fame Eating Tour.” Detroit Speed kicked off the meals with brunch on departure day. Lokar Performance served up a full course dinner, Advanced Plating served lunch, George Poteet served up lunch and cobbler at his ranch, Vintage Air served a Texas-style dinner, Customs and Hot Rods of Andice did a lunch, followed that same day by a full dinner at Painless Performance! Other stops, many of which provided water, sodas, and cookies included the Snap-on Tool factory, the spectacular Willis Johnson Estate, the Tupelo Automobile Museum, Dooley and Sons, Summit Racing’s new Texas digs and JRi Shocks.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveGoodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveWhen the gang wasn’t driving or eating, the evening parking lot parties including adult beverages and awesome bench racing added extra layers of hot rod bonding. There is something special about Caravanning for thousands of miles in bad ass cars which binds men and women tightly. Morning hotel breakfasts don’t hurt either. That comradery was on full display too when it came to hot roddin’ hiccups. Some lost axles and wheel bearings, some transmissions refused to cooperate. But hot rodders are not easily discouraged – they come together, tools-in-hand to get one another back on the road. The staff of a lot of the tour stops opened their bays, lifts, and tools to add extra support. Not only that, Michael Kaiser and Danny Burrow ran chase trailers for those who broke and were stranded on the side of the road.

As you might imagine, there were plenty of speeding tickets doled out. Wonder if the cranky cops had street machine envy? That was most likely the case. When the gang rolled into Texas Motor Speedway, seven days 2,000 miles after they departed North Carolina, the flag was planted for yet another successful Goodguys Road Tour. Luckily for you, the media team of Steven Bunker and Ryan Brown rolled along with the gang in the Goodguys 2017 Giveaway Mustang to capture all of the action (including all of these pictures) and nightly video recaps by Brown.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel Curve

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel CurveWhen you’re done lookin’ at these pictures, head here to see detailed daily video and photo journals. Tour organizers Ed Capen and Jamie Sa of Goodguys did it again. Through careful planning, plotting and months of logistics preparation, they organized a dream trip for car guys and gals from around the country. We hear next year’s Hall of Fame Road Tour will run through the Black Hills of South Dakota and other incredibly scenic territory. Its most likely already sold out but if you want to go, shoot an email with your contact information to [email protected] to get your name on the waitlist.

Goodguys Road Tour, Fuel Curve