Goodguys West Coast Nationals – A Nor Cal Knockout!
For over three decades, hot rodders from around the Western United States and Canada have pointed their hoods towards the quaint Northern California town of Pleasanton for a late August weekend of fun, sun and fellowship. Over 3,300 pre-’73 cars paraded to P-Town last weekend to celebrate three decades of the Crown Jewel – the 32nd Goodguys West Coast Nationals presented by BASF.
What makes it a jewel? Perhaps it’s the lush fairgrounds, perfect 80-degree weather or the immaculate hot rods, customs, muscle cars and tricked out trucks. Maybe is the specialty events like Hot Rod Week which takes out of towners as well as locals on four straight days of guided hot rods tours around the region.
Maybe it’s the crush of manufacturer’s and vendors who come here from across the country. Or maybe it’s the lasting bond created by three-decades of this premier Golden State gathering and by watching kids literally grow up here now cruisin’ their own cool cars. It’s a magical combination that carries a legacy. It always delivers!
While hot rod history is celebrated here, so are contemporary cars with the crowning of America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod. For 18 straight years now, Goodguys has awarded the event’s prettiest pre ’49 car. After a full year on tour, Robert Anderson’s radical 1936 Pontiac was named Goodguys America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod presented by BASF. Unique in every way, the car was many years in the making. Underneath its perfectly smoothed, sloped and reworked body lines is a brand new LT4 covered in factory-appearing panels and engine cover. You can read all about this beauty here.
There were even more layers to this rich event. The fraternal and friendly atmosphere of the Danville Dukes’ Shade Tree Social luncheon, the brush bash, the vibrant and well stocked swap meet, packed special parking areas, near record crowds and nonstop top-down cruising made it a bright and incredibly colorful weekend.
There’s a good reason Pleasanton holds a special place in hot rodders’ hearts. This is where it all started for the Goodguys and in many ways, “P-Town” as the locals call it is hot rodding’s holy ground.