Goodguys 2018 Colorado Nationals – Rocky Mountain Photo Extra
It happens every time we go to a Goodguys event. We see thousands of cool cars, photograph hundreds of them, but only end up with enough space in the magazine to showcase a percentage of that total.
So, as we prepare for the February Goodguys Gazette to hit mailboxes with coverage of the 2018 Colorado Nationals, we thought we’d share a few of our favorite “extra” photos.
Held September 7-9 at the Ranch Events Complex, the 21st Colorado Nationals had a mother lode of cool vintage tin. A steady stream of rods, customs, classics, muscle cars, and more cruised the grounds all weekend, while mile-high racers dodged cones over on the AutoCross track.
Add in features like live music, a burnout contest, and a live auto action, and it made for a fantastic Rocky Mountain hot rod weekend.
We’re showing you a taste of the treasure here; you can see even more in the February Gazette, and then start planning to join us at the base of the Rockies for the 22nd Colorado Nationals September 6-8, 2019!
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- Scott Fraser driving Bruce Cambern’s real-deal 1966 AC Cobra is a deadly duo. The competition is on notice when they see the Cobra show up to any event and Fraser proved why, once again, in Colorado.
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- Picking up the Truck class win in a tight battle was Don Yarbrough in his ’55 Chevy 3100. Don edged out second-place finisher Chris Osborn with a 39.424 to Osborn’s best 40.198.
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- Rick Peterson converted a 1950 Chevy school bus into one of the coolest RVs we’ve ever seen! The custom chassis has air springs and Cummins diesel power, while the massive body looks great in blue PPG paint.
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- Road rash on the front of Wayne and Robyn Griffin’s ’36 Ford roadster is ample evidence that this 283-powered rod sees plenty of road miles.
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- Equipped with the latest RideTech suspension goodies is Joel Gonzales’ ’73 Chevy pickup that was built to race. Joel locked down the #4 spot in the Truck class standings with a fast time of 42.270.
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- Mike Welch gave his ’56 Mercury pickup a ’50s-style makeover with fender skirts, Merc taillights, bed-rail exhaust, scallops, and Fiesta caps.
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- We were impressed with the condition of Ted Grosskopf’s ’64 Ford Fairlane 500. There wasn’t a smidge of dirt or dust seen on the car inside or out – it looked as if it just rolled off the showroom floor!
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- Carroll Shelby’s last venture in car building was the Series 1, a sports roadster with supercharged Oldsmobile Aurora V8 power. Ray Cody’s example is one of the 249 built.
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- Mid-’50s GM platforms make great resto-rodded cruisers, as evidenced by Harold Aldridge’s ’56 Pontiac lowered over Coys wheels and sporting a Pontiac 400c.i. V8 backed by a 700R4.
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- Tim Molzen’s ’63 Dodge Dart is too cool and looks at home putting the RideTech suspension to work carving a corner!
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- William Winker – Loveland, CO – 1963 Pontiac Bonneville
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- How about a full-sized ’70s Pontiac for a cool and different cruiser? Eric and Tracy Drinnan came down from Canada with their ’71 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible, which has a 515hp 455c.i. Pontiac big block and 18-inch U.S. Mags modeled after Pontiac sport wheels.
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- Jim Kelly did it right with his ’48 Anglia build! The essence of nostalgia drag racing was captured perfectly with the stance and paint as well as the classic Cragar SS five-spokes, M&H slicks, and Hilborn scoop sticking through the hood.
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- Brian Bossell’s clean ’36 Dodge pickup is all Mopar, with a 340c.i. small-block backed by a Torqueflite turning the artillery-style wheels. The dark blue exterior is complemented with blue leather upholstery inside.
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- Lime Rock Green paint with Inferno Orange stripes is a high-impact color combo on Michael Robbins’ 2014 Corvette.
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- We appreciate home builders and Al Hjelm did a number on his ’61 Studebaker. Al updated the front suspension with a Fatman front clip, added power disc/drum brakes, and upped the power output with a healthy small-block Chevy. PPG paint added the finishing touch.
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- Bob Sommers’ silver and scalloped ’57 Chevy has a vintage vibe because it was originally built and painted decades ago. Good style endures.
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- We heard Jeff Swanty’s flamed ’40 Ford before we saw it, as a supercharger tops the small-block Chevy engine. It sounded good idling through the gates and we’re sure it sounds better on the open road!
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- A first-generation T-bird dressed in black makes a formal, classy hot rod, especially when it’s upgraded with a 5.0-liter Coyote engine, AOD transmission, Budnik wheels, Wilwood disc brakes, and black leather upholstery.
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- Dan Jetter’s ’54 Cadillac custom has been on the road for years in a suede finish. It finally got glossy paint recently, complete with seaweed flames and a lime green top.
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- Don Hoffman – Westminster, CO – 1951 Ford
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- Dan Coleman’s ’50 Ford is a perfect example of a clean, simple, and tasteful mild ’50s custom.
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- Sandy Rufenacht’s ’29 Model A roadster nailed the traditional look – enough so that it picked up the Suede & Chrome award.
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- Big ’n little ET wheels with meaty Michelin rubber out back gives Taylor Sewald’s ’41 Willys pickup some Pro Street flair.
Photos by Damon Lee & Todd Ryden
