Weekend Rewind! Goodguys 41st All American Get-Together
Just as trees begin to bud out and flower start to bloom in the springtime, West Coast hot rodders and car enthusiasts also experience a sense of renewal this time of year. Cars and trucks get wiped down and pulled out of garages; engines start turning over and warming up. And every year in late March, gearheads from the Bay Area and beyond point their rides toward Pleasanton for the Goodguys All American Get-Together!
And so it was this weekend as thousands of cool American-made and -powered machines cruised into the Alameda County Fairgrounds for the 41st edition of this storied Goodguys tradition. This is the longest-running event on the Goodguys calendar, and the past two days reminded us why it’s a perennial favorite. With Cool Cars and Cool People packed into the facility and a schedule filled with Good Times, it’s easy to see why regional enthusiasts return year after year for this fun-filled hot rod ritual.
Like all Goodguys Get-Togethers, this one is designed to be a laid-back two-day affair. It’s a time to connect with your car-crazy friends, relax, and check out the projects that have kept everyone busy over the winter. The chill vibe doesn’t mean minimal action, though – there were plenty of activities to check out, from a smokin’ burnout competition, to multiple Summit Racing Nitro Thunderfest exhibitions, to a sizeable swap meet to stock up on parts for that next project.
Several dozen cars and trucks were rewarded for their presence with awards and picks, as the Goodguys team fanned out across the facility to find distinctive rides worthy of some extra recognition. This included a finalist for Fuel Curve Custom of the Year, the stunning ’57 Chevy owned by Cliff Mattis, plus a couple of selections from our media team; the ’56 Chevy of Bill Barranco (which he bought at this very show 22 years ago!) for the Goodguys Feature Pick, and the ’91 Fox-body Mustang belonging to Jason Curtis for the Fuel Curve Pick.
Over on the AutoCross track, awards had to be earned through fast laps and consistent, competitive driving. Racers delivered in all classes, with Nick Relampagos topping the Speedtech Performance PRO-X class, Todd Liebelt claiming the Summit Racing PRO class win, Matt Roberts topping the Forgeline Street Machine class, and Daniel Waul winning the Sports Car class. In the No Limit Engineering Truck class, Jeff Koski secured the victory, while David Beck won Challenger and Jason Trantham took the top spot in the All American class. All class winners doubled up and also secured victories in the American AutoCross Shootout on Sunday.
There was plenty to see both inside and out, as we had a special Lowrider Display put on by Deadend Magazine in one building, a healthy pack of Mercury Cougars in another, and a variety of other cool show machines in a third. There was also a model and pedal car display, a Pinstripers Brush Bash, a Goodgals Gallery, and many indoor vendors to visit.
Yes, the signs of spring are beginning to show all around us – in California, as well most other locations throughout the country. The 41st All American Get-Together was a great way for gearheads to celebrate this blossoming season, and we’re grateful to all of you who came out to join in the fun. Goodguys has many more springtime spectacles in store for the months ahead, so we hope you’re getting ready to join us in Del Mar, Raleigh, and Fort Worth. The season is in bloom, and we can’t wait to see all of you!
Photos by Terry Lysak and Todd Ryden
