Drag Racing Season is Almost Here!

Are you a vintage drag racer with Goodguys? If you answered yes, we’re delighted you stopped by! Take a quick look to your upper right. See that new tab that says “DRAGS?” If you click on it you will find all kinds of cool stuff. Included are links to this year’s class structures, race payouts, rules, and a link to both register online (for current Goodguys members) and a link to download a registration form (for those who aren’t current Goodguys members. Make your plans now to race with Goodguys in 2009 by getting registered and getting prepared for a tire smokin’ summer! For racing and technical inquiries, please call Goodguys race director Larry Westervelt at (925) 895-7878…

Editor’s Challenge Cup Autocross Taking Shape for Costa Mesa

The 2009 Goodguys event season kicks off in just three short weeks with the 3rd Meguiar’s Orange County Get-Together at the OC Fair & Event Center (www.ocfair.com). The event welcomes all years, makes and models of American powered cars and trucks to the scenic Fairgrounds for two fun days. Joining the huge outdoor show & shine will be vendor exhibits, live music and the always exciting Street Challenge Autocross! One of the highlights of the weekend will be the 2nd Annual Editor’s Challenge Autocross Cup – a special event which features the editor’s of national automotive magazines racing against the clock to see who can log the fastest lap around the autocross course. Several big name players have signed on including Hot Rod Magazine’s David Freiburger (’65 Chevelle), Johnny Hunkins (’76 Camaro) and Liz Miles (’68 Camaro pictured above) from Popular Hot Rodding Magazine. Robert McGaffin, PHR’s talented Midwest representative will make the trip out from his home base of Wisconsin to run as well. Joining the PHR trio will be defending Editor’s Challenge Champion “Tricky” Nicky LiCata of Camaro Performers (who will compete in the DSR “Test Car” ’68 Camaro), Steven Rupp of Camaro Performers (’68 Camaro) and longtime automotive journalist Jeff Smith of Car Craft Magazine (’65 Chevelle). Jim Campisano, author of several muscle car books and staffer at Super Chevy Magazine will come to Costa Mesa all the way from his home base of Tampa, Florida for a shot at the Editor’s Challenge title. Even Matt Degen, automotive editor at the Orange County Register will jump in the Supernova Giveaway car for a shot at the Editor’s Challenge! “Bring ‘em on. All of ‘em. I’m ready,” said defending Champ Nick LiCata.. I’ve been in the gym training for this for months. Even though I’m driving someone else’s car and not the family station wagon, I’m ready for ‘em. I smoked ‘em all last year and I’ll smoke ‘em again.” The king of modesty he ain’t…but hey – he’s got the trophy from last year to back up the smack! The Editor’s Challenge will kick off at noon on Saturday, March 14th. The Autocorss course will be open throughout the weekend and is free to all event participants. For a look at all the weekend festivities in Costa Mesa, click here:  http://www.good-guys.com/events/eventDetails.aspx?eventid=09-805

Mothers Pick to be presented at twelve Goodguys events in 2009

Mothers Polishes, Waxes and Cleaners have formed a partnership with Goodguys for the 2009 event season. In addition to placing their big rig on the Midway at five Goodguys events throughout the country, they will present the coveted “Mothers Pick” at twelve events next summer. The Mothers Pick will be given to a vehicle which has the look and shine of a true winner! Once all twelve Mothers Pick finalists have been selected, one overall winner will be selected by the Mothers staff and included in their display out front of the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Mothers Pick will be selected at the following 2009 Goodguys events: Del Mar Nationals, Colorado Nationals, Hot Rod Nationals in Indy, Nashville Nationals, East Coast Nationals in Rhinebeck, Heartland Nationals in Des Moines, Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Pacific Northwest Nationals in Puyallup, Midwest Nationals in Kansas City, Chicagoland Nationals, Great American Nationals in Pocono and the Lone Star Nationals in Ft Worth, Texas. Mothers Waxes, Polishes and Cleaners are some of the finest quality car care products on the market today and have been an industry leader for over thirty years. For more, visit www.mothers.com

Cruise to Del Mar this Spring!

A special Hot Rod Cruise down California’s San Joaquin Valley is scheduled just prior to the Goodguys 9th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals! The cruise will depart Goodguys Headquarters in Pleasanton Wednesday, April 1st at 8 a.m. arriving in Del Mar the next afternoon, Thursday, April 2nd. The cruise will meander down historic Highway 99 stopping at hot rod shops and private collections along the way. It’s a great way to spend a few days on the road with fellow hot rodders! There’s room for whoever wants to come along so please join us and have some fun with your rod, custom or muscle car! For additional cruise information and hotel information contact Heather Nething at (925) 218-9129 heathern@good-guys.com

Vendor Applications Now Available Online!

If your company would like to be a vendor at a 2009 Goodguys event, it’s now easier than ever to get signed up! The 2009 exhibitor/vendor applications are now online and easy to download. Simply click this link:  http://www.good-guys.com/info/vendorExhibitor.aspx  and get your application filled out and sent in! It’s that easy! Also available are the vendor rules and regulations as well as hotel and facility maps for every 2009 Goodguys event. With the show season fast approaching, it’s time to get your paperwork sent in and filed! To reach the all new in-house Goodguys vendor sales office, call (925) 218-9151 or e-mail themsales@good-guys.com

2009 Choice Product Awards Program Benefits Your Business!

Choice Product Program Offers Great Exposure for Your Business!
The 2009 Choice Product Giveaway Program is fired up and ready to go! Is your company looking for increased exposure on the grass roots level? Hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts will hear about your products! See your products! Use and display your products! Tell their friends and fellow rodders about your products! 

Here’s what the Goodguys 2009 Choice Product Giveaway Program will do for your company and your products:
- Monthly exposure in the Goodguys Gazette and Goodguys Website
- Display photo of your products and sales literature at 18 National events
- Give away your product and services to winner (drawn daily) who want your product
- We will include your flier in all Goodie Bags (quantities and shipping info will be provided)

Here’s what we need from you:

- $250 (minimum) in product or 50% off retail value of your products for each of the 18 National events.
- 18 certificates, one to be given at each National event (or Goodguys will provide one for you).
- Your product photo and sales material for display 

To get in on this great grass roots marketing tool for your company’s products, call program coordinator Edward Silay at (925) 218-9127 or shoot him an e-mail at Edwards@good-guys.com

Hemmings Muscle Machines Backs Muscle Car of the Year Award Again in 2009

Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine will return this season as the presenting sponsor of the 2009 Muscle Car of the Year award. Throughout the year, Hemmings Muscle Machines will run photos of all Muscle Car of the Year finalists as they are selected throughout the event season then run a feature on the winning Muscle Car at year’s end. The Goodguys/Hemmings Muscle Machines Muscle Car of the Year award is presented to a Muscle Car 1955 through 1972 vintage. The award selection format has changed slightly from prior years. A finalist will be selected at each 2009 Goodguys National event from Del Mar through the Lone Star Nationals in Ft Worth, TX (through ’72) as well as the 16th Summer Get-Together in Pleasanton. The Bowling Green, Charlotte and Scottsdale finalists will then be added to the list of 2010 award finalists. The award is designed to honor a superior factory stock or fully restored Muscle Car. Contestants wishing to have their Muscle Cars considered for the award must park inside the “Mighty Muscle” corral at the fifteen Goodguys events in which a finalist will be selected. The Mighty Muscle parking area is open on Saturdays from 8am to 2pm. Launched in 2003 as part of the Hemmings Magazine family, Hemmings Muscle Machines is a high-quality monthly magazine dedicated to old and new American-built performance cars. It features in-depth muscle car profiles and road tests, historical and engineering research, and restoration and general-interest technical articles as well as special departments devoted to the latest books and literature, model cars, parts and accessories, auction results, and all the new Detroit performance cars to come. Hemmings Muscle Machines truly is the ultimate performance car magazine for the American performance car enthusiast. To subscribe to Hemmings Muscle Machines or any of the fine family of Hemmings publications, visitwww.hemmings.com

Hertz Teams with Goodguys!

Hertz  Rental Car Company has formed an alliance with the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association to service our 70,000 members and their rental car needs! Hertz and Goodguys have teamed to offer Goodguy members as much as a 15% discount on their next rental car purchase! It’s really simple. Just call the Hertz  “Members Only” reservation line at 1-800-654-2200 or log on towww.Hertz.com to make a reservation. Your Goodguys promotional code is CDP #1832342! Start saving today on your rental car purchases with Hertz! It pays to be a Goodguys member!

Swap Spaces Selling Fast for 27th All American Get-Together in Pleasanton!

The 27th All American Get-Together Swap Meet is filling up rapidly! Spaces are very limited so if you plan on reserving a swap space you should act fast. Swap vendors are restricted to automotive related items only. The 27th All American Get-Together is March 28 & 29 at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. The event features over 3,000 American powered rods, customs, classics and muscle cars of all years, makes and models! A giant swap meet (the biggest of the year in Pleasanton!), cars for sale corral, vendor exhibits, model cars how & much more are featured. It’s as easy as following these three simple steps. Step 1: Download a swap meet application form. Click here: http://ggweb1.good-guys.com/pdf/09-801/2009_Swap_GT_Application.pdf Step 2: download a swap space map here: http://www.good-guys.com/pdf/09-801/SwapMap_09.pdf Step 3: Call Andrew Walker at (925) 218-9114 or Edward Silay at (925) 218-9127 for space assignment or e-mail them andreww@good-guys.com  edwards@good-guys.com

New Vintage Drag Racing Website Launched

www.ggvintagedragracing.com is up and running! The all new Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing Wesbite features the race classes for all three Midwest vintage drag racing and hot rodding events (Indy, Norwalk and Bowling Green), plus rules for the 2009 season and lots more! If you’re a vintage drag racer and plan on running with Goodguys in 2009, log on today to get your vintage drag racing season started early! Online registration is available for all three vintage drag races and you can even download registration forms to fill out and send back via U.S. mail! Start planning for the 2009 Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing season today by logging on towww.ggvintagedragracing.com For general race inquiries and tech questions, call Goodguys race director Larry Westervelt at (925) 895-7878 * Note – we will be updating the vra website with all new features and bonus material once the racing events draw closer! Stay tuned!

New Book Chronicles the Life and Times of San Diego’s Bob McCoy

Author Lynn McCoy has brought the life story of her open wheel racer/artist husband Bob McCoy to life in a brilliant new coffee table book titled “Circle of Impact – The True Life Events of a Brave Action Figure.” It would be hard to argue with the action figure claim. McCoy, who’s unique art is on display each year at Goodguys events in Del Mar, Pleasanton and Scottsdale, has lived more lives than most can even dream. A hot rodder out of the San Diego area in the 1950s (Remember  Bob McCoy’s righteous flamed ’40 that adorned the cover of Car Craft in 1956 and Hot Rod’s annual in 1958), McCoy had an accomplished career as an open wheel sprint car and midget racer, rodeo cowboy,  body guard, big cat trainer and land speed racer. McCoy’s on track exploits were so outlandish and audacious; he’s one of only a handful of racers who can lay claim to being banned for life by USAC while beating up on Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt at the same time. McCoy operates at a much slower pace these days at his home studio in El Cajon, California. He spends his days doing a variety of art projects, which include original paintings, vintage oval track   inspired wood sculptures and also handcrafts and designs custom awards like the “Real McCoy” and “Woman of the Year” award for Goodguys. The new book is 346 pages and features all the wonderful details and behind the scenes stories from a true American legend. The photographs alone are worth twice the cover price. The new book is a must have for the hot rodder, oval track enthusiast or any other truth seeker.“Circle of Impact” tells it like it is and how it really was. You will love this book. Books sell for $50.00 (includes shipping) and can ordered from Lynn McCoy at P.O. Box 1084, Lakeside, CA 92040 postage…or check bob website at www.bobmccoyart.com

2009 Grand Prize Giveaway Vehicles Displayed in Sacramento

The offseason Goodguys promotional tour continued this past weekend at the annual Sacramento Autorama at the Cal Expo center! Goodguys was out in force showing off both the Speed ’33 and “Supernova” Grand Prize Giveaway Cars and getting as many 2009 event schedules handed out as possible! Gazette editor Kirk Jones had his ’60 Starliner custom on hand and it was a great weekend to celebrate hot rods and customs. Click here to see more on the 2009 Grand Prize Giveaway cars! http://www.good-guys.com/join/giveaways.aspx

Builder’s Choice Awards Coming in 2009!

Goodguys is proud to announce the all new “Builder’s Choice” awards. The Builder’s Choice awards will establish a new time honored tradition and replace the Pro’s Picks award program. The new awards will recognize the finest rods, customs, trucks and muscle cars in attendance at Goodguys national events. The Builder’s Choice awards are customized hand crafted awards, surely adding an air of prestige to any collection. At each 2009 national event, a special Builder’s Choice parking area will be staged on Saturday from 8am to 2pm. To be eligible for a Builder’s Choice award you must park in the Builder’s Choice parking area. At select 2009 national events, the industry’s top hot rod builders will select the Goodguys Builder’s Choice awards. They include Pinkee’s Rod Shop (Colorado Nationals), Rad Rides by Troy (Hot Rod Nationals), Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop (Nashville Nationals), Roger Burman’s Lakeside Rods & Rides (Heartland Nationals), Zane Cullen and Jesse Greening (Goodguys Nationals), Art Morrison Performance (Pacific Northwest Nationals), Dave Lane’s Fast Lane Rod Shop (Midwestern Nationals) and Detroit Speed & Engineering (Southeastern Nationals).

2008 TIMBERLAND PRO NATIONAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Two “Do it Yourself” hot rodders were honored by Goodguys and Timberland as the national winner’s of the Timberland PRO “Homebuilt Heaven” competition. The competition is divided into two distinctive categories: Homebuilt Heaven (contemporary street rod, truck or custom through ’72 vintage) and Traditional Homebuilt Heaven (traditional hot rod, truck or custom through ’72 vintage). The 2008 Homebuilt Heaven National winner is Rich Harris and his hand built 1937 Chevy Woody from San Jose, CA. Harris’ radically lowered woody features a TPI 350, disc brakes, Budnik Wheels and a one-off full custom wood body. Harris was selected as a regional winner of the Homebuilt Heaven at the 2008 West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton. The Traditional Homebuilt Heaven winner is Bobby Keown of Morgantown, Kentucky. Keown’s genie red & white ‘55 Chevy was selected as a finalist at the 2008 Nostalgia Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Keown had a ’55 in the ‘70s and regrettably sold it when he entered the service. He bought and restored this beauty to have a ’55 again, and he did all the restoration work (except for the interior) at his home shop. Each winner was selected via online voting which was held the entire month of January 2009 onwww.good-guys.com. Both Harris and Keown will receive a special trophy from our friends at Timberland PRO as well as a $1,000 shopping spree at www.timberland.com Congratulations to both winners!

Good Wood Gatherings on Tap!

Del Mar Good Wood
Goodguys will hold “Good Wood” – an exclusive parking area for woodies only inside the Plaza de Mexico at the 9th  Del Mar Nationals, April 3,4 & 5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Bring your woodie and join the fun! All entries will receive commemorative dash plaques as well as a chance to be selected as the “Good Wood” award winner for the event awards ceremony!
Pleasanton Good Wood
Another fun “Good Wood” gathering will take place at the 23rd Goodguys Eagle One West Coast Nationals, August 21-23 at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. Held on a large grass field with plenty of shade trees  – the West Coast Nationals Good Wood gathering is premium parking all the way! All participants will receive a commemorative dash plaque, as well as a chance to be selected as the “Good Wood” award winner for Sunday’s prestigious West Coast Nationals award ceremony.
To register your woodie for the 9th Del Mar Nationals or the 23rd West Coast Nationals, click here to get to the events page!

http://www.good-guys.com/events/eventsList.aspx?year=2009