Northern California local, Gary Meadors started the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association in the spring of 1983 as a way of bringing together car enthusiasts of all kinds for what started as one day, where gearheads would gather for cool rides, plenty of sunshine and, of course, great live music performed by some of the best in bandstand talent.
Since that time, the Goodguys’ annual All American Get-Together has expanded into a massive, two-day event, in Pleasanton, California. This last weekend Goodguys welcomed over 3,400 cars and trucks of all different makes and models, provided that all vehicles were either American-made or powered.
Following in the All American Get-Together tradition of sun and fun, tens of thousands of visitors had the opportunity to enjoy temperatures ranging in the pleasant mid-70s this weekend, while hundreds of vendors were on display for the Northern California rod and resto venue saturated by what Goodguys describes as “a springtime spirit that warmed the soul.”
Now more so than ever before, the annual Goodguys event is liberal in its automotive reach. This, however, does not undermine founder Gary Meadors’ prior experience as a promoter for street rodding venues, and it was the tricked-out customs of the 1930s and ’40s that were the very foundation of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.
It was this genre of auto that inspired Meadors, and it was the old-school, street rod style in particular around which he built the All American event. As the venue has grown in size and attendance, however, the Goodguys event has come to welcome everything from ’49 Mercury coupes to 1990s-era, GT 5.0 Mustangs and Z28s.
This year’s Get-Together may have already passed, but thanks to Goodguys we can revisit the show’s results and relive the good times that were had, just this last weekend in mild-yet-beautiful Pleasanton. One of the most prestigious awards handed-out at this year’s event was the 2013 Mothers Polish, “Custom of the Year” award, 1st-place being given to Nick Rogers of Burlingame, California for his ’51 Mercury. Check out the complete video above for the final results.
Entree Tony Cuevest of Santa Clara, California and his ’49 Mercury won second-place for Mothers’ “Custom of the Year” category, and John D’Agostino of Discovery Bay took third with his ’40 Cadillac cruiser. Needless to say, lead sleds more than made an appearance at this year’s Goodguys event.
Old-school sleds weren’t the only specimens of hot rod to grace the Northern California motoring celebration, as several examples of ’60s and early ’70s muscle, such as the ’69 Camaro belonging to Craig McKenzie of Bakersfield, California, made the scene. McKenzie’s 1st-Gen won Goodguys’ “Best Bitchin'” award, followed by Francisco Malias of Hayward, California, whose ’65 Stang won the event’s “Cool Convert” award.
Mike Sue of Live Oak, California won the “Cool Cruiser” trophy with his ’36 Ford, and George Young of Sebastopol followed Ford, hot-rodding suit with his ’39 that won the title of “Coolest.” Pleasanton’s “Goodguys Gazette Pick” went to area local, Robert Gallery, who sported a ’54 Cadillac for the “Gazette” trophy.
If you missed out on all of the music and mayhem that went down at this year’s All American Get-Together, then don’t have a fit just yet; this summer’s schedule looks promising for Goodguys, and the main attraction on the summer schedule will be the 20th Summer Get-Together, happening June 1st and 2nd at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Like Goodguys’ recent two-day, spring event, this summer’s two-day fest will be presented by Specialty Sales Classics.
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has nobody but the enthusiast in mind when organizing the best in the nation’s hot rod and custom venues. The All American Get-Together may be over, but stay tuned and keep your calendars open for this June, which is assured to be equally-promising!