Nestled between the craggy Rocky Moun-tains, the vast Mid-western plains, and the southern Colorado desert lies the quiet town of Colorado Springs. For the past eight years, the Pikes Peak Inter-national Raceway, just outside of town, has played host to thousands of hot rods invading the park for the Goodguys Colorado Springs Nationals. With its temperate summer climate and beautiful scenery, this area of our great nation is one of the most spectacular spots to host a rod run. Catering to rodders that cannot venture over the hill to the shows in California or across the sprawling Midwest, the location gives those rodders seemingly land-locked a show of their own.
Accustomed to the larger summer shows like Columbus and Indianapolis, the Colorado Springs Nats felt somewhat more intimate. With upward of 2,000 cars, the show was spread out enough to not feel cramped, yet just big enough to make walking the grounds on foot a comfortable reality. Bordered by the NASCAR-sanctioned one-mile paved oval, the grassy infield provided ample parking for the show cars, while the road course that wound its way throughout provided a great cruising oppor-tunity.
Like all Goodguys events, it seemed like there was something for everyone. Special parking areas were set aside for the folks who like to build 'em themselves at Homebuilt Heaven; for the truck enthusiasts, they had the Trick Truck Corral; and Goodyear Tires had a sponsored area for the drivers aptly titled "Ya Gotta Drive 'Em." Entertainment was provided all weekend by deejays and live nostalgia music acts alike, and Saturday was even capped off with a cruise around the big oval where you could join the likes of top NASCAR and IRL drivers and take your own rod around the track for a few hot laps. Sunday brought with it the Winner's Circle area, where winners of the many Goodguys awards, as well as Custom Classic Trucks Top Ten and our own STREET RODDER Top Ten, were on display for all to ogle.
With wonderful late-summer weather, beautiful scenery, and a very friendly, laidback atmosphere, the Goodguys Colorado Springs Nationals is not to be missed! But in case you did miss it this time around, here's a little peak at the weekend's happenings.
John Butkovich's orange and...
John Butkovich's orange and purple flamed '34 can be seen peaking out in the lead photo behind Chuck Hendrick's '40 coupe, among others, but it was this '23 T modified he brought that was really getting all the attention.
We spotted this beautiful...
We spotted this beautiful '47 Ford convertible when we visited Bill Strassburg's Deuce sports coupe and decided it was too nice to pass up for a Top Ten pick.
After years of owning their...
After years of owning their teal sedan, Brenda and Joe Marino were ready to build another car for her.
Twenty-five years in the making...
Twenty-five years in the making and Bob Mitchell's Deuce coupe is finally on the road!
Bob Springer brought his '35...
Bob Springer brought his '35 Chevy master coupe up from Carlsbad, NM, and won a STREET RODDER Top Ten award for his troubles.
One of the rarest cars at...
One of the rarest cars at the show had to have been Bill and Connie Strassburg's '32 Ford sports coupe.
Bill and Barb Field found...
Bill and Barb Field found this '29 Ford sports coupe a few years back as a stock body/chassis combo.
Broomfield, CO, native Jim...
Broomfield, CO, native Jim Landsparger brought out this killer, bright red Model A coupe.
We first spotted Ken Schell's...
We first spotted Ken Schell's Deuce Vicky at the Fresno Autorama and upon further inspection, the car is as immaculate as first suspected.
Jeff Berndsen has a few people...
Jeff Berndsen has a few people scratching their heads as well as they tried to figure out how he managed to make all those small-block Chevy parts fit an early Olds.
Daryl Roberts had been chasing...
Daryl Roberts had been chasing this roadster down for many years before the previous owner finally let it go.
This custom was turning heads...
This custom was turning heads all weekend long and was one of a handful at the show.
Andy McAvin brought his blown,...
Andy McAvin brought his blown, small-block-powered '34 Chevy out for a little Colorado sun and, given the beautiful driving conditions, sat still long enough for us to snap a few quick photos.
Speaking of turning heads,...
Speaking of turning heads, I was lucky enough to get this shot of Rick Coast's highly modified '34 DeSoto Airflow/'48 Chevy when he first pulled up-and before the crowd had swarmed the car on Saturday.
Deuces of all varieties were...
Deuces of all varieties were abundant, but few were as clean as Rob and Dar Head's Littleton, CO-based five-window.
One of the only Cadillac-powered...
One of the only Cadillac-powered cars seen all weekend, Vern and Sharleen Schubarth's '32 Ford convertible would've been a shoe in for most unique even if it had a Chevy under the bonnet.
Another neat car that was...
Another neat car that was set up in a similar way was Abe Jones' T roadster.
Anyone who thinks hot rodding...
Anyone who thinks hot rodding is strictly for the boys had better watch out for this trio!
A large contingent of suede...
A large contingent of suede cars were present this year and Mark Hotz's '29 sedan was once of the neatest.