In Chocolate Town USA, where Cocoa and Chocolate avenues intersect, lies the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. For 100 years, the town of Hershey has been the chocolate lover's mecca, a destination for all those craving the sweet milky treat. The town has grown from a factory worker's community into a thriving city, complete with a world-class amusement park and resort that draws millions to it annually. But for one weekend in May, Hershey draws a totally different crowd, for the Goodguys' Rod & Custom Association holds its annual DuPont Great American Rod and Custom Nationals.
This year was the second annual Great American Nationals held at Giant Center at Hersheypark, and it was not disappointing. The crowd that turned out was phenomenal, as were the cars, and with the bump spot at 1972, there was sure to be something for everyone. One of the most uplifting things about the East Coast shows is the fact that so many rodders bring out their cars from surrounding states. Where we West Coast guys might decide to leave the steed parked securely in the stable barred from the weather, the East Coast guys are not afraid to get out and brave the elements, sometimes traveling from two or three states away! That's dedication and something we all can admire. New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Ohio, and of course Pennsylvania were all represented by their hot rod brethren.
The East Coast style was definitely felt with the overwhelming number of early cars sporting channel jobs and cycle fenders, as per the law in many Eastern states. One example was Tom Matroni's A-bone coupe that featured the ubiquitous East Coast unchopped, channeled, and cycle-fendered look. Tom originally built the car back in the '50s and sold it off in the mid-1960s, before buying it back and restoring it to its original glory back in 1998. It's one of the best original East Coast-style '50s hot rods out there.
Since the Goodguys' cutoff year of manufacture is 1972, there were plenty of customs, musclecars, and classic trucks in attendance, as well as all the bitchin' early iron. A mile-high Gasser-style Bel Air, a bright yellow chopped '50s Chevy, an excellently executed Ford-cum-Olds custom pickup, and even a blown 'n' tubbed Vespa coupe was spotted amongst the sea of American iron.
If the cars weren't enough to get your heart rate going, the Goodguys, as always, had live entertainment playing throughout the weekend to keep your hips shaking and your fingers snapping. A couple of buildings full of vendors, as well as a healthy car corral and swap meet, guaranteed that if you came to buy, you were leaving with your pockets empty and your hands full.
The Goodguys plan on the third annual Great American Nationals to be even bigger than this year's events, and if that's the case, then it's going to be one of the premiere events on the East Coast. If you find yourselves free in mid-May next year, plan on attending-it's going to be one heck of a show!