First Spring Lonestar Nationals

Goodguys expands Texas to twice a year

From the August, 2011 issue of Street Rodder

By Eric Geisert

If you’re a little confused about this being the first Goodguys event called the Lonestar Nationals, don’t be. For nearly two decades the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association has held an event with that name in Texas (back then they used the same site where the Dallas TV show was filmed at the imaginary Southfork Ranch) and, since 1996, it’s been held at the Texas Motor Speedway, just west of Ft. Worth.

The success of that Fall event has allowed Goodguys to expand the schedule of some of their shows to twice a year—hence this new springtime event (they’ve expanded schedules for the Pleasanton, Scottsdale, and Del Mar events, too).

Held about 25 miles from the downtown Dallas/Ft. Worth area, the location for the show is a grand one. They say everything in Texas is bigger; the Texas Motor Speedway, which hosts several NASCAR events throughout the year, can seat nearly 160,000 people. The infield of the banked oval track is quite large, too, and Goodguys makes good use of it organizing three days of hot rod–related festivities.

A well-stocked swap meet, a handful of buildings where manufacturers display the latest in hot rod equipment, and an autocross course set up to test the driving skills of both amateurs and pros alike were just some of the scheduled events.

But most of the space inside the speedway is for nearly 2,000 pre-’73 hot rods, and Goodguys has special parking areas (Trick Truck Corral, Mighty Muscle, Builder’s Choice) set aside for these special cars. As an added bonus, this show was chosen by STREET RODDER to be the first stop of 10 events for the magazine’s 2011 Top 100 program sponsored by Painless Performance, where one lucky rodder will be named STREET RODDER’s Street Rod of the Year. (For more on the Top 100 series, or to see more photos from this event, go to www.streetrodder.com).

Painless Performance Products presents STREET RODDER Top 100

For the Top 100 program, STREET RODDER attends 10 particular car shows each year and picks 10 vehicles at each to make up the Top 100. For more on where those shows are, check www.streetrodder.com .

Painless Tech Tip

LED Flashers

LED flashers are required in many vehicles because of the installation of LED tail and front turn signal assemblies. LEDs do not pull enough current to trip the bi-metallic strip in a conventional flasher like the 1187-style bulbs. LED flashers have built-in resistance to solve the problem.

There’s an old-school theme running through Jason Chandler’s ’64 Impala with its five-spoke wheels and 327 motor, but with the door handles removed, the big-inch wheels make it look more contemporary.

The autocross course the Goodguys set up at most of their shows sure is a fun way to spend some time, whether you’re driving or just watching the action. Rob Philips from Hotchkiss Sport Suspension was out in his ’68 C-10 truck ripping up the track with some fast times, as was Wade Faustmann’s ’34 Ford from Allen, TX, and “Duke” Roddy Jr.’s ’37 Ford OZE truck, which is equipped with a 383 stoker engine.