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Goodguys 20th Annual East Coast Nationals Rhinebeck - East Coast CoolFrom the December, 2011 issue of Street Rodder By Chuck Vranas
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For rodders, there’s nothing like setting course through the picturesque winding country roads leading to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York, to take in the Goodguys East Coast Nationals. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it’s an event that showcases not only the finest in rods and customs the East has to offer, but also its culture and history. When you finally motor into town you’ll immediately note the classic architecture that frames the quaint little town of Rhinebeck. Loaded with historical sites, it’s a place where time seems to stand still, making it a refreshing change of pace from the everyday rat race. Even before making your way to the event there are countless points of interest that you should be sure to check out, including the vast collection of vintage aircraft from the Pioneer, World War I, and the Lindbergh/Barnstorming eras at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Weather permitting, you might even have a chance at taking a Barnstorming flight in a ’29 New Standard D-25 open-cockpit biplane over the scenic Hudson River. Tony Jobson used the right... Tony Jobson used the right formula on his ’49 Chevy by giving it a right-on chop, dousing it with polished black suede and adding classic flames. Arriving at the event, Goodguys always rolls out the red carpet to its attendees and this year was no exception. For the 20th year, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds welcomed visitors to check out an endless array of the finest rods, customs, classic trucks, and muscle cars in the Northeast. After stopping by and getting your credentials, you entered the heart of the fairgrounds, which offered countless, well-designed, tree-lined cruising roads and plenty of opportunity to get settled within its vast confines. Once settled in it was time to get out and tune into many of the finer points of interest, including hundreds of vendors showcasing plenty of their latest wares to outfit your rod or custom with cutting-edge technology. When the need to feed hit, there were loads of vendors hawking just the right combination of fried goods, and cold beverages, giving you loads of energy to check out the expansive car corral and swap meet area. Sure it wouldn’t be Rhinebeck if it didn’t rain (which it did for a bit), but dedicated attendees didn’t let that alter their plans for a weekend of fun and excitement. With weather in the 70s and 80s, it was perfect for taking the kids for a stop over to the Make-n-Take model build area or take a break while jamming to the live entertainment by Crimson Tears who ripped it up during the day and evening at the Saturday night hot rod party and dance. There were loads of rods and customs in attendance, covering all different types of build styles, from traditional to slick high-tech rides with just enough primered cars to keep it real. On Saturday there were a number of special parking areas to showcase various categories, including the Builders Choice, Homebuilt Heaven, and Young Guys, to name but a few. These areas are always a hotbed of activity for everyone to check out between 7 a.m. to noon. With the rolling topography of the fairgrounds there were plenty of unique areas to visit as you walked the event, including hot rod hill to take in some of the most bitchin’ traditional rods and customs of the weekend. There was even a display of vintage fire trucks in attendance showcasing restored vehicles from the horse and buggy era all the way into the ’60s. Channeled 4 inches over a... Channeled 4 inches over a ’51 Ford truck chassis, Brian Darcy’s ’29 Ford roadster pickup had loads of neat details, like a four-pot-fed small-block Chevy and ’57 Chrysler hubcaps. This year there were plenty of standouts to dig, like Keith Goettlich’s ’37 Chevy that was just plain bitchin’ with its dramatic Westergard styling, Jon Schuchart’s ’26 Ford roadster was pure soup-job packed with a ’55 Merc V-8, and Dick Applegate’s downright evil ’41 Willys filled with a 528ci Hemi mill. By the time Sunday afternoon arrived, it was time for Goodguys extensive awards program to blast off, bringing a fun-filled weekend to completion. If you haven’t yet experienced the magic of the Goodguys East Coast Nationals, mark your calendars for 2012 to experience firsthand what everyone in the Northeast considers one of the finest events around.  Fred Provenzano’s ’50 Lincoln...  Fred Provenzano’s ’50 Lincoln looked stunning with a perfectly proportioned chop, and classic elements, like rear skirts, Caddy caps, and decadent burgundy icing.  From RPM Hot Rods, Danny Johnson’s...  From RPM Hot Rods, Danny Johnson’s ’62 Chevy was pure evil with its RideTech slammed stance, 502 Chevy-injected Rat, and Billet Specialties rollers.  Straight from Koolsville,...  Straight from Koolsville, Woody Cafarelli’s ’30 Ford coupe was hammered, channeled, and packed with an Offy-topped small-block capped with Rochester carbs.  Built into a radical custom...  Built into a radical custom by Hank Fournier in 1959, this wild ’39 Ford was then rebuilt and sold by Willy Ouimette in 1965. Forty-five years later, Ouimette located it and restored it back to its glory.  Gassers like Guy Moran’s ’55...  Gassers like Guy Moran’s ’55 Chevy are wicked hot nowadays, especially with a nosebleed stance, 532ci Caddy mill, biscuit-stitched bucket interior, and whitewall slicks.  Bill Rawlings’ ’30 Ford hauler...  Bill Rawlings’ ’30 Ford hauler was packed with a full-house Flathead running Sharp finned aluminum heads, Thickstun PM-7 intake, and a pair of Stromberg 97-series carbs.  Nosed, decked, shaved, chopped,...  Nosed, decked, shaved, chopped, and frenched, Ward Jones’ ’51 Chevy custom was then treated to a custom grille and doused in effervescent green vibe.  Still wearing its cruising...  Still wearing its cruising mask, Les Madaus’ ’39 Chevy looked ready for the long haul with its comfy leather interior and Billet Specialties wheels shod with black rubber.  Harvey Bagshaw’s ’56 Chevy...  Harvey Bagshaw’s ’56 Chevy was just plain wicked with its 2-1/4-inch chop, ’54 Merc headlight bezels, reworked nose and rear quarter-panels, and mile-deep candy burgundy body.  Dipped in a vat of effervescent...  Dipped in a vat of effervescent blue and slammed to the ground, Guido Panni’s ’40 Ford hauler rolled on American Racing five-spokes and featured a 350ci Chevy for power.  Ready to hit the strip, Steve...  Ready to hit the strip, Steve Manganaro’s ’51 Henry J was downright nasty, packed with a 413ci Chrysler mill sucking air through a louvered hood.  Nothing oozes class like a...  Nothing oozes class like a slammed ’66 Caddy. Ed Henderson’s barge was drenched in rootbeer metallic, treated to a custom interior, and given a pulse from a Caddy 429ci V-8.  Randy Bianchi’s ’32 Ford had...  Randy Bianchi’s ’32 Ford had the right combination of attitude and Flathead power with a mill capped with Edelbrock heads breathing through a matching two-pot intake.  A well-traveled fixture on...  A well-traveled fixture on the East Coast rodding scene, Jim Valentino’s ’27 Ford T-bucket never sits long enough to gather any dust, and to us that’s the real deal.  Garret Terhaar’s ’31 Ford...  Garret Terhaar’s ’31 Ford coupe was stoke with its burnt orange flaked body, wide whites, and 276ci Flathead with Weiand heads, and Edelbrock Super two-pot intake.  Following a post-war build...  Following a post-war build style, Al Dingertopadre’s gloss black Deuce roadster had just the right look and packed a ’49 Merc Flathead linked to a three-speed trans for go power.  Bill and Linda Yorker’s ’41...  Bill and Linda Yorker’s ’41 Willys was all business, filled with a fresh 350ci Chevy topped with a Dyers 6-71 huffer breathing deep through a pair of 750-cfm Barry Grant carbs.  You can bet that Brian Dolin...  You can bet that Brian Dolin has a blast racking up the miles in his black suede ’31 Ford drop-top with its 327ci Chevy pushing the power through a TH400 trans.  Thanks to a 7-inch channel...  Thanks to a 7-inch channel and 4-1/2-inch chop, Paul O’Keefe’s Deuce was ready to party packed with a ’67 Chevy 327ci V-8 linked to a Muncie four-speed.  On Saturday, we caught up...  On Saturday, we caught up with some members from The Beatniks of Koolsville who had a killer grouping of kustoms and hot rods on display over the weekend.  Proudly displayed by the Hyde...  Proudly displayed by the Hyde Park Fire Department, this ’34 Ford fire truck was in service till 1979 and was restored in 2009 to honor Chief Ken Underwood Sr.
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