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 location 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 Fort Worth.
The success of that event has allowed the Goodguys to expand the schedule of some of their shows to twice a year—hence this new springtime event. They have also expanded schedules for the Pleasanton, Scottsdale, and Del Mar events.
Held about 25 miles from the downtown Dallas/Fort Worth area, the location for the show is a grand one. They say everything in Texas is bigger, and 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 the Goodguys make 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, customs, and muscle cars, with the Goodguys paying special attention to us truck guys, giving us the Trick Truck Corral. How’s that for royal treatment? CCT
Larry and Tammy Putter’s ’51...
Larry and Tammy Putter’s ’51 Chevy had one of the cleanest LS installs we’ve ever seen in a pickup.
We’re not certain, but we’re...
We’re not certain, but we’re pretty sure that Nathan Hale’s ’65 Ford packs a hell of a whallop thanks to the turbocharged LS6 powerplant.
And speaking of cruising,...
And speaking of cruising, Darrell Moseley’s flamed ’54 Chevy has seen a Power Tour or two.
Chris Hamblin knows that we...
Chris Hamblin knows that we always get flak for not showing anything but Fords and Chevys, so he was nice enough to bring out his ’47 International Harvester for us to check out.
Rodney Carter also jumped...
Rodney Carter also jumped on the bandwagon bringing out his ’71 Dodge D100 to show those Ford and Chevy guys what a real truck looks like.
The patina on Steve Lowery’s...
The patina on Steve Lowery’s ’67 C10 sums up a Texas Summer in my mind as best as anything could and shows what the hot Texas sun does to a truck’s paintjob when it’s sat outside for a long stretch.
Though the post-war Ford truck...
Though the post-war Ford truck line doesn’t receive as much attention as its successor, there’s something to be said about the pre-’48 Fords and their relative scarcity. Bob McNair’s ’47 is one of the finest examples of the pre-F-series trucks we’ve seen all year.
Shane and Jennifer Scott’s...
Shane and Jennifer Scott’s slick ’67 Chevy showcases many contemporary modifications, all done by Scott himself.
James Bernard solved the extra...
James Bernard solved the extra space problem prevalent with most early pickups by adding a crew cab to his ’72 C10.
Patrick Sapp’s C10 out of...
Patrick Sapp’s C10 out of Rockwall, Texas, is one clean stepside.
George and Sharon Thompson’s...
George and Sharon Thompson’s chopped and sectioned ’51 Chevy is powered by a 500ci Keith Black aluminum street Hemi.
Another contemporary C10 example...
Another contemporary C10 example comes courtesy of Mitch Henderson’s ’68 from McKinney, Texas.
Brandon Aitken’s ’50 F-1 on...
Brandon Aitken’s ’50 F-1 on the other hand would still be plenty of fun to cruise around in thanks to the Flathead and T5 combo.
And for those naysayers who...
And for those naysayers who didn’t believe us when we told you that Rob Phillips drives his ’69 C10 hard—the proof is in the pudding.