Classic Muscle Cars On Display At Fairgrounds

More than 2,500 classic American muscle cars and souped-up hot rods are heading to the  on June 2 and 3 to celebrate cars and car culture at the Goodguys Summer Get-Together.

The event has become an annual early-summer tradition as auto buffs gather to gawk at the cars, shop the midway and kick tires.

Any American-made or American-powered car can exhibit — no matter how old or, in some cases, new they are.

“We’re seeing generations of car guys and gals able to come out and show their cars together as a family,” said Harry Daviess, Event Director.

One  buzzworthy topic is the re-birth of the vintage American muscle car.

The latest trend is blending race track technology into muscle cars from the 1960s and 70s. Adding race engines, race suspensions and flashy bright paint jobs to big bodied, V8 powered relics is all the rage. 

“The American muscle car is a whole new breed,” said Ed Capen, an industry authority on AutoCross.

“AutoCross was a very popular activity for sports cars like MG’s, Datsuns, Lotus and Mazdas in the 1970s. It was a sports car activity sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. Now muscle cars and street machines are right in the mix. We’ve seen interest in AutoCrossing explode in recent years at our events. At the Summer Get-Together demand will be so high we expect at least 400 to make runs in the AutoCross.”

An entire segment of the automotive aftermarket industry has blossomed with the new found excitement to make a bulky, heavy American Muscle Car; essentially designed for drag strip performance, corner like a Porsche.

A used parts automotive swap meet will join a special “cars for sale corral” where automotive treasure hunters can seek out hard to find parts and buy and/or sell the car of their dreams.

Inside the spacious exhibit buildings will be a Concours-style show featuring stock, original cars like Packards, Bentleys and Duesenbergs from the 1930s and 40s.  A special “Brush Bash” featuring local pin stripe artists will offer hand painted items and the Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets – a youth racing program will perform exhibitions on an oval track.

Another show highlight will be a custom bicycle exhibit. Bay Area-based bicycle fabricators and enthusiasts “Boogie” Breiz and Dominick Guida will be there. They are proprietors of Behind Bars Inc – a full-service custom bicycle fabrication shop in San Jose, CA, and they have pulled together the unique exhibit that will feature more than 50 one-of-a-kind custom bikes.

The exhibit will be held inside the Hall of Commerce Building. This marks the first time Goodguys has featured a bicycle exhibit at an event

The Goodguys 19th Summer Get-Together is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $17, kids 7-12 $6. Kids 6 and under are FREE.

Fairgrounds parking fee is $8. For additional event information, contact the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association at (925) 838-9876 or visit www.good-guys.com

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