For the 24th consecutive year Goodguys Rod & Custom Association delivered an action packed weekend of hot rodding, gorgeous customs, and top notch musclecars right in the heart of the racing capital–Indianapolis. Shortly after the curtain dropped on the Speedway Nationals last fall, the decision was made to abandon the giant-sized Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a more traditional venue. According to the folks at Goodguys they were looking for something, “a little more quaint.” The historic Indiana State Fairgrounds fit the bill perfectly.

The event was also moved back to its traditional early June date and rebranded the Goodguys All American Nationals with a special emphasis on the ALL. In an effort to include car guys & gals of all genres, the All American Nationals is open to all years, makes, and models of American powered cars and trucks.

Held June 6-8, the new event attracted close to 2,000 show cars to the famous fairgrounds. We say famous because the Beatles once played here! A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, and the Unsers raced here on the one-mile dirt oval. The joint has some major history backing it. Throw in some pretty old brick air-conditioned buildings, an expansive main drag (complete with those historic street lamps), a huge grandstand, a covered bridge (like those kind the pilgrims built), lush lawns and shady trees and you can kind of begin to picture what it’s like here. Comfortable indeed!

To make sure they didn’t leave anything out or give attending hot rodders too much down time, the event activity list was as thick as a bible. Kickoff party? Check. Hotel parkin’ lot parties with cold brew, yummy burgers, and live music? Check. Friday Nite Drags? Yep! A Saturday night Demolition Derby? OH HELL YES! Three-days of AutoCross? Uh huh. It had all that and more. When everyone got home, they needed to take Monday off. It was that much fun.

The Friday Nite Drags went down at Lucas Oil Raceway Park, the home of the NHRA US Nationals. Goodguys booked Funny Car heroes Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps to a match race in vintage nitro-burning floppers named “Crop Duster” and “California Charger.” Capps won both times, but it didn’t really matter who won–there was nitro in the air! The lanes were full of stockers, gassers, and altereds. It was almost like the 1967 US Nationals all over again.

The Saturday Night Demolition Derby was unbelievable. Part Honey Boo Boo, part Deliverance, and all kinds of mechanical fury–it was three straight hours of rock ‘em, sock’em, drive ‘em ‘til they’re dead bliss. The dirt clods might still be flying. You can bet your lug nuts this highlight event will be a main attraction again next year.

Since 2005, Goodguys has crowned their Hot Rod of the Year award here in Indy. This year’s field was stout from the start of competition Friday morning. We say competition because it’s just that. The cars are driven AND raced at the dragstrip. No cream puffs allowed here. The Goolsby guys had a fresh hemi powered deuce in the mix. Kevin and Garey Robert, two died in the wool “Ohio Look” hot rodders, had their pair of deuce roadsters vying for the win. Veteran rodder, Bruce Vath, chimed in with a stanced ’36 Ford coupe, and Rob Jowsay had not one, but two jet black, channeled and sinister Model A Tudor’s from his Autokraft Autobody stable in Fremont, Indiana.

But the car that made the loudest staement was a little blown Olds-Rocket 88 powered Model A from the Hilton’s Hot Rods stable. Tony Lombardi’s Maroon A-Bone won the Hot Rod of the Year award in fine style. It truly epitomizes what an old school, bad-to-the-bone hot rod is all about. You can get the full scoop on the car here. 

If all that wasn’t enough, Goodguys threw in an entire indoor car show–100,000 square feet of pure automotive gold featuring a few Great 8 cars and fresh stuff from all over the Midwest. 

The Goodguys All American Nationals really did have it all. And you can get your fill too as next year’s event dates were announced during closing ceremonies. The 2015 edition will be held June 5, 6 & 7, 2015. Mark your shop calendar and get in on the action! 

For a look at the All American Nationals award winners, click here. For AutoCross results click here. To see what else Goodguys has cokkin’ this summer, visit their events page here.

Supercharged Model A wins Goodguys 2014 Tank’s Hot Rod of the Year Award

Tony Lombardi’s supercharged 1930 Model A Ford from Niles, Ohio won the Goodguys 2014 Tank’s Hot Rod of the Year. The criteria is unique in that it’s the only major Goodguys Top 12 award which requires participants to drive on a 100-mile reliability run as well as a 1/8th mile blast down the drag strip.

Lombardi’s A-Bone, built by Hilton’s Hot Rods, was more than up to the task having already been driven from Ohio to Texas earlier this year. Not only did the potent little coupe handle the drive with ease, it blasted down Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis with an elapsed time of 9.316 seconds–the third fastest ET of the day.

Painted PPG Manderin Maroon with black steel wheels, ’40 Ford hubcaps, finned drums, and a healthy dropped axle rake, the coupe plays on the heartstrings of traditional hot rod aficionados. The 4 1/2-inch chopped steel body looks right at home sitting atop a ’32 Ford frame.

What really grabs your attention however, is the 371 ci blown Oldsmobile Rocket 88 engine, built in-house by Lombardi’s Ross Racing engines. It features a Dyer’s 4-71 blower atop a Cragar intake with 94-series carbs. With no hood or hood sides on the car, the motor just reaches out and demands attention. A Tremec T-5 transmission and Winter’s quick change rearend insure a sporty drive and spirited stop light sprints.

The black leather interior suits the car perfectly. Stitched by Mike Sholly, the cabin is comfortable yet all business with a custom bench seat. The dash (out of a Pierce Arrow) neatly houses the Stewart Warner gauges. At the ready is a Hurst shifter and Schroeder steering wheel.

Lombardi named the car “Little Miss Che-Vious” after his 15 year old daughter Julia–a straight-A student. She was his trusty passenger on the car’s 3,000-mile maiden voyage earlier this spring.

For winning the Hot Rod of the Year award, not only does Lombardi get yearly bragging rights, he’ll be one of the Top 12 featured cars of the Goodguys event season. He’ll receive a custom toolbox from Snap-on as well as travel accommodations to the season-ending Goodguys 17^th Southwest Nationals November 14-16 at Westworld, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Nobody would be surprised if this Hot Rod was DRIVEN out west!  

The top five finalists for the Goodguys 2014 Tank’s Hot Rod of the Year award included William Shores (1932 Ford), Tony Lombardi (1930 Ford), Bruce Vath (1936 Ford), Kevin Roberts (1932 Ford), and Garey Roberts (1932 Ford).

Be sure to check out the exclusive gallery from Goodguys All American Natioanals, Indianapolis below!