17th Goodguys Colorado Nationals Kicks Off With A Party At Pinkee’s

The much anticipated hot rod event of the year kicked off the first weekend of June in Loveland, Colorado as the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association’s 17th Colorado Nationals took center stage at The Ranch complex June 6th through the 8th. What would the hottest hot rod event of the summer be without a proper kickoff party? Luckily, we didn’t have to find out as Pinkee’s Rod Shop of Windsor, proud sponsor of the Builder’s Choice awards at the Colorado Nats, held their annual Goodguys Kickoff Party Thursday night.

Located just right down the road from The Ranch, Pinkee’s Rod Shop is not only one of the premiere hot rod shops along Colorado’s Front Range, it is also known nationwide for exceptional builds and coveted award winning vehicles. Each year, Goodguys show goers, area hot rod enthusiasts, and even a number of stray onlookers stop by Pinkee’s to get an early start to the hot rod weekend that is the Colorado Nationals.

Each year, the Pinkee’s Kickoff Party draws more and more people. This year the event attracted dozens of hot rods, classics, and muscle cars along with hundreds of people. Cars from old rust buckets to builds worth plenty of cash parked all the way around Pinkee’s, taking over dirt lots and extending several blocks down the surrounding streets. A supreme mix of vehicles in all stages of life, this is one of the few events where you’ll see a car worth $1,000 parked next to one worth 50 times as much, and they may even be parked in the weeds.

While there were plenty of unique rides to look at outside, open shop doors on all sides of Pinkee’s welcomed visitors in to check out what projects the hot rod shop is currently working on. In addition to the bare metal bodies and various chassis parts sitting around, there were a few nearly complete vehicles in the shop just waiting for interiors, wheels, and other suspension components. The CNC machine was also on full display working its magic on various pieces of metal.

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Just outside the shop doors in Pinkee’s parking lot, vendor tents, a beer trailer, and Nordy’s BBQ tent supplied enthusiasts with cold drafts that, just like in years past, were poured for donations only, with proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital. Adding to the mood of the whole scene was classic Rockabilly music performed by Goodguys favorite Dixie Leadfoot & The Chrome Struts.

Cars, Cars, and More Cars!

With a record number of hot rods and muscle cars brought to the Goodguys Kickoff Party this year, the streets surrounding Pinkee’s were seas of rainbow colors, drop-tops, blown engines, and every kind of vanity plate you could imagine. A number of previous feature cars from Rod Authority and our other sister publications were there, as well as a number of dedicated Goodguys show cars that follow the association wherever they go.

Mixed in with the bunch were a number of cars we had never seen at an event before, including a handful of Edsels, a number of early El Caminos, countless vintage Corvettes, an old-school Pontiac ambulance in full digs, and several uniquely chopped, dropped, or significantly modified rides. For those looking to pick up a new ride of their own, there were also a number of vehicles sporting For Sale signs, from slammed Mustangs to classic lead sleds.

Luckily, there was enough of a traffic flow all evening that once one hod rod would leave the party, another one would take its place.

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With no designated end time set, the party raged on past sundown with hot rodders and enthusiasts continuing to pour into the area past 8:00 p.m. When all was said and done, several hundred enthusiasts trickled through Pinkee’s for the Thursday night event. With the Colorado Nats going on all weekend long, they didn’t go far. 

Hotels in the area are booked up with hot rods lining the parking lots.

People from as far as California and Ontario, Canada brought their vehicles out for the weekend-long event and we can’t wait to dive in like the rest of them. 

Be sure to check back after the weekend to see our full coverage from the Goodguys Colorado Nationals as well as Rod Authority’s Top 5 Vehicles from the show!

For now, enjoy the GALLERY of images below from last night’s shindig!