If you’re a fan of the old and the cool, it simply doesn’t get much better than a Goodguys car show. Featuring 15 yearly events throughout America, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association provides many excellent opportunities to check out some of the best hot rods, street rods, muscle cars and customs in the hobby. This past weekend, the Goodguys tour rolled into the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh North Carolina for some Easter Weekend fun. 

Spring is the perfect time for the Goodguys North Carolina Nationals.

‘Tis The Season

As a North Carolina native and lifelong car enthusiast, spring is my favorite time of the year for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, spring is the perfect time to cruise your classic, especially if you, like me, are one of those stubborn gearheads who’s still barbaric enough to wheel hot rods without modern air conditioning. The days are generally mild with plenty of golden sunshine. The air isn’t thick with humidity and sometimes still even has a chill. And two windows down at 70 MPH or, as I like to call it, ‘2-70 air conditioning’ in a gloriously loud hot rod is really something special. Especially if you’re heading out to a car show first thing in the morning or heading back home enjoying a beautiful nightfall. You might even catch a nice whiff of the honeysuckle or wisteria that our state has become known for – there is no better scent, well, besides racing fuel.

Simply put: there’s nothing better than a spring car show, and Goodguys’ annual North Carolina Nationals always delivers. In addition to almost two thousand awesome hot rods of almost every style imaginable, main festivities included vendors, live music, an indoor swap meet and an outdoor flea market. If that wasn’t enough excitement, fans could also see some autocross, check out nitro thunderfest, and even take in an evening demolition derby. But of course, the classics are the star of the show, and in addition to countless cool Chevys, there were fabulous Fords, impressive MoPars, and a great take over by the Buick Club of America, just to name a few of the brands represented.

Raleigh, North Carolina Is A Great Spot 

For most North Carolina residents, the State Fairgrounds are a fairly easy jaunt down I-40. Since I consider the drive half of the fun, I plotted a course through country backroads and was able to access the show just as easily. Parking is conveniently located right in front of the main show entrance, and that entrance leads directly into the main attraction: the massive car show area. Goodguys car shows are always a great atmosphere, and that was especially prevalent this weekend with a clientele of hardcore enthusiasts populating a large swath of parking that features pavement for walking, grass for staring, and covered areas for cool down and comfort.

The lines of classics ultimately lead attendees to car show central, where live music and awards dominate the stage. A short walk from stage right is the autocross lot, and stage left leads into a vendor area that fronts the flea market and swap meet. Autocross is always entertaining to watch because of the nature of the cars we all enjoy so much. Let’s face it, these aren’t SCCA-spec Miatas, and there’s just something so cool about watching old-school sports cars, pony cars, muscle cars and even trucks push the limits of agility. Of course, who doesn’t love a good flea market and swap meet? This year’s setup featured everything from collectable diecast and neat garage decor to obscure parts and one of the most documented survivor SLP Z28 SS Camaros this author has ever seen. Then there’s the demolition derby, which is scheduled main event-style for the evening. Taking place in a small stadium that’s adjacent to both the car show area and vendor row, it’s a great way to, shall we say, test the mettle and durability of some of those pesky modern econoboxes.

If you’re on the east coast and you’re looking to travel to a great car event next year, join us here in the Tarheel State for the Goodguys North Carolina Nationals. You certainly won’t be disappointed. If you’re a North Carolina resident and you have yet to attend the Goodguys North Carolina Nationals, well, it’s high time you cruise on out! To check out the list of remaining Goodguys events, or to keep tabs on next year’s North Carolina Nationals, check out Goodguys official website. See you on the road!