The Goodguys are here! The Goodguys 1st Nostalgia Nationals takes over Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green the weekend of October 17, 18 & 19 turning the spectacular racing venue into an automobile lover’s paradise, with two events in one!

A giant car show featuring over 1,500 hot rods, customs and classic cars through 1972 vintage will fill Beech Bend’s spacious grounds while hundreds of vintage drag racers will do battle in twelve classes of competition. Event features include a giant car show, a full scale vintage drag race with twelve eliminator classes, an automotive swap meet, a vendor exhibit midway, a special appearance by famed drag racer Rich “Pure Hell” Guasco and many other automotive themed activities. The 1st Nostalgia Nationals is the twenty first of twenty-four annual hot rod and custom car events promoted and produced by the northern California based Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Goodguys events are held from New York to San Diego, from Seattle Florida and many points in between. They’re large, they’re colorful and have often been referred to as a “State Fair of Automotive Excitement!” Lil’ deuce coupes, hot rod roadsters, lead-sled 50’s Mercury customs, ‘55-’57 Chevy’s, Camaro’s, Hemi Barracuda’s & BOSS 409 Mustangs, front engined top fuel dragsters, nitro burning retro funny cars, blown gassers and other timeless beauties will fill the entire outdoor acreage of Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green.

The Nostalgia Nationals will have everything the auto buff and gear head could ever want. Cars for as far as the eye can see will fill the palate of any serious auto aficionado. Ground pounding dragsters and funny cars will bring fans to their feet on the drag strip. An automotive parts 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. For those who prefer their hot cars on a smaller scale, as in miniature version, model car giant Revell-Monogram will sponsor the “Make and Take” program where youngsters can build a model at the event and take it home with them.

Northern California based drag racing legend Rich “Pure Hell” Guasco will attend the event all three days. Guasco, who campaigned the famous nitro burning roadster “Pure Hell” in the 1960s and NHRA Funny Cars in the 70s is being recognized by Goodguys as the event’s official “Hot Rod Hero.” He will sign autographs all three days at the Goodguys event trailer on the vendor midway.

Awards play a big role in any automotive event, and the Nostalgia Nationals will offer plenty. Special awards like the “Low Lid” will go to the hot rod or custom car with the lowest roof. The “Homebuilt Heaven” pick, sponsored by Timberland/Pro apparel goes to a rod or custom that was completely built and fabricated by the owner in his or her own garage. The Goodguys staff will also be looking for a finalist for the 2008 Muscle Car of the Year award.

Another popular event feature is the specialty parking areas with special themes. The “Homebuilt Heaven” area is for hot rodder’s who built their cars in their own garage. The “Trick Truck” corral is exclusive to pickup trucks. “Mighty Muscle” highlights Muscle Cars 1960 through 1972 and the “Young Guys” is for hot rodders 25 years old and younger. The special parking areas take place Saturday, October 18th from 8am to 2pm.

The weekend comes to a climactic close on Sunday, October 19th with the event awards ceremony as well as the final drag strip elimination runs. Over 100 of the event’s top hot rods, customs, classic, muscle cars and tricked out trucks will be introduced to the crowd in front of the drag strip grandstands and presented with their special awards. The ceremony takes place on the drag strip starting line at 2:22pm. Sunday is also final eliminations for all twelve racing classes..

Event hours are Friday and Saturday 8am to 5pm and Sunday 8am to 3pm. General admission is $20 per day. Kids 7-12 $6. Kids 6 and under are FREE. A three day weekend pass is available for $55. Tickets are available at the event gates or online at www.nostalgianats.com. For additional event information, contact the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association at (925) 838-9876.