Goodguys Del Mar Nationals
Del Mar Fairgrounds, CA
April 1, ‘12
Story and Photographs by Roger Rohrdanz


Roger



 

The 12th Goodguys Del Mar Nationals presented by Meguiar’s began Friday at the scenic Del Mar Fairgrounds! The event ran through Sunday and featured about 1,700+, pre-’72 rods, customs and classics!  The weekend weather was overcast Friday & Saturday but Sunday was sunny.  After exiting the last building of Show n’ Shine cars, there is a huge parking lot dedicated to every type of car imaginable.  There were muscle cars, coupes, roadsters, trucks, station wagons, Woodies, vintage and classic cars of all descriptions.  This event also offers; a Swap Meet, Cars For Sale area, Hot Rod seminars, a “Nitro Thunderfest” of Top Fuel dragsters, a Model & Pedal Car show, and a great “Street Challenge AutoCross”.  This year the Hot Rod Heroes were Ed Pink & Ed Iskendarian.  Ed Pink built potent Chrysler Hemi engines named “Pink Elephants”.  Over the years Ed has built Can-Am motors, Cosworth Indy motors, Porsche flat 6 engines, Trans Am Pontiacs, USAC Midget motors, and the Infinity Indy engine.  That’s why Ed Pink is affectionately known as “The Old Master”.  In the Goodguys Gazette, John Drummond writes, “When you measure Iskenderian’s contributions, and innovations, extraordinary is indeed the appropriate term”.  He will always be know as “The CamFather”.

Over 350 vendors provided a wide variety of goods included; Hoists, lifts, auto parts, Time shares, personalized license plates, engines, polishes, jewelry, art, original gas pumps. That was only part of what was offered, for they had; auto insurance, custom car shops, RC cars, bric-a-brac, Hawaiian and hot rod shirts, golden oldies music and tapes, bicycles, drivelines, grills, hubcaps, tools, motorcycles and choppers, gaskets, rims, wheels, car seats and signs.  If you “mosey” along it is impossible to see this show in one or two full days. 

Every so often hot rods will make a cruise down the Cruise route, past the Woodies pavilion and come back down the Cruise route to the hoots and hollers of their friends and admiring public. Everywhere you go there are friendly people, who will willingly talk to you about their cars, offer you a chair and make you feel right at home.  

Thanks for the Show!