Super Sunday Get-Together Added to Goodguys 1st Fall Del Mar Nationals!

Del Mar, CA - The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association is proud to announce a “Super Sunday Get-Together” promotion Sunday, November 27th in conjunction with the 1st annual Fall Del Mar Nationals Nov 25-27 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Goodguys Super Sunday Get-Together, which welcomes all years, makes and models of American made or American powered cars and trucks has opened a new avenue for car guys and gals of all ages to get in on the fun of attending a Goodguys National event!

All Del Mar Super Sunday Get-Together participants are welcome to participate in all phases of the Fall Del Mar Nationals including the show and shine as well as the AutoCross! The electronically timed Goodguys AutoCross is FREE to all registered event participants. Participants will also be eligible for show awards as the Goodguys staff will select 10 or more awards from the Super Sunday Get-Together cars.

 “We’re really excited to be swinging open the event gates to the late model American made and American powered cars in Del Mar,” said Goodguys VP of Event Operations Harry Daviess.  “Our Super Sunday Get-Together’s were a big hit in Chicago and Kansas City earlier this year. We’ve done Get-Together style events for over 25 years in our hometown of Pleasanton, California and it’s an outstanding format for all car guys. The ‘Big Three’ build some awesome new muscle cars and hot rods.”

Daviess also pointed out how well the classic car and old school hot rod & custom guys get along with late model owners. “All Goodguys are car guys at heart. This will further broaden the scope of the events allowing as many as six or seven generations of car people to participate in a Goodguys event.”

How do you register? It’s almost too easy! Just drive your show car to the Del Mar Hilton across the street from the Fairgrounds Sunday morning November 27th and register. From there you just head into the event gates! To save an additional $10 bucks on registration, download a coupon here. Make sure and bring it with you!

For a complete look at the Goodguys 1st Del Mar Fall Nationals, visit http://www.falldelmarnats.com. To follow Goodguys on Facebook, point your mouse to http://www.facebook.com/#!/goodguysrodandcustom 

To see images from this year's Goodguys Spring Del Mar Nationals click on the large pic below to see the slideshow or click here for the individual pics.

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Camaro ZL1: Most Powerful Chevrolet Convertible Ever

DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today the brand’s most-powerful convertible ever – the 2013 Camaro ZL1 – will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month. When it goes on sale in late 2012, it will deliver more performance and technology than many exotic cars and ultra-luxury convertibles.
“The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful and most capable, convertibles available at any price,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top – or hit the gas.”
Like the coupe, the Camaro ZL1 convertible features a supercharged 6.2L “LSA” engine, SAE-rated at 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft. of torque (754 Nm). That’s enough to exceed the output of 2+2 convertibles of many performance icons, including:

• 2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante – 470 hp / 443 lb.-ft.
• 2012 Mercedes SL63 AMG – 518 hp / 465 lb.-ft.
• 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S – 530 hp / 516 lb.-ft.
• 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 – 550 hp / 510 lb.-ft.

The Camaro ZL1 convertible’s power is complemented by advanced powertrain and chassis technologies designed to deliver exceptional performance on the road or track. In fact, it’s the same balance of acceleration, handling and ride quality that enabled a Camaro ZL1 coupe recently to lap the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes.
From Day One, the architecture for the fifth-generation Camaro was designed to accommodate a convertible model, which gives the ZL1 convertible coupe-like driving dynamics. Four strategic reinforcements enhance the already-stiff body structure to quell the cowl and steering wheel shake common in convertibles. They include:

• A tower-to-tower brace under the hood
• A transmission support reinforcement brace
• Underbody tunnel brace
• Front “X” brace and stiffer cradle as well as rear underbody “V” braces.

Additional structural reinforcements in the ZL1 convertible are designed to improve noise and vibration characteristics, while also reducing unwanted ride and body motions. They include a hydroformed tube in the A-pillars, an inner reinforcement bracket in the windshield header, a reinforced front hinge pillar and reinforcements inside the rockers.

The suspension of the ZL1 convertible uses the third-generation of Magnetic Ride. New, twin-wire/dual-coil dampers at all four corners enable faster response, with damping levels now adjusted up to 1,000 times per second – about one adjustment per inch of vehicle travel at 60 mph – making the system exceptionally responsive to changing driving and road conditions.
The Camaro ZL1 convertible will also offer Performance Traction Management as standard equipment, which is exclusive to General Motors. First introduced on the Corvette ZR1, it is an advanced system that integrates magnetic ride control, launch control, traction control and electronic stability control, to enhance both launch-acceleration performance and corning.
The result is a convertible designed to preserve nearly all the acceleration, road-holding and performance capabilities of the Camaro ZL1 coupe, which goes on sale in early 2012.

Images courtesy of & copyright GM

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'51 Pontiac Hood Ornament

'51 Pontiac Hood Ornament

The standard hood ornament was a chrome-plated Indian brave; the deluxe ornament was fitted with a translucent amber Indian head insert and illuminated whenever the parking or headlamps were lit.

SoCalCarCulture - THE place to find out what is happening in Southern California's Car Culture!

Old Trucks

While wandering around Sauvie Island in the Portland, Oregon area yesterday I ran across these two vintage farm trucks. They appear to have ceased their mobile usefulness and now serve as a colorful entry monument to this farm. I'll bet these two could tell many stories from their past decades of use!

This third truck was parked at the other entry to this farm...

...and the front fence had old farm implements all along the road planted like this...

For more Old Trucks click on the large pic below to see the slideshow or click here for the individual pics. These are from the Hays Antique Truck Museum in Woodland, CA.

SoCalCarCulture - THE place to find out what is happening in Southern California's Car Culture!