© Hot Rod Network Staff001-GOODGUYS SCOTTSDALE SPRING 2021

The best show cars and AutoCross Action from the FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals in Scottsdale.

Goodguys continued its successful 2021 series in April with the 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona.

When most of the country is just starting to fire up their hot rods after a long, cold winter, the Arizona car scene is already in full swing, enjoying the region's temperate winter and spring weather before that sweltering summer heat sets in. Goodguys' annual FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals at WestWorld of Scottsdale is a bookend event along with Goodguys Southwest Nationals, which fills the same venue every fall. As a result, it has become a must-attend show for enthusiasts across the Southwest who flock to the show for one last chance to go for a drive without overheating.

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You can always expect a feast for the senses when Goodguys comes to town. In Scottsdale, perfectly painted hot rods and customs lined up alongside classics, muscle cars, and trucks of varying vintages and states of restoration. Era-appropriate music was interrupted only by the growl of engines and the squealing of tires from the on-site CPP Autocross Series races, and the smell of race gas and BBQ permeated the air. Close your eyes under the warm Arizona sun, and you might just think it was summer in the '60s again. Open your eyes, and you'll realize that the present just might be better than the past, because-along with those great cars of a bygone era-Goodguys now welcomes American-made or powered rides built all the way up to 1987. Spectators who came out for the Spring Nationals' "All-American Sundays" got an eyeful of some outstanding modern American iron, too!

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As always, the diversity of rods in Scottsdale was impressive. There are no mandatory parking areas at Goodguys events, but areas like the Camaro Corral, Mighty Muscle, Tri-Five Chevy Corral, Trick Truck Corral, Deuce Doins, Homebuilt Heaven, The Next Generation, Ya Gotta Drive 'Em, and others are always popular.

Commercial vendors have been as eager as the rest of us to get back to car shows. The FiTech Spring Nationals was a magnet for the hobby's best-known aftermarket manufacturers, eager to meet their customers and show off new products after a year off the road. Rodders more interested in old products headed for the swap meet and the cars-4-sale corral, hopeful to find exactly what they were looking for.

Carving the Cones

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The CPP AutoCross Series is an exciting part of what sets Goodguys shows apart. Hot rods are meant to run, after all. The sight, sound, and even the smell of cars and trucks being driven hard adds another dimension to the hobby that participants and spectators miss at shows that are limited to show 'n' shine displays. In addition to featuring some intense competition, the CPP AutoCross Series also provides an opportunity for owners to safely test the limits of their cars and trucks. Winners from the weekend in Scottsdale include Robby Unser with his Speedway Motors 1970 Camaro in the PRO-X class, Ryan Matthews driving a 1987 Corvette in the PRO class, Scot Spiewak in a 1987 Corvette in the Forgeline Street Machine class, Pat Sheely in a 1959 Chevrolet Apache pickup in the LMC Truck class, and Tom Hull in his 1936 Pontiac in the FiTech Challenger class.

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Top Award Candidates

Goodguys also handed out some hardware in the form of several 2021 "Of the Year" finalist awards.

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Steve Aguilar's 1971 Camaro Z/28 earned a place in the running for the Griot's Garage Muscle Machine of the Year title.

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The FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals was the first show for the new Goodguys Chevrolet Performance Builder of the Year competition. Builders of the best GM-bodied and -powered vehicle (Chevrolet GM Iron Class) and the best non-GM but GM-powered vehicle (Chevrolet Retro Iron Class) were entered in the running for this season-long competition. The first two builders chosen were Weaver Customs with its 1965 GMC pickup fitted with an LT4 engine and Hot Rods by Dean with a 1935 Ford pickup powered by a 350-cubic-inch small-block Chevy.

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Randy Weaver of Weaver Customs is a Goodguys Chevrolet Performance Builder of the Year finalist in the Chevrolet GM Iron class. The 1965 GMC, owned by Andrea Fappini, is also a nominee for LMC Truck of the Year/Late.

Builder's Choice Awards

All Ways Hot Rods in Phoenix was invited to the FiTech Spring Nats as judges for the Builder's Choice Awards and selected the following 10 vehicles.

Hot rodders are ready to get back to car shows, and the extensive Goodguys 2021 event schedule is bringing the action to spots all over the country. Check out the Goodguys website for a complete calendar, and plan on being there when a show comes to your area.