Goodguys Car Show - 7th Annual Goodguys spring Nationals

Back in grade school, as each passing summer was about to come to an end, I'd always get this certain feeling in my gut. It was a mix between eager anticipation and imminent fear of what lay before me: the new school year. The percentage ratio between the two depended on my age-the younger I was, the more I dreaded donning the new duds my mom had so kindly outfitted me with, not to mention discovering what teacher would control my life for the next 10 or so months; but as I grew older, I became more eager to put the surfboard back in the closet and begin the new semester.

These days, while my school years are ancient history, I still get those same "annual" mixed feelings. No, I'm not talking about tax time (though it is very close to that wonderful April 15th deadline), but rather when the swallows start checking out of the old missions in San Juan Capistrano...or shall we say Del Mar? OK, maybe not, but it's precisely that time of year when the Goodguys stage their Spring Nationals that I begin to feel like a schoolboy all over again. Whether it's the anticipation of the season's first outdoor event (for me, at least) or a slight bit of regret knowing I'll be covering, not attending, yet another summer's worth of cool events, I'll never know. But one thing I do know is that I've enjoyed each and every Del Mar show, regardless if I've been on the clock or not.

This year was no exception. Despite having a non-cargo-carrying vehicle entered in the show (I drove my '53 Bel Air) and needing to split time between "participant" and "media," I was nonetheless surrounded by tons of beautiful trucks and even more hot rods and customs. Furthermore, unlike years prior, not a drop of rain fell the entire weekend-well, at least none that I was aware of-and even the occasional fog that came out of nowhere (and usually disappeared just as quickly) was outshined by the sunny, cool ocean air that consumed the majority of each day.

Finally, the 2007 Del Mar Spring Nationals was also the debut event for CLASSIC TRUCKS' new award program-the Finest Five. Years past, we selected 10 trucks (hence the Top Ten moniker) at various Goodguys events throughout the season. This year, we scaled it down to five and gave it the obvious name change, but the rest is all the same: each chosen winner will receive an embroidered jacket, which they can proudly wear to proclaim their Finest Five status. The only drawback is, due to ordering limitations, it might take longer than the standard 6-8 weeks, so hold your horses if you happen to be one of the chosen few. (Past Top Ten winners will attest to the rather long waiting period-our sincere apologies!) Along with Del Mar, we'll also be making picks at Goodguys' Heartland Nats in Des Moines, July 6-8; The Nationals in Columbus, July 13-15; the Midwestern Nats in Kansas City, Aug. 31-Sep. 2; the Lone Star Nats in Fort Worth, Oct. 5-7; and wrapping up with the Southeastern Nats in North Carolina, Oct. 26-28. For further event info, please visit www.good-guys.com. Hopefully, we'll catch you at one of these shows-and maybe even send you home with a little token of our "appreciation!"