It's five in the morning as a bleary eyed classic truck owner makes his way into the garage and flicks on the lights, bringing his private altar to life. Within minutes he's wide awake with adrenaline pumping through his veins as he rolls open the shop door and pushes his pride and joy out into the crisp morning air to catch its first breath. With a tattered old map in his back pocket, a full tank of fuel, and a destination in mind, he hits the road to take on yet another adventure.
In the Northeast, a short spring and summer give truck owners a much more limited season to hit the streets, and once fall sets in, it's only a matter of time before the snows arrive to drive everyone back into their shops! It's a well-known fact that one of the hottest end-of-season tickets in town is the Goodguys East Coast Nationals held every September in Rhinebeck, New York. If you dig a wicked cool drive along some of the most picturesque roads you can imagine, then the blast down the Taconic Parkway on your way to the fairgrounds is one that will stay with you through the long cold winter. When you finally get into town you'll immediately note the classic architecture that frames the town of Rhinebeck. Loaded with historical sites, it's a place where time seems to stand still, making it a refreshing change of pace from the everyday rat race. Even before making your way to the event, there are countless points of interest that you should be sure to check out, including the vast collection of vintage aircraft from the pioneer, World War I, and Lindbergh/barnstorming era at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Weather permitting, you might even have a chance at taking a barnstorming flight in a 1929 New Standard D-25 open-cockpit biplane over the scenic Hudson River. Now that's just plain cool!
Arriving at the event, Goodguys always rolls out the red carpet to its attendees, and this year was no exception. For the 17th year, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds welcomed over 1,500 vehicles and countless other visitors to check out some of the finest classic trucks, rods, customs, and muscle cars in the Northeast. After checking in and getting your credentials, you enter the heart of the fairgrounds, which offers countless well-designed, tree-lined cruising roads and plenty of opportunity to get settled within its vast confines. Early arrivals to the show could participate in a scenic cruise on Thursday through the Hudson Valley or even a Poker Run on Friday. Once settled in, it's time to get out and tune into many of the finer points of interest, including hundreds of vendors showcasing plenty of their latest wares to outfit your truck with cutting-edge technology. When the need to feed hit, there were loads of peddlers hawking just the right combination of fried goods and cold beverages, giving you loads of energy to check out the massive car corral and swap meet area that seemed to stretch on forever.
Sure, it wouldn't be Rhinebeck-or as its derogatory nickname "Rainbeck" implies-if it didn't rain (which it did for a while), but dedicated attendees didn't let that alter their plans for a weekend of fun and excitement. With weather in the 60s and 70s, it was perfect for taking the kids for a stop over to the Make-n-Take model build area sponsored by Revell or take a break jamming to the live entertainment by Rick K and the All-nighters, who ripped it up during the day and even at the Saturday night hot rod party and dance. There were loads of classic trucks in attendance covering all different types of build styles from restorations to slick high-tech rides and even a few hardcore primered haulers. By Sunday afternoon, it was time for Goodguys' extensive awards program to blast off, bringing a killer weekend to completion. If you haven't yet experienced the magic of the Goodguys East Coast Nationals, mark your calendars for 2009 to experience firsthand what everyone in the Northeast considers one of the finest end-of-year events around. You can check it al out at www.good-guys.com. Dig it!
 Fresh from the stables of...  Fresh from the stables of The Old Car Shop in Norwood, MA, David Donoian's '40 Ford went to the head of the class earning a Finest Five thanks to its wicked stance, razor-sharp body, House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl vibe, and American Racing wheels. |  They don't come much nicer...  They don't come much nicer than Mike Wolff's '68 Chevy C-10 hauler with 26,000 miles on the clock. Having undergone a full frame-off restoration, it was running its original 327 V-8 linked to a 'Glide while plenty of medium blue poly metallic covered its skin. This hauler truly deserved its Finest Five pick. |  Mark Giambalvo's '52 Chevy...  Mark Giambalvo's '52 Chevy stopped us dead in our tracks when we saw it! Just completed prior to the show at his shop, Creative Rod & Kustom in Womelsdorf, PA, it had a 2-inch chop, custom front roll pan, full shave, frenched headlights, Air Ride 'bags, and big-inch Billet Specialties rollers wrapped in Falken rubber. Having owned the truck since he was 13 and completing it at age 25 definitely earned him a well-deserved Finest Five. |
 You'd never know that Paul...  You'd never know that Paul Butler's immaculate '50 Ford F-1 was restored back in '94. Working with his dad Dan on the project from '86-94, they brought it back to its original glory, including a Flathead V-8 linked to a three-speed for go while finishing it in the original Ford Meadow Green. |  When we saw Charlie Penney's...  When we saw Charlie Penney's '51 Chevy, we were immediately consumed by its classic good looks. Filled with a fully chromed and polished RamJet 350 linked to a 700-R4, it gets its stance thanks to a Fatman IFS. Frenched headlights, '60 Pontiac taillights, a black and white rolled bench seat, and decadent black gloss on the body brought a Finest Five to this black tie Bow Tie. |  |