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Published: 11/22/2022

The Goodguys Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals: A Jewel in the Desert

Author: DAN HODGDON

Photos: LUCAS PRIAMO

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In the shadow of the McDowell Mountains lies WestWorld of Scottsdale, a multi-use events facility in the Arizona desert covering 386 acres. All that land, one of the nation's most picturesque settings, and 70-degree temperatures in late November make the site a prime location to conclude the Goodguys season.

In the shadow of the McDowell Mountains lies WestWorld of Scottsdale, a multi-use events facility in the Arizona desert covering 386 acres. All that land, one of the nation's most picturesque settings, and 70-degree temperatures in late November make the site a prime location to conclude the Goodguys season.

Cars and trucks covered the grounds at WestWorld of Scottsdale during the 2022 Goodguys Southwest Nationals.

 

This year, the 25th edition of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association's Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals took place at WestWorld on the weekend before Thanksgiving, bringing more than 3,000 classic cars and trucks to the desert. The result was a veritable kaleidoscope of makes and models, including many from General Motors. Some were period-correct restorations, while many others utilized modern performance technology.

Among the restomod builds was Cory Larsen's Crystal Red Metallic 1969 Chevelle powered by a Chevrolet Performance ZZ427/480 crate engine.* Larsen is a fan of the popular muscle car and has owned four '69 Chevelles in his life – including his first car. He is a Big-Block enthusiast and wanted to ensure he had one in his current build, but also to know that the power plant was reliable. Thus, the 480-horsepower ZZ427 was a perfect choice as it carries on the tradition of the classic L88 engine from the Bowtie.

 

Cory Laresen's 1969 Chevelle is powered by a Chevrolet Performance ZZ427/480 crate engine.*

"It's the biggest car show in town." - Cory Larsen

Larsen is originally from northern Utah, but moved to Arizona over 40 years ago for school and is retired from the local aerospace industry. Today he lives in the Desert Ridge area of Phoenix. He attends both of the Goodguys events held each year in Scottsdale, along with other local shows. During the Southwest Nationals weekend he was with his son, Joseph.

"It's the biggest car show in town," Cory Larsen said of Goodguys. "It's so big, it's fun to go to because you get to see a lot of different things. We have a buddy and some other friends that we always meet out there and just have a good time."

Mark Allen chose an LT4 crate engine* for his 1967 Camaro due to its benefits on the autocross course.

"I've come to learn over the years, it's the people that I really enjoy the most." - Mark Allen

 

Included in the variety of programs at the year-end Goodguys event is the "Duel in the Desert" Shootout to conclude the Goodguys CPP AutoCross Series.

Mark Allen has been participating in autocross competitions for many years and drove his 1967 Camaro RS/SS to a 10th-place result in the Street Machine class during this year's Southwest Nationals. A Chevrolet Performance LT4 crate engine* powers the car painted in House of Kolor True Blue Pearl and accented with a custom silver-and-Galaxy Gray stripe package. Allen has owned the Camaro for about 27 years, and after running a variety of engines, chose the 650 horsepower-capable LT4 for many of its benefits on the autocross course, including horsepower and throttle control.

"In autocross racing, you're going to be hitting the rev limiters a lot and the motor has to be able to take the abuse of hard throttle on and lift; it's not an easy chore for any motor," Allen explained. "From everything in our research on the LT4, it was rock-solid."

An Arizona native who lives in Gilbert and retired from the construction industry, Allen has been involved in a variety of motorsports during his life, ranging from drag racing to SCORE off-road trucks. Thus, autocross helps quench his thirst for competition.

However, it's the camaraderie that keeps him coming back. 

"I've come to learn over the years, it's the people that I really enjoy the most," he said. "The competition is fun, but if it weren't for the people the competition wouldn't mean anything."

Indeed, in Scottsdale his son-in-law Chris Greener was with him at the show and he refers to the Goodguys competitors as his autocross family.

 

Will Posey of Big Oak Garage was recognized as the Chevrolet Performance Builder of the Year for his shop's 1961 Impala known as "Dirty Martini."

"For the builder to win awards, that's just pretty special and doesn't happen very often." - Will Posey

 

Additionally, the year-end Goodguys show is known for its spotlight on the winners of the association's prestigious awards throughout the season, with the Top 12 prominently displayed near the show entrance.

That includes the Chevrolet Performance Builder of the Year program, which recently wrapped up its second year. The contest features two categories: GM Iron and GM Retro Iron. The GM Iron category recognizes a GM build with a GM powertrain, while GM Retro Iron highlights a non-GM build with a powertrain from General Motors. 

Finalists are selected during Goodguys events throughout the year, with the Builders of the Year chosen in early October. This year's winner in GM Iron was Will Posey's Big Oak Garage for a custom, W-engine-powered 1961 Impala known as "Dirty Martini" due to its one-off Axalta green paint. The car also won the Goodguys Custom of the Year award. Meanwhile, Troy Ladd's Hollywood Hot Rods took the victory in GM Retro Iron for a 1932 Ford with a 331 cu.-in. Cadillac engine. That car also scored the Goodguys Street Rod D'Elegance crown. 

"To be recognized by Chevrolet Performance is absolutely crazy," said Posey, whose shop is located in Gadsden, Alabama. "For the builder to win awards, that's just pretty special and doesn't happen very often."

 

Troy Ladd from Hollywood Hot Rods won the Chevrolet Performance GM Retro Iron Builder of the Year award for a 1932 Ford powered by a Cadillac engine.

 

For his efforts, Posey received a Chevrolet Performance Connect & Cruise Crate Powertrain System featuring an LT4 crate engine* and SuperMatic 8L90-E eight-speed automatic transmission. Ladd meanwhile was the recipient of a ZZ6 Connect & Cruise package with a ZZ6 EFI crate engine* and a Hydra-Matic 4L65-E four-speed automatic.

For Posey and other builders, Goodguys events help them both display their shops' work and create a wide variety of connections.

"They just have it figured out," Posey said. "They have so much stuff going on."

 

A wide variety of engines were present in Scottsdale.

 

The next automotive event at WestWorld of Scottsdale is the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction from January 21-29, while the 2023 Goodguys season kicks off with the LMC Truck Lone Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway on March 10-12.

The first of the two yearly Goodguys events in Scottsdale is set for March 17-19, when garage-built projects, painstaking restorations and stunning restomods will once again dot the desert for the FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals presented by Grundy Collector Car Insurance.

An extensive photo gallery from the 25th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals is below, and be sure to keep watching The BLOCK for much more on the vehicles and people from this year's event.

 

*Because of their effect on a vehicle's emissions performance, these engines are intended exclusively for use in competition vehicles. These engines are designed and intended for use in vehicles operated exclusively for competition: in racing or organized competition on courses separate from public streets or highways. Installation or use of these engines on a vehicle operated on public streets or highways is likely to violate U.S., Canadian, and state and provincial laws and regulations related to motor vehicle emissions.

 

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