Vroom Vroom VROOM

Engines revved and people poured into the Alameda County Fairgrounds Saturday to admire cars, cars and more cars.

The Goodguys 29th All-American Get-Together brought in thousands of car fanatics, who were eager to inspect various vehicles, share their knowledge with one another and buy parts for the cars they are building.

Classic car owners throughout California – as well as out of state – showed off their automobiles both indoors and outdoors. The event’s activities continue today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rain didn’t keep spectators away as they looked into hoods and trucks of numerous cars like a 1937 For Slant Back Sedan from San Leandro, a 1935 Ford Coupe from Danville and a 1951 Mercury Custom from Livermore.

There were even cars from Arizona and Nevada.

A shiny orange 1941 Willys engulfed with green flames traveled into town from Fort Bragg, approximately four hours away in Mendocino County.

Danny Figueiredo said it was his fourth time coming into Pleasanton for the car show with his wife, Janet.

“We’re car crazy. We come out and have a good time. We love Pleasanton. It’s a nice getaway,” said Figueiredo as he stood near the car he took four years to build from the ground up.

Cars featured indoors are hand selected by the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, an organization dedicated to providing car enthusiasts with family-oriented events that are focused on automobiles.   

Figueiredo said being among those featured indoors was an honor.

“It’s a really good feeling,” he said. “It’s the car show of all car shows.”

Gil Cervantes of Union City was also at the fairgrounds to showcase his 1971 Plymouth GTX that took him two years to restore.

Raindrops fell atop the green GTX as people, unfazed, stopped to appreciate it.

“It was parked for 19 years outside of my house,” Cervantes said. He said he decided to restore it when he saw a GTX clone sell for $200,000 at an auction.

“Here I’ve got the real thing,” Cervantes said.

The event doesn’t just offer eye candy for car enthusiasts. Parts, accessories and even apparel were displayed for sell.

Hal Newman of Lodi came to the swap meet to buy parts for a car he is restoring.

As he looked at a purple and silver car that hails from Pleasanton, Newman – who has been to other car shows throughout the state – said the work on all of the models was impressive.

“It’s something I’d own,” Newman said. “It’s a little bit of everything.”

The All-American Get-Together is the oldest event Goodguys hosts, according to spokesman John Drummond. About 700 cars were displayed during the first meet in 1983.

Approximately 1,500 cars are showcased at the two-day event this year, said Drummond, adding that on sunny weekends they do see more participants and attendees.

Admission is $17 for general, $6 for children ages 7-12 and free for children 6 and under.

For more information, visit the All-American Get-Together website by clicking here.