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 The Colorado Nationals, now in its 13th running, is now fully settled into its new digs. It has been several years since the move was made from the Pikes Peak International Raceway to the spacious and accommodating Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, and the change has definitely been for the better.
The venue is located an hour north of Denver on I-15, right in the middle of the beautiful Colorado scenery and a patch of glorious highway with a 75 mile an hour speed limit. Hotels have been built nearby and the restaurants are filtering in. It’s a car guys’ paradise.
The grounds are filled with plenty of room to park, including areas of asphalt, sprawling grass, and long cruise lanes. The looming indoor stadium at the top of the hill is outdone only by the majestic and snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the west. The Swap Meet & Car Corral is located at the far end and was literally packed to the fences with vendors and cars.
The weekend officially began just a few miles away with a massive open house at Pinkee’s Rod Shop for the Kick-Off Party. Pinkee’s is the place to see old friends and to make new ones. Live music, New York-style pizza and cold kegs were the perfect compliment to the in-progress projects found inside the shop.
Goodguys brought the Street Challenge Autocross to Colorado starting bright and early on Friday morning and the reception was definitely positive. More and more hot rodders were heading to the cones as the weekend progressed.
There is no shortage of cool cars in the middle of the country and the Pinkee’s crew had their work cut out for them as they narrowed their Builder’s Choice selections to just ten. Goodguys added another four Finalists to their “Of the Year” competitions with an overall winner in each category to be selected at the end of the season.
The weekend drew to a close with the rockin’ good time of Kenny Cordova and the Olde Rock Band who played before the Awards Show on Sunday afternoon. Kenny has been on stage since he was four and is a treat to watch. If cool cars, high speed limits, snow covered mountains, and sprawling scenery are your idea of a good time, check out the 14th Colorado Nationals in 2011 and we will see YOU there!
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Kirk Jones, Gazette Publisher / Editor in Chief, has been on with the Goodguys since 2002. Kirk steered the Gazette into a Hot Rodding industry icon with modern design, improved layout, increased advertising opportunities and more features the readers want. 
