Goodguys 8th DuPont Blue Suede Cruise hits Norwalk, Ohio

Goodguys 8th DuPont Blue Suede Cruise Brings a Dose of Nostalgia to Summit Motorsports Park!

Norwalk, Ohio –The Goodguys 8th DuPont Blue Suede Cruise takes fans back in time the weekend of August 28, 29 & 30 as nostalgia takes center stage at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk. The racetrack will be transformed into an automobile lover’s paradise, with two events in one! A giant car show featuring 2,000 hot rods, customs and classic cars through 1972 vintage will fill the west side of the park while hundreds of vintage drag racers will fill the east side pits! Event features include a giant car show, a full scale vintage drag race with eleven eliminator classes, an automotive swap meet, vendor midway and a special match race between Rich Guasco’s “Pure Hell” and Dave Hough’s “Nanook” – two of history’s most famous Fuel Altereds! The Blue Suede Cruise is the 14th of 22 annual hot rod and custom car events promoted and produced by the northern California based Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.

The Blue Suede Cruise will have everything the auto buff and gear head could ever want. Cars for as far as the eye can see will fill the palate of any serious auto aficionado. Ground pounding dragsters and funny cars will bring fans to their feet on the drag strip. An automotive swap meet will join a special “cars for sale corral” where automotive treasure hunters can seek out hard to find parts and buy and/or sell the car of their dreams. For those who prefer their hot cars on a smaller scale, as in miniature version, model car giant Revell-Monogram will sponsor the “Make and Take” program where youngsters can build a model at the event and take it home with them.

California based drag racing legend Rich Guasco has brought his nitro burning, 200mph roadster “Pure Hell” out of retirement for three special match races this year. The Blue Suede Cruise is the second stop for the famous car which will race Dave Hough’s “Nanook” fuel roadster from Las Vegas. Both cars have over eighty-eight years of combined quarter mile history. Pure Hell first appeared on the dragstrip (with Guasco behind the wheel) in 1963 while Nanook debuted in 1965 and was originally driven by Hough himself. Both cars own the top performance records for Fuel Altered roadsters with a best time of 6.18 @ 236mph for Nanook and a 6.32 @ 238mph for Pure Hell. With an estimated 3,000 horsepower each and a very short wheelbase, anything is liable to happen when these beasts launch from the staring line!

Full fields of nostalgia top fuel dragsters and nostalgia funny cars are expected. In top fuel, defending event champion Kevin Brewer and his “Midwest Threat” from Muscatine, Iowa will look to repeat last year’s dominating performance. Other potent top fuel teams on the entry list include Randy Bridges, Howard Haight, Michael Sexton, “Diamond Dave” Miller and many others.

Steve Nichols and the “Mill Road Boys” ’70 Camaro team also return to defend their event title. Challengers include Danny Miller’s “Rear Gears” Maverick, Paul Romine’s “Man O’ War” Mustang, Kyle Wurtzel’s “Motown Shaker” Vega, Troy Martin’s “Chi Town Hustler”, Peter Gallen’s “Poverty Stricken” Vega, among other challengers.

Out in the rod & custom show & shine on the west side of Summit Motorsports Park – acres of classic cars will glisten in the sun. Awards play a big role in any automotive event, and the Blue Suede Cruise will offer plenty. Special awards like the “Builder’s Choice” will go to the event’s top ten cars. The “Low Lid” will go to the hot rod or custom car with the lowest roof. The “Homebuilt Heaven” pick, sponsored by Timberland/Pro apparel goes to a rod or custom that was completely built and fabricated by the owner in his or her own garage. The Goodguys staff will also be looking for a finalist for the 2009 Muscle Car of the Year award.

The weekend comes to a climactic close on Sunday, August 30th with the event awards ceremony as well as the final drag strip elimination runs. Final eliminations begin at 10am in all classes. The car show awards ceremony takes place on the drag strip starting line at 2:22pm.

Event hours are Friday and Saturday 8am to 5pm and Sunday 8am to 3pm. General admission is $20 per day. Kids 7-12 $6. Kids 6 and under are FREE. A three day weekend pass is available for $55. Tickets are available at the event gates or online at www.ggbluesuedecruise.com. For additional event information, contact the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association at (925) 838-9876.