The huge Goodguys National Rod and Custom Show, with acres of hot rods of all classifications, is slated for its seventh appearance at the Del Mar Fairgrounds March 30-31 and April 1. The show is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Over 2,000 rods, customs, classics, street machines, muscle cars and trucks through 1972 will fill the fairgrounds for three big days,” said Betsy Bennett, media relations representative. “Attendees will see lil’ deuce coupes, chopped Mercs, hot rods, cool customs, hemi ‘Cudas, Mustangs, Camaros and specialty vehicles.
“Inside the exhibit halls will be invitation-only vehicles on display. A Street Rod D’Elegance will be selected from the cream of the crop in the indoor car show, judged on fit, form, quality of craftsmanship and overall design.”
Exhibitors will be showing and selling the latest products and accessories in two exhibit halls. .
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This time, the expression about not quitting your day job might have been carried to the extreme ” Extreme Motorsports in San Diego’s Kearny Mesa, to be exact.
Kurt Celis has acquired the 10-year-old European car repair, service and maintenance shop in Kearny Mesa. Maybe not unusual, except he and his wife are still very much members of the United States Army, with a number of campaign ribbons to show for their duties overseas, including Iraq.
“I look forward to the challenge of starting a new chapter in my life,” he said. “Cars have always been a passion of mine. Now I get to work with them for a living.”
Celis has served the past year as a first lieutenant tank commander in the 4th Infantry Division in central Iraq. Four years ago, he transferred into the Army from the Navy, where he spent eight years.
“After spending a year in Iraq, this is a dream come true,” said Celis, who received the Bronze Star Medal for combat while serving in Iraq.
In addition to serving as president and owner of Extreme Motorsports, he’ll continue to serve in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas. This summer, Celis and his wife Allison, a physician who also just returned from active duty in Iraq, plan on returning to Southern California to be close to family and the new business.
Celis is keeping his roots local. He graduated from Escondido’s Orange Glen High and is a graduate of San Diego’s University of Phoenix, with a degree in business management.
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Noteworthy ” Championship Off Road Racing (CORR) driver Carl Renezeder has been named Dirt Sports magazine’s 2006 Driver of the Year, an honor considered to be one of the most prestigious in off-road racing “¦ The Indy Racing League will utilize 100 percent ethanol fuel for the first time during the 17-race Indy Car series. The fuel is being supplied by Renova Energy in Wyoming “¦ Anheuser Busch will end its long-running association with the NASCAR Busch Series at the end of this season, citing rising sponsorship costs as the reason “¦ Roger Penske is probably known best for his 14 Indianapolis 500 victories as a car owner, but he’s much bigger than that. Now he’s seeking car dealerships in Russia and China to augment his empire in the United States. He is CEO of the publicly traded United Auto Group, which operates 315 auto dealerships, 170 in the U.S. and 145 in other countries.