Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Goodguys Muscle Car of the Year Finalist




Congratulations to our good friend and long time customer, Gerry Kerna and her beautiful, black 1971 GTO hardtop on its selection as a finalist for the Goodguys/Hemmings Muscle Machines Muscle Car of the Year at the Goodguys Rod and Custom Assn. 8th Annual Blue Suede Cruise sponsored by Dupont and held August 28 – 30 2009 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH. A previous award winner at the Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance, POCI Nationals, GTOAA Nationals and various AACA shows, this was the first time Gerry has entered the GTO at a Goodguys event.
Goodguys holds 22 events throughout the year and selects one Muscle Car at 19 of these shows to be a finalist. Designed to honor a superior factory stock or fully restored Muscle Car, the award winner will be announced on Friday, October 16th 2009. Given the current popularity of muscle cars, to be selected as a finalist is a terrific honor. We've got our fingers crossed for you Gerry!
The restoration of Gerry's GTO was completed by Bill Hahn in 1999. The car was brought back to showroom original condition right down to its greasepaint option markings. Outfitted with a 400 Cu. In. Pontiac engine and 4 speed manual transmission, it is the definition of a muscle car. The GTO's selection out of a strong (and large) field of “Mighty Muscle” entries, speaks to the quality of the restorations we can do as well as the TLC Gerry gives her favorite “Goat”. Bill Hahn and Wes Woodward have maintained that if properly done, a car should only need to be restored ONCE...this certainly gives credibility to that statement.
The judges were impressed with the car's originality, straightness, and fit and finish (which is doubly highlighted by the gorgeous black paint....sprayed by Adam Abbot). Gerry led the procession of award winners from the Goodguys winners circle to the dragstrip, capping an exciting weekend of Show Cruising, Nostalgia Drag Racing and vendor displays that made up the Blue Suede Cruise.
Check out more pictures of Gerry's award winning car along with our other ongoing restorations at our website:
www.hahnandwoodward.com
For more information on the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, please visit their website at:
www.good-guys.com