If you know Goodguys, you know Columbus is the show. The big one. The Super Bowl of summer hot rod gatherings. And 2025 didn’t disappoint.
We rolled in July 11–13 with the full American Racing setup. Our trailer was loaded with forged and Flow Formed wheels, fresh gear from the new Hoonigan collab, and more than a few heavy-hitting builds parked all around us. This event brought the heat: over 5,200 show cars and trucks on display and a crowd of 37,000 strong. That’s not just a car show. That’s a legit congregation of enthusiasts.
What We Saw: Steel, Style, and Straight-Axle Soul
Columbus brought out the best. You couldn’t walk ten feet without bumping into something with a blower, side pipes, or a set of custom wheels that made you stop and stare.
We caught everything from ultra-clean Tri-Five Chevys to chopped and dropped shoebox Fords, slick black big-block Novas, bright red G-bodies, and a wild mix of slammed pickups: C10s, Stepsides, and even a couple squarebodies wearing modern American Racing hardware. Some of the cleanest builds were hiding under the shade of the barns, including a cherry-orange ’56 Bel Air that looked like it rolled straight out of a vintage ad shoot.
And let’s not forget the wheels. We spotted everything from classic Torq Thrusts to Forged VF503s and modern Flow Formed wheels tucked under air-bagged builds and resto-mods with fresh paint. There were Pro-Touring rigs, period-correct muscle cars, drag-prepped street machines, and more than a few full-blown customs that stopped traffic all weekend long.
What We Brought: The Latest from American Racing
We had our latest Flow Formed and Forged wheel designs on display, giving folks a chance to get up close with our most advanced styles to date. Lightweight performance, heritage-inspired design, and the kind of detail you don’t fully appreciate until you see them in person. Saturday got hit with a quick storm that tried to dampen the vibe, but the clouds passed, the sun came back out, and the crowd didn’t miss a beat. That’s how you know you're with real car people.
The Best Part: The People
As always, the highlight wasn’t just the hardware, it was the conversations. We got to meet longtime American Racing fans, builders, garage tinkerers, and first-timers who just picked up their first classic. Whether it was a tip on wheel fitment, a story about your first Torq Thrusts, or just trading favorites from the show lot, we appreciated every conversation.
Columbus was everything a Goodguys show should be and then some. Thanks to everyone who came out, stopped by the trailer, or just gave us a thumbs-up walking past. We’ll be back, and we hope to see even more of you there.
