One of, if not the, oldest hot rod club is the Outriders, formed in 1932 and restricted to a membership of 50, which means a member has to almost die before you can be asked to join! So, along with the '32 Ford, the Outriders celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, making the club's annual picnic even more special. So much so that the anniversary T shirts sold out very early.
Never publicized, and held at a semi-secret location in Irvine, California, the Sunday picnic in September includes free beer and soda, live music and one of the best barbeque tri-tip dinners you'll experience. Oh, that's in addition to the 500-plus rods and customs that show up, many not seen elsewhere all year. Our favourite was the barn-find '32 Tudor complete with Halbrand-shod slicks on an Olds rearend, five spoke mags up front, orange lacquer with chromed dash and garnish moldings and white rolled and pleated interior. It originally housed a 327, but now sports a blown Hemi. Oh yes...
While we didn't win any of the very cool raffle prizes, or the 50/50 drawing, with perfect temperatures, and the cars parked around a sycamore-lined lake for everyone to enjoy when they weren't planted in lawn chairs or at the picnic tables, the Outriders couldn't have planned a better way to spend a relaxing Sunday.