|
|
28th Cruisin Nationals - Coastal Cruisin'The 28th Cruisin' Nationals Hits California's Central Coast From the October, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Kev Elliott
|
|
Do you remember years ago, before rat rods, before 95 percent of the nostalgia movement had gathered steam, before satin paint and primer, when the Cruisin' Nationals was about kustoms? If you do you would have thought you'd stepped back in time at this year's event, the 28th Cruisin' Nationals. Okay so the venue's changed, but not for the first time. There are way more cars and public in attendance, and the quality of some of the cars would have been unattainable not so long ago, but this year's show was definitely a kustom aficionado's dream weekend. Some lessons had obviously been learned since last year's move to Santa Maria Fairpark, most notably the number of food vendors. Outside the fairgrounds it was great to see, and participate in, cruising on Broadway in front of the host hotel on Friday and Saturday nights. Though not a sanctioned block-the-main-street-to-regular-traffic cruise (that's in the planning stages for the future), there was plenty of laid-back impromptu cruising, including many local lowriders and VWs, as well as a smattering of muscle cars, making for fun evenings before and after dinner. West Coast Kustoms did organize a countryside cruise early on Friday evening to Casmalia, while plenty of people were content to kick back at the Santa Maria Inn or on the surrounding sidewalks and motel parking lots, watching the cruisers roll by. A number of people said they'd not go to Santa Maria when the event moved there, claiming it'd be just another fairgrounds show, but to those we can only say "too bad, you missed a great show and a better time." Check out the pictures and make your own mind up. We'll be back, make no mistake!  While the ratio of rods to...  While the ratio of rods to customs very definitely fell in favor of the latter, one of the nicest rods in attendance was Barbara Bennett's '32 roadster. We especially liked the exhausts curved to match the contour of the framerails on this traditionally styled Deuce.  Looking totally different...  Looking totally different in the sunlight compared to the last time we saw Brian Everett's Slither indoors at the Sacramento Autorama, the paint really blazed when the sun finally came out!  We can confirm this blown...  We can confirm this blown Hemi-fied, slick-shod, show-style phaeton is a driver, 'cos we saw it cruising Broadway on Friday night.  Paul Hernandez spent a lot...  Paul Hernandez spent a lot of time modifying the grille and fabricating that bumper-come-front valance on his '57 Buick hardtop. And yes, it's a four door, something we're seeing more and more of.  There's a whole heap of subtle...  There's a whole heap of subtle work gone into Bill Story's '56 Ford wagon, from the shaved handles and louvered hood to the use of a Mustang windshield in the tailgate, eliminating the window frame. It was heading straight to the upholstery shop after the show.  When I walked around the barn...  When I walked around the barn and saw Ron Eastman's A roadster I came over all nostalgic for my own similar A. The big difference is the blower perched atop Ron's Flathead. Check out the neat exhaust route treatment too.  There really isn't much you...  There really isn't much you need to do to a mid-Fifties Buick other than an altitude alteration. Ryan and Angela Cavitt did just that to their '56 Century, added a tube grille, Caddy 'caps and copper paint, and they're good to go.  Brandon Flaner's '39 Ford...  Brandon Flaner's '39 Ford coupe looked like the real deal because it was, discovered and sympathetically restored without losing it's old-school (and I use that term in its real meaning!) hot rod charm.  Though produced in greater...  Though produced in greater numbers than the Deluxe coupe, the '39 Standard coupe is not so commonly seen today, yet there were two skirted examples on the fairgrounds, this red one sporting spinner 'caps and spotlights and riding way lower than Henry ever intended.  There were a number of cars...  There were a number of cars present that had driven down from British Columbia, including Dave York's olive-hued '49 shoebox, with its front end treatment reminiscent of Keith Weesner's ride.  Another hoodless kustom. But...  Another hoodless kustom. But who wouldn't want to show off that tri-carbed small-block? For the longest time '35s have been subject to almost mandatory '36 front sheetmetal swaps, and it's great to see Joe Arreguin retaining that stock tin up front. Don't wrap it, I'll drive it home thanks!  Terry Wallace's '39 coupe...  Terry Wallace's '39 coupe is on its second paint job since completion, Black Cherry with red pearl to help it pop in the sun. It's also a Ford running a strong Ford motor, backed up by Moser axles as Terry plans to drag race it occasionally. Yeah!  It's hard to beat the classic...  It's hard to beat the classic "chopped Merc with DeSoto grille" formula, and when it's executed as well as Lars' gold '51, it's easy to see why. Hood scoops, stainless side trim and extended and frenched headlights give it personal identity.  You've got to look awful hard...  You've got to look awful hard to see the '54 Chevy underneath all those modifications and if it weren't for the bodyline on the front fenders and doors we're not sure you'd see it at all! Robert Acosta is the man responsible for this moved-metal masterpiece.  Accented with chrome reverse...  Accented with chrome reverse rims and a chrome grille, Ralph Gonzales' bright satin orange '51 F1 screamed for attention. The pure white interior-sheetmetal, upholstery et all-was the perfect complementary color choice.  Conrad Garcia certainly wowed...  Conrad Garcia certainly wowed the troops with the paint treatment on Blue Mambo. Those silver flames, which cover the whole car, are actually bare metal hit with a softpad on a grinder, then masked off and clear-coated once the blue was applied. Which also means no filler was used anywhere, including on that hard-topped roof chop. Think about that. Good work fella!  While the La Salle grille...  While the La Salle grille is prime kustom fodder, Wolfgang Krew used the whole '37 La Salle and built a killer ride using a 509 big-block Caddy mill, Fatman MII IFS and 12-bolt rearend with airbags all round. The brandywine paint is gorgeous, but it's those sidepipes that slay me. Just fantastic.  With its drab satin green...  With its drab satin green paint and blacked out bumper and grille, Phil Jennemann's '40 Chevy has something of an army staff car look about it. We were digging the nicely-chopped top.  They're not chrome reverse...  They're not chrome reverse rims but silver-painted steels with trim rings, perfectly setting off the lavender paint on Pat Jeter's '31 A pickup. The shorty bed, spun tank and slicks give off a drag vibe, and Pat was stoked to be among the award recipients.  Brian Nieri's Phat Caddy,...  Brian Nieri's Phat Caddy, a '57 Coupe de Ville that has received a 4-inch chop, '57 Stude fins, '48 Chevy rear window, custom dash and numerous other body mods thanks to Frank De Rosa Sr. and Jr., was coated in HoK Pagan Gold, but being parked under a shade tree meant we never got to see its full effect.  It was worth the wait for...  It was worth the wait for Frank and Louise Ledesma to close the hood on their '48 Buick to bring you a picture of this understated metallic green beauty. With a modern tan interior they have the best of both worlds.  Black Cherry, dark metallic...  Black Cherry, dark metallic purple, or whatever you want to call it, seemed to be one of the stronger color choices at Santa Maria this year, and what better to cover Tom Gomez's sliced '47 Chevy coupe, showcasing the flawless bodywork underneath.  Hoodless kustoms seem to be...  Hoodless kustoms seem to be a growing trend, and while it bridges the gap to hot rods, it does interrupt the flow of the lines. It's the same reason kustoms look better displayed with doors and hoods closed at indoor shows. That said, this '37 Chevy was lookin' good.  Cecil Dearo's '54 Chevy hardtop...  Cecil Dearo's '54 Chevy hardtop positively glowed in the sunshine, thanks to its perfectly applied candy paint. Hard to chop well owing to all that stainless trim and the vent windows, this one turned out perfect.
|
|
|