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Primer Nationals Adventures In VenturaFrom the March, 2010 issue of Rod & Custom By Kev Elliot
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Living in Southern California, one can become a little spoiled with hot rod events happening frequently, most within an hour's drive if you live in the L.A. metropolitan area, which is great, but doesn't really give one's rod or custom a chance to stretch its legs on the open highway. It's partly for this reason-to enjoy the drive, after all that's what cars are for! I like to travel a little further to events in Bakersfield, Santa Maria, San Diego, and the high desert, such as Gene Winfield's show or El Mirage. While still local, these are all between a two- and four-hour drive away. Not a huge showgoer these... Not a huge showgoer these days-though let's face it, he's put in more time than most - Jake Jacobs brought two rods down from the high desert, his well-known tub, with Bobby and Melinda Walden behind the raked windshield, and his newest, ultra-cool original paint '34 moredoor. However, none of the aforementioned destinations can offer the scenery provided by Pacific Coast Highway, my preferred route up the coast, to the great beach town of Ventura, location for the Primer Nationals. There's always a good turnout at this event, and 2009's edition was no exception, though the primered rides seemed outnumbered by finished paintjobs. This show is a two-day event, offering the chance to stay in Ventura overnight. But what to do? Maybe cruise over to Kiwi Kev's for his traditional barbecue party, or hit one of the numerous eateries in town, wander the town's historic cultural district, check out any number of venues with live music, or head over to the DicE magazine party? Decisions, decisions, though not as hard to make as those that fell to the judges of the car show, which saw Guillermo Navarro of Los Boulevardos Car Club, or "Goozgaz" as HAMBers will know him as, taking Best of Show for his orange and gold '60 Lincoln. The various class winners were chosen late on Saturday, the winning cars presented in the Winners Circle on Sunday, though by early afternoon we were cruising back down PCH in search of a relaxed late lunch overlooking the ocean.  We liked the subtle scallops...  We liked the subtle scallops on all four fenders of this '51 Merc that had driven down the coast from Santa Maria, as well as the use of inverted '55 Chevy parking lights, while the brightwork framing the grille opening gave it a different look to most Mercs, and that's no easy task!  It's called the Primer Nats...  It's called the Primer Nats but if painted cars are allowed, why not bare metal ones? Cepe's chopped hardtop '40 Merc coupe is coming together nicely, and something tells us the "hard" California winter won't do it too much harm!  Steve Beck's maroon '28 Model...  Steve Beck's maroon '28 Model A phaeton was one of our favorite cars of the event, benefiting from a slightly raked but unchopped windshield and the retention of the front splash apron under the grille. The rear tonneau and slight rubber rake on 16-inch wires completed the period look.  Though same-year Chevys are...  Though same-year Chevys are common kustom fodder, it's unusual to see a '50 Pontiac fastback, which is a shame as they make a very cool kemp. Ojai's Angel Duran made a great job of his satin gold Poncho, adding a white tuck 'n' roll interior. While that beltline trim is stock, it'd be hard to improve upon that flourish on the rear quarters.  With the axle pushed out in...  With the axle pushed out in front to stretch the wheelbase, and its slight "broken back" styling, Derrick Rivera's channeled '30 A coupe had an almost gangster look to it, helped by that great paint scheme and wire wheels wrapped in blackwalls. Very cool.  Dan Chellar made it out to...  Dan Chellar made it out to Ventura from Norwalk with his '56 Chevy, the interior with its swivel bucket seats and aged upholstery giving the 210 away as an old kustom. The front bumper from a '56 Lincoln does a great job of disguising the front end and those twin sidepipes are definitely of their time. We dig 'em!  Want an instantly cool ride...  Want an instantly cool ride that needs little more than lowering, a set of wheels, and some paint? Go buy a '65 Riviera, clean up the grille, and perform the aforementioned mods and you'll be cruising in style, 'cept Jack Strobel beat you to it, and added whitebands to boot!  It's not often you get to...  It's not often you get to see a Deuce cabriolet, and rarer they're rodded. All the way from Sacramento we give you Goran Lassell's vibrant orange blown Flatty example, all the better for running Firestone bias-ply-wrapped, 15-inch chrome five-spokes.  We're seeing a lot of pale...  We're seeing a lot of pale green metallic customs of late, but Tommy Stearns' 'Vette-grilled '49 Chevy Fleetline is one of the finest, with understated bodymods, smoothed bumpers, and a full white tuck 'n' roll interior.  If you think those twin pipes...  If you think those twin pipes look familiar, it's because this is the very shoebox we showed Brad Masterson fitting them to in 2008. The very mild custom Ford-it even retains its door handles and gas filler-features a tonneau over the back seat, nailing its era perfectly.  It's funny but we still think...  It's funny but we still think of cars like this as late-models, though judging by the crowds around Richie Valles' '66 Riviera and the long wait we had to snap this shot, it was certainly popular. Treading a fine line between lowrider and custom, it's another Riv that shows minimal bodymods and great paint 'n' wheels go a long way.  Pasadena's Michael Brennan...  Pasadena's Michael Brennan owns Sandy Belond's prewar dry lakes racer '31 A, originally built in 1937. There's too much history to repeat here, but how about a '39 Merc Flathead ported and relieved by Eddie Meyer that spins to 6,800 rpm and produces 210 hp at 5,500 rpm, a '38 Standard dash, Douglas aircraft switches,'32 frame with extended wheelbase, and many body mods by Sandy Belond and Sam Hanks for starters?  We first met Walter Veljacic...  We first met Walter Veljacic on our R&C cruise to Bonneville in 2008 when he was in his C10 Suburban, and had a good old chat about his '49 Chevy, as he's been following our own project buildup while tackling his. Starting with a car almost as rusty as our own, his still runs a straight-six, albeit very nicely detailed with twin carbs and A/C. Now if he can fit the side glass, he'll benefit from that cool air!
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