Just when it seemed like the Grand National Roadster Show had gotten to be as big and about as good as it could get, after last year's celebration of its 60th consecutive running, they go and step it up even further. That's right, on top of the usual vast array of show cars-ranging from America's Most Beautiful Roadster contenders to panel-painted lowriders-filling over half a dozen buildings at the Pomona Fairplex, the show expanded itself to include two brand-new exhibits: the Vintage Race Car Display and, the one we're most proud of, Cars That Made A Difference: Famous Magazine Cover Cars.
Seems that Don Smith prefers...
Seems that Don Smith prefers his '32 Fords brightly colored-that, or he wanted to make sure "HemRod" (his Tudor built by Pinkee's) had a suitable mate! "GoldenRod", his latest, was an AMBR contender, entered on behalf of Roy's Body Shop (Beach City, TX). Wheels are Mike Curtis-crafted; power by H&H Flatheads.
Judging from the feedback received during the show alone, those two components of the Grand National were quite the success. But rather than interpret the cover car display in our obviously biased manner (we were responsible for putting it on), we've given roving rod reporter Dain Gingerelli the honor, which you'll find further ahead in our show coverage. As for the historic racers, well, much like the 75th Anniversary '32 Ford exhibit, that too was the talk of the crowds, and deservedly so. But there was more-much, much more.
As has been the case pretty much since its inception, the competition was fierce for America's Most Beautiful Roadster honors. And so too was the variety of the vehicle entrants-everything from polished traditional to over-the-top contemporary. In the end, the latter (Mike Dingman's '33 roadster) would leave with the tall trophy and the trimmings that come with. Above and beyond the "main building" spectacles, this year's GNRS didn't skip a beat, with its supporting attractions, including the Suede Palace and the outdoor Drive-In, where all the voids between the Fairplex buildings are filled with cars on Saturday and Sunday.
To sum it up, the Granddaddy of Them All made history ... once again.
One of the last vehicles to...
One of the last vehicles to be featured on Speed Channel's Chop, Cut, Rebuild may actually end up being one the show's coolest-at least as far as we're concerned! Ted's Rod Shop was filmed transforming this '40 Merc from rusty shell into the candy-coated custom you see here.
Quite a few of the manufacturers/exhibitors...
Quite a few of the manufacturers/exhibitors had their booths filled with some great local talent. The Audio Shoppe and Arc Audio teamed up with Richie Valles' '50 Chevy fastback "Tangerine Dream".
If you hadn't noticed, color...
If you hadn't noticed, color was anything but bland this year-but that's to be expected from someone like Darryl Hollenbeck (Vintage Color Studio), the artist responsible for the throwback theme on Norm Ricardo's '59 Ford wagon "Mi Rancho Grande". Here's another one you'll be seeing more of soon.
Rick Dore used the 61st Grand...
Rick Dore used the 61st Grand National as a coming out for his latest sweetheart, a beautiful blue '50 Caddy roadster complete with a fifty-fifty (half painted, half fabric-covered) Carson-style top. Look for more on this one in as we feature it in a coming issue.
In the main building, Jeb...
In the main building, Jeb Scolman set up camp to display some of his shop's product, including a customer's '39 convertible currently underway. You may recall the '36 three-window Scolman built for John Mearns that R&C featured not too long ago.
Richard Zocchi's not afraid...
Richard Zocchi's not afraid to start with a make/model that few others would ever consider-and the outcome's always the same: a cool custom. His '68 Dodge Polara made the grade thanks to John Aiello's handiwork, Art Himsl's artwork, and Bob Divine's interior work.
Our ol' pal Jim Noteboom,...
Our ol' pal Jim Noteboom, aka Bones, brought out his newest custom, a '37 Packard he's dubbed "Zoot Zooter", a collaboration between Ken Ginnings (chassis/fab), Lopez Enterprises (paint), and Deluxe Auto Interiors. Fittingly, Bones chose a '55 Packard V-8 for power.
It wasn't too long ago that...
It wasn't too long ago that R&C featured Robert Lomas' memorable chopped '34 Ford three-window. This year, while his GNRS entry is quite a bit more on the mild side, the '51 Vicky is no less as gorgeous-and probably a lot easier to see out of!
Richard Munz admired a Stanley...
Richard Munz admired a Stanley Wanlass sculpture so much that he commissioned Jim Busby to create a full-scale version of the Ardun-powered '32 roadster. About the only part Busby wasn't able to nail down was the sculpture's driver-until he test-drove it for the first time, that is!
There was much talk about...
There was much talk about "new debuts", and one of those topics of discussion just happened to be George Poteet's "Miller Hauler Special". Designed and built by Brian Stinger (Stinger's Hot Rod Shop), the '32 was done as a tribute to the race car legend it's named after-Harry A. Miller. "Our version of his Indy shop truck", as they refer to it.