Small-town car shows are the foundation this hobby is built upon. The biggies are great--and it's hard to beat a massive fairground swamper like The Nationals or Pleasanton--but little shows in little towns, put on by local car clubs, are what keep people interested and involved on an immediate basis. Of course, sometimes those little towns don't stay little, and their little shows can get pretty damn big. That's exactly what has happened to The Run To The Sun, put on every year by the Relics and Rods car club in beautiful Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
Over the past three decades or so, this sleepy, little lakeside town on the California/Arizona border has grown tremendously, from a tiny desert watering hole to a booming tourist destination famous (or infamous) for its summertime boating crowds and wild party atmosphere. According to members of two of the four major car clubs in town, the Relics and Rods and The Over The Hill Gang, Havasu has also become a prime destination for street rodders, as they claim there are more old cars per capita in this town than anywhere else in the county (of course the hot, dry, rustproof climate doesn't hurt). This growing reputation as a rodder's haven certainly hasn't hurt the turnout of the city's largest show, as the Run To The Sun celebrated its silver anniversary this year with over 1,000 entries.
Things kicked off on a Wednesday evening in October with a welcome dinner for participants from 20 states, representing 150 different car clubs. The next day, Lake Havasu's main street (McCulloch Blvd.) was shut down and roped off for participant cruising and power parking, and by evening's end the road was lined with pre-'59 rods and customs spanning the length of the town. The warm, little desert town truly opens its arms to visiting show participants every year, and 2002 was no exception. Local police provided traffic control, and residents came out in droves to gawk and dream about their particular favorite ride. Friday and Saturday the actual show 'n' shine took place on the greens of the Ramada Inn golf course, and Sunday was left open as a traveling day for participants to head home.
Overall, the 25th Annual Run To The Sun was a great time for everyone involved and should definitely be a priority for those looking to get in one last show before Old Man Winter rears his ugly head. For details on next year's event, check in with the host club at www.relicsandrods.com.
John and Mary Booth of Kocklin,...
John and Mary Booth of Kocklin, CA, hauled out their hot, little Deuce hauler for the show. The chopped and flamed Deuce pickup looked outstanding with an excellent flame job and a spot-on rake.
The kustom kemp crowd was...
The kustom kemp crowd was well represented by Bob Simpson's '54 Chevy Bel Air and Bob Williamson's '50 Ford coupe. Featuring similar grilles and nasty stances, both these rides were ready for the road.
We dig Tri-Five B.O.P. customs,...
We dig Tri-Five B.O.P. customs, and this subtle beauty was no exception. Al Hammersley's '55 Olds started out life as a four-door sedan before receiving the kustom treatment. The back door was filled, shaved, and welded, the headlights were frenched, and the entire package was slathered in Brandywine metallic paint. Timeless.
Mopar aficionados were well...
Mopar aficionados were well represented at the show by Lake Havasu Over The Hill Gang member Dwayne Boyer's gorgeous '35 Dodge pickup. The little truck was all-Dodge too, as power comes from a Mopar Performance small-block crate motor.
Early-'50s Chevy woodies are...
Early-'50s Chevy woodies are rare, and this subtle rod would make a bitchin' beach cruiser.
Local new car powerhouse Bradley...
Local new car powerhouse Bradley Ford and Bradley Chevrolet stepped up with some sweet prizes for the raffle, including crate motors from Ford Racing and GM Performance Parts.
The super-sano '39 Ford roadster...
The super-sano '39 Ford roadster shown here utilized a contemporary theme carried throughout the car to garner a few trophies for owner Dan Carter of Yorba Linda, CA.
Dave Eltzholtz of Bonsall,...
Dave Eltzholtz of Bonsall, CA, drove this interesting rod out to the show, and you couldn't help but be impressed by the quality of workmanship shown throughout the owner-fabricated body and frame.
According to Dave, the entire...
According to Dave, the entire car was built from scratch, including the body. He started with raw sheetmetal and steel tubing, and the entire project was meant to be a learning experience in fabrication techniques. He learned to TIG-weld and bead roll on the car, and even the front wheels were narrowed at home in the garage!
Power comes from a fairly...
Power comes from a fairly traditional 327 Chevy, a single four-barrel Holley, and an interesting homemade air cleaner.
Recognize this bright-orange...
Recognize this bright-orange beauty? Gary and Jan Riley's incredible '32 sedan delivery was named one of last year's Rod & Custom 100 Best, and seeing it again reminded us exactly why the car was picked. Flawless fit and finish and a stunning paint job make this phantom Deuce a memorable ride.
Willie Lopez drove his funkadellic...
Willie Lopez drove his funkadellic '29 school bus down to the show from Pueblo, CO, and he had room to bring the entire family with him. The inside of this screaming yellow zonker is decked out like a super-plush motorhome, which makes us think he might do well in next year's Asphalt Ego-Rama. Of course, dragstrip times might be a bit hampered...
Slowly but surely Shoebox...
Slowly but surely Shoebox Chevys are shedding their street machine image in favor of a more traditional custom flavor. John Gervais' subtle kustom featured a tube grille, lakes pipes, and spinner caps set off by silky silver paint. We dug it.
In an appropriately ironic...
In an appropriately ironic move, the owner of this Amphicar decided to check out the Lake Havasu show with his own factory custom. We like the propellers underneath the car. In fact, we were thinking about adding some props to Editor Jim Rizzo's daily driver and then "borrowing" the car for some testing. Maybe he won't notice...
"Buick Rita" of Lake Havasu...
"Buick Rita" of Lake Havasu City brought out this interesting ride, which, besides the satin pink and purple paint job, featured lots of kustom touches like a chopped top, frenched headlights and antenna, lakes pipes, and a narrow-pleat, all-white tuck 'n' roll interior.
Adding to the Run To The Sun's...
Adding to the Run To The Sun's Southwestern flair were the show trophies, which resembled Native American kachina dolls. They looked great and would certainly be more meaningful than the typical gold plastic piece.