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The Great IndoorsThe 55th Grand National Roadster Show From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Damon Lee, Tim Bernsau
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Weird how there are people who still call this event the Oakland Roadster Show. Maybe they're forgetful. More likely it's the show's heritage. For decades the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) was held at the Oakland Coliseum. If traditionalists were upset when "Oakland" moved to San Mateo a few years ago, you should've heard them moan when they found out that it was leaving the hallowed shores of San Francisco Bay for the smog-swathed netherworld of L.A. County. We, on the other hand, were thrilled. Southern California is not only the home of hot rodding, it's our home as well. Going to the GNRS is no longer a day's drive--it's a freeway away. Sweet! The L.A. County Fairplex in Pomona is the perfect location for the Show, with a heritage all its own. The NHRA Museum is there, the Winternats and World Finals open and close the drag racing season there, and the L.A. Roadsters have their gig there every June. Of course, the GNRS isn't about drag racing, or even shade tree parking. It's about primped and pampered show cars. That's fancy stuff for hot rodders but a treat just the same, especially when you're talking about the most mouth-watering rods, customs, and bikes assembled under one roof--actually three roofs since almost 300 cars spilled over into three separate buildings at the Fairplex. Move or no move, the turnout from participants and spectators exceeded expectations, according to GNRS head honcho Dan Cyr, who told us that he was very happy with the number of entrants as well as the representation of both high-tech and traditional cars. Cyr says the Grand National Roadster Show will expand into five fairground buildings when it returns to Pomona in 2005, and that he and the Fairplex folks are currently negotiating several more years in Pomona. Even sweeter!  It's been more than a year...  It's been more than a year since Jack White of Spokane, WA, told us he was turning a rare '36 Chrysler Airflow into a custom rod. Its debut was delayed but worth the wait--especially for Jack and his wife Sue, who left Pomona with several trophies, including the Sweepstakes Award for Custom and the Outstanding Detail prize. The pavement-hugging Chrysler features full Kugel suspension and is powered by a Viper V-10 engine.  So-Cal Speed Shop is spittin'...  So-Cal Speed Shop is spittin' distance from the Fairplex and had a bunch of iron on display. Traditional Deuce highboys, in addition to being beautiful, make a statement. Larry Corn's flamed '32 wears a slew of custom billet trim items considering it's a traditional rod. We're the first to bash clashing themes, but here it all works. Note also the peaked hood and the over-the-rails external headers.  This '32, built by Jimmy Shine...  This '32, built by Jimmy Shine and the So-Cal crew and owned until recently by Kirk White, uses a lot of real-world, off-the-shelf parts and runs a blown Ardun flathead backed up by a Tremec five-speed.  The big prize at the GNRS...  The big prize at the GNRS is America's Most Beautiful Roadster, awarded this year to this '36 Ford, which was built by Larry Ruth, was painted by Mike's Paint & Body, and is owned by Charlie Lambetecchio of Fresno, CA. The handbuilt steel roadster features a 605hp 406 Donovan engine. Lambetecchio just missed winning Ridler honors at the '03 Detroit Autorama but took Best Street Rod at the Fresno Autorama.  This '27 Ford Model T roadster,...  This '27 Ford Model T roadster, named "Mijit" by owner Davey Williams of Northridge, CA, was built from a Steve Stanford concept drawing and earned itself an AMBR Class Award. We'd call it a high-tech interpretation of the track Ts we're honoring in this issue. The custom frame was built by Frantic Fred Hot Rods and body chores were accomplished by Marcel De Ley, who has done metalwork on previous AMBR cars.  Jay and Kathy Losi of Westlake,...  Jay and Kathy Losi of Westlake, CA, took an AMBR Class Award for this all-steel '32 that gets in your face fast courtesy of some radical rolling stock (Hoosier big 'n' biggers on Budnik rims) and a blown 441 Donovan Hemi that once powered a Top Fuel Funny Car.  Nick and Donna Phillips of...  Nick and Donna Phillips of Lake Point, UT, own this "re-creation" of a Barris Kustom '55 Chevy driven by Sam Barris. In 2002, Bo Huff (who had driven the original in the '50s) built this cool clone of the long-gone custom, starting with a two-door post sedan and adding '56 Ford trim, a '56 Chrysler grille, '59 Impala headlight bezels, and a white tuck 'n' roll interior.  Barry White's Street Rod Repair...  Barry White's Street Rod Repair Company shares real estate with the R&C Tech Center, so we sometimes get a sneak peek at ongoing projects. This wildly reworked '36, owned by Kent and Lisa Matranga, is one. The custom carbon fiber body was worked by Marcel DeLey. Mark Mahood shot the paint, and Gabe Lopez added the interior. It won an AMBR Class Award and the People's Choice prize. White was honored with the GNRS Builder of the Year Award.  There's a lot of history packed...  There's a lot of history packed into Roger Morrison's '28 A flathead roadster. Originally built and raced by Bud Neumiester in the early '50s, it was featured in Hot Rod Magazine. In 2002, Roger took the car to Dave Crouse of Custom Auto in Loveland, CO, where it was restored to its '54 condition. According to the Goodguys Gazette, the original sheetmetal, original chrome, and '50s-era tuck 'n' roll were all in excellent condition.  We published M.K. John's renderings...  We published M.K. John's renderings of John D'Agostino's '41 Packard and '67 Cadillac three issues ago. The radically chopped and slammed Packard was built in the style of a '40s-era "Hollywood Custom."  The elegantly shaved custom...  The elegantly shaved custom Eldo as well as the Packard were both built primarily by Oz Welch of Oz's Kustoms. Divine's Custom Interiors dressed up the innards of both customs and Oz's painted them, with help from Gene Winfield on the Cadillac.  Even without mirrors, stands,...  Even without mirrors, stands, or velvet ropes, we really liked David and Brian James' nuthin'-fancy '29 Model A. The body is the original sheetmetal, massaged and painted by the owners. Glendora Auto Trim did a beautiful job on the two-tone interior. The Chevy small-block is matched with a TH350 trans.  When Harry Bradley designs...  When Harry Bradley designs a custom car, the results are always dramatic. John Babcock's "Afterglow" '40 Merc, built by Donn Lowe, has the aura of an old Valley Custom creation, but with a modern twist.
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First & Foremost
For most of us, it's the first big event of the season, and for 56 years, the Grand National...
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