Party in the Park

If Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, the West Coast Kustoms' Cruisin' Nationals must signal the unofficial kickoff of boulevard crawlin' for Left Coasters with lead in their veins and candy colors on their brains.

The custom faithful have been gathering in or near Paso Robles, California, on this weekend since 1981. That's the year Rich and Penny Pichette got fed up with "pre-'48-only" events, called a few friends and custom cohorts, and hosted their own low-and-slow affair. Less than 100 cars showed up for the first shindig; even fewer came the next year. Things grew steadily through the '80s and '90s, however, and the event that many simply call "Paso" has routinely surpassed its 850-car capacity for the past decade.

Why Paso? Initially it was logistics--the town is basically halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 101. Hospitality is another factor. Since the early '90s the city of Paso Robles has offered West Coast Kustoms (WCK) the town square park and much of the historic downtown area for the event. They also shut down Paso's main drag, Spring Street, for a Friday-night cruise open only to show participants. Combine that with the central coast region's wineries and other tourist activities, and you've got a great vacation destination to go with your car show location.

There's more to it than a quaint little town with great logistics, though. There's a spirit to Paso that keeps folks coming back year after year. Maybe it's the laid-back atmosphere of having a simple car show in the park. Perhaps it's the co-mingling of older rod and custom fans with the younger generation, or the fact that you're likely to see or meet such luminaries as Gene Winfield, Larry Watson, Bill Hines, or George Barris while you're strolling around. Paso may be smaller than many shows, but it compensates with a character that few can match.

A couple factors set 2004 apart from years past. The December '03 earthquake that struck Paso Robles hit the downtown area hardest, destroying several historic buildings and severely damaging many more. Event vendors responded by holding a silent auction to raise money for repair efforts. This year's show also celebrated the work of the Alexander Brothers. Both Mike and Larry were on hand, as were several of their well-known creations, including the Golden Indian Pontiac, The Grasshopper pickup, and the clone of the Adonis.

Anyone who digs custom cars and traditional hot rods owes it to him- or herself to make the Paso pilgrimage at least once. The accompanying photos should show you why.