Seems Brad Masterson has been making quite a name for himself of late, appearing in numerous magazines and on a number of websites, with favorable comments directed his way from kustom luminaries such as John D'Agistino, George Barris and Bill Hines. Not only has he worked for the latter two, but has set up shop - Masterson Kustoms - in the shop next to the old Barris Kustom shop on Atlantic Avenue in Lynwood, California, with the aim being to eventually move next door and restore the premises to its former glory.
Since opening for business at 11070 Atlantic, Brad has hosted an annual 'Fire Party" on the Saturday closest to December 7, the date the Barris shop next door caught fire in 1957. December 5 2009 saw the biggest turnout to date, with a number of famous, infamous and otherwise people coming and going from 3pm through the evening. A revolving car show both out front on the street (and sidewalk) and in the back alley provided constant reasons to wander out the doors, while inside the shop the Dynatones played to a slide show backdrop of Barris-built kustoms after George's new DVD played to an appreciative audience, the man himself touring his old premises on-screen and talking the viewers through what happened where and when.
It's rare to attend a customs-only event, though a sole Model A coupe showed up while we were there, and this back-to-roots style party so close to where so much happened 50-some years ago was a way cool way to spend a chilly December Saturday night in So-Cal. We've a feeling next year Brad may have to get the city to close the street for the evening!