After a year hiatus the Grandaddy of them All, The Grand National Roadster Show returns to the Fairplex in Pomona. Home of the NHRA Winternationals & Finals, the popular Pomona Swap Meet, LA County Fair, and the LA Roadsters Show. The complex of 10 buildings and vast grounds is an excellent venue for such a distinguished event. For three days in late January hot rodders from all over the world converge to compete for the coveted “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” Award (AMBR) and the Al Slonaker (founder of the show) Memorial Award (non-roadster). Dozens of other trophies are given for 1st through 3rd place in each vehicle respected category from 1973 and earlier model years. Special “pick” and “display” awards are also presented on Sunday evening.
Building 4 (the main building) hosts the 8 contenders for the AMBR trophy, the main stage, featured builders exhibit, and significant vendors. Building 9 is dedicated each year for a different theme and this year they celebrate “A Gathering of Hot VW’s”. In there we find the JayCee/EMPI 1956 drag bug entered from Jack/Ashlynn Sacchette Father/Daughter race team and features a custom exhaust from Burns Stainless with our reverse cone race muffler and X-Design Program layout.
Building 10 is the “Suede Palace” hosting traditional style hot rods and customs with their own stage playing Rock-A-Billy bands throughout the day. The other buildings are a nice mix of musclecars, racecars, street rods, trucks and the like. Between the buildings on Saturday and Sunday are “Drive-In” cars were local enthusiasts bring their pre 1973 vehicles and park among the crowd. Also on the grounds is a corral sponsored by So Cal Speed Shop and C.W. Moss Ford Parts with few dozen significant 1932 Fords to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the “Deuce”.
The show lives up to its moniker as the Grandaddy of them All showcasing important vehicles, and the people who build and support them. We highly recommend a visit to Southern California in late January for the Grand National Roadster Show. You won’t be disappointed.
