POMONA, CA – After two-days of tramping the show floor at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, poking, probing and analyzing this eye popping array of custom cars, trucks, classics, motorcycles and hot rods the judges reached a decision and selected one car to receive the most coveted award in hot rod-dom, “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster.”
Rudy Necoechea took home the trophy for his heavily modified, hand-crafted, sleekly finished, satin gold stunner that rotated on a custom built stand resembling a roulette wheel. The gamble paid off for Rudy and the team from Scott’s Hot Rods in Oxnard, California.
Clutching his trophy the visibly moved winner choked back tears as he repeated, “We did it, we did it.” Bringing the car to this level of completion took over three and a half years. “It’s been a long road,” said Necoechea.
The car was a finalist for the “Riddler Award” at last year’s Autorama in Detroit. This show, and the Grand National Roadster Show, set the standards for the hobby and Rudy and his team became determined to go for the gold here this year. They decided they needed to do a “complete rebuild” to really compete.
The reward was worth all the effort and the culmination of the 39 year-old winner’s fascination with cars that started in his early teens when his mother told him he could have her 1973, 240-Z if he could make it run. “I did and I still have it,” he said.
Over 500 other awards were handed out that evening to a wide array of cars and motorcycles built by a racially, ethnically and economically diverse group of men and women of all ages, from all over the country and even one hot rodder who brought his car over from Sweden.
It’s called, “The longest running indoor car show in the world.” I began to think it’s also the longest award show in the world as trophies were handed out in over 16 categories and 170 classes. But the enthusiasm of the participants and the time and effort they spent making their dream rides sparkle made you understand why there were so many awards.
This is a monumental task for the professional judges who award points based on detail, quality, condition, safety and originality.
All of the entrants must run, drive forward and reverse and turn left and right under their own power. These are not so-called “trailer queens,” built for show only. The goal is to encourage people to drive their dreams.
This collection of outstanding vehicles attracted over 25,000 visitors who braved the rain and headed to the Fairplex in Pomona where they ogled and lusted after more than 500 cars displayed indoors and another 400 outdoors.
It wasn’t just about the cars. Custom car heroes like George Barris were on hand to meet the fans and talk about their favorite subject --- cars. He was seen working his way through the crowd checking out the innovation and craft of the current generation. He said he was amazed by what he saw.
This year also happened to be the 50th anniversary of his winning the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award for his creamy white, “Ala Kart,” the only car to win the prize two years in a row.
Famed builder Roy Brizio recently completed the restoration of this famous custom and to mark this special moment the car, along with original owner, Richard Peters joined Barris at the event.
Barris explained how the car got its name, the “Ala Kart.” He said it was, “the result of a bunch of Amenians getting together for lunch, talking about cars, looking at the menu.”
While Barris is known for his rich and lustrous paint jobs one participant, Rock n Roll Hall of Famer, guitarist and frontman for ZZ Top, Billy F Gibbons, was showing a penchant for the raw look of the Rat Rod.
He’s also owned a number of wild hot rods that were featured on the band’s album covers and in their music that have become classics over the years, like the Kopperhead, CaZZilla and the Eliminator coupe that will be forever identified with their hit “Legs.”
Gibbons was at his stand during the weekend show talking to fans about cars and rock n roll as well as signing autographs and selling his “Rock + Roll Gearhead” book.
But the cars and motorcycles were the real stars. It was hard not to linger at every one and think about getting behind the wheel and heading out on the highway.
For those who have a nostalgia bent – Candy Clark, of American Graffiti fame was on hand to sign autographs and let people know that 2008 marks the 35th anniversary of this classic coming of age film. There’s a big celebration planned in Petaluma, California, where the picture was shot. So mark your calendar for May 13 – 15 and for next year’s Grand National Roadster Show.
You know if start now, you might just be ready to see your car named, “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster.”
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