WINTERTIME TRADITION

2017 Grand National Roadster Show

THOUGH THE SHOW season peaks in the summertime, there are a few winter events that set the pace for the rest of the year. The Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) not only starts it all off, it does it in style. In fact, the show is such a big deal that it has been around for 68 years in a row, making it the world’s longest running indoor car show. Originally held in Oakland, California, the show has since moved to the Pomona Fairplex, and this last event was held Jan. 27-29.

One of the highlights of the show is being able to view the vehicles in competition for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award. With previous winners like George Barris and

Boyd Coddington, the battle for the title is always fierce. Earning the title also comes with prizes, like getting your name engraved on the coveted 9-foot-tall trophy and a cash award of $10,000. U.s.-built vehicles 1937 and older are eligible for entry, including pickups of that era.

This is definitely one of our favorite shows because it has something for everybody. The three-day invitational always feels like three different events in one, because each day brings a different element. The show kicked off on a Friday with more than seven halls full of custom vehicles, including one that featured special sections for motorcycles, lowriders and custom trucks. Another amazing hall was the Suede Palace, which featured the community of rat-stylized classic vehicles.

This show is large and always brings more than 500 top-notch customs competing for awards, plus hundreds more rolling in for the GNRS Drive-in. This outdoor area features vehicles from all generations from lowered C-10s to early Task Force GM trucks. If you’re into Fords, there were also several classic versions on display. From rats to shiny showstoppers, they all rolled in Saturday bringing a different feel to the show each day as the event transformed.

The GNRS has been held since 1950, and it has always been a great way to kick off the year. We can’t wait to do this three-day event all over again. For more info on next year’s show, visit Rodshows.com.

THE THREE-DAY INVITATIONAL ALWAYS FEELS LIKE THREE DIFFERENT EVENTS IN ONE, BECAUSE EACH DAY BRINGS A DIFFERENT ELEMENT.”

STEVE ROGER’S ’63 C-10 LOOKED GREAT IN THE HOT RODS & HOBBIES BOOTH.

PRE-1937 ROADSTERS, LIKE THIS SWEET PICKUP, WERE IN COMPETITION TO WIN A SPOT ON THE 9-FOOT-TALL AMBR TROPHY AND $10,000 IN CASH.

RICHARD MARTELLA’S ’69 C-10 WAS CREATED BY BOB GRANT BASED ON WORK BY STEVE’S ROD SHOP AND LUCKY 7 CUSTOMS. IT WAS FINALLY FINISHED OFF AND WON FIRST PLACE IN THE RADICAL PICKUP CLASS.

THE FOLKS AT GALPIN FORD FOUND ED “BIG DADDY” ROTH’S F-100 AND RESTORED IT TO ITS ORIGINAL LOOK.

BUILT BY SICCHOPS, RICH TILLEMA’S ’61 BLAZER TOOK HOME THE OUTSTANDING ENGINEERED AWARD AND FIRST PLACE IN THE UTILITY WAGON–FULL CLASS.

ADAM SIMM’S ’53 CHEVY HAD SOME COOL TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE AND LEFT WITH BEST TRUCK AWARD AND FIRST PLACE IN THE FULL PICKUP CLASS.