For the second year in a row I attended the Grand National Roadster Show with Mike Reeves. It was even better than last year!
On Saturday morning at 5:30AM, in the unseasonably-cold darkness, Mike stopped to pick me up. This year I knew to bring a warm hat, coat, gloves and blanket. The simplicity of Mike's 32 Ford Roadster doesn't allow for a heater (anyway, heaters are for sissies).
We made the drive to Pomona arriving with the earliest participants. After filling the gas tank with fuel and our tummies with Starbucks we took our place next to Exhibit Hall #6 along side similar vintage roadsters.
Mike's car is so clean and classic it always attracts a crowd. Here is Mike encouraging a future rodder to enjoy the '32.
It is amazing to me how many people -- and cars -- Mike knows. He introduced me to dozens of friends throughout the day. One stop was to ask some technical questions of a custom builder from South San Francisco, Roy Brezio. I was very impressed with the cars that their shop has custom built for their customers (four were on display, and one was entered in the judging for "America's Most Beautiful Roadster").
I'm always on the lookout for a really nice 1933 or 34 Ford Roadster or three-window coupe. My favorite this year was this beauty!
Some really nice Corvettes work their way into this car show every year. Here was my favorite for 2016. How cool would it look in the garage next to Nan's Blue 56?
A personal highlight for me was finally meeting the legendary publisher of "The Rodder's Journal", Steve Coonan. Steve is a big hero to the Beltsville Shell crowd, one of our own who left Maryland for California to find his fame and fortune. I have just missed catching Steve at various car shows over the years, but this time I was able to visit with him. He has read "Beltsville Shell: You Are What You Drive" and even has memories that intersect with some stories in the book. I really enjoyed connecting with Steve.
We have had some bitterly cold weather and rain in San Diego this season. The skies were overcast all day. When we decided to leave for the ride home we were wondering if we would get caught in the rain. Sure enough, with about 40 miles to go a light rain began to fall.
You will notice that Mike's car has no side windows and no windshield wipers (wipers are for sissies!). But Mike has driven the little '32 all across the country and he knew exactly the speed to drive to keep us remarkably dry. We actually survived really well all the way to Carlsbad!
It was another fantastic day. Best of all, we learned on Sunday that the Brezio family won the 2016 award for America's Most Beautiful Roadster! So cool! Thank you so much, Mike!
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