Pomona - Grand National Roadster Show

I spent all day at the LA Fairplex setting up for the Grand National Roadster Show. Proceeds from the sales of GNRS programs will be donated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Make a difference - come on out and join 40,000 other hot rodders for Haiti!

Show times are:

Friday, January 29th 12pm-9pm

Saturday, January 30th 10am-9pm

Sunday, January 31st 10am-7pm

For more information go to http://www.rodshows.com/gnrs/index.html.

My booth is in Building 4. See you all there.

26th Annual Charlotte in January

The 26th Annual Charlotte in January was presented my Tom Mack Classics (http://www.tommackclassics.com/), and didn't lack excitement with a full attendance of enthusiast!

This classic car event host a antique, classic & collector car auction, swap meet and car corral. The classic car auction moved more than 175 classics including a '68 Plymouth Roadrunner, '72 Super Cheyenne and a '68 Impala SS to name a couple from this great inventory of classics.

Below: Look at this '72 Super Cheyenne 400 with factory AC, and sold for $30,000!

The 25 degree cold temperatures outside the tent didn't slow down the bidding process inside! The Tom Mack Auction crew did an excellent job with the flow of inventory through the block, and enthusiasts had smiles during the show event.

The car corral and swap meet was inside the Metrolina Expo Center. The vendors included Dennis Carpenter Ford Truck, Ford Tractor, Ford Car and Cushman Restoration parts (www.dennis-carpenter.com), Charlotte Rod and Custom (www.charlotterod.com), Vintage Glass (www.vintageglass.com) and Double Nickel Chevy (www.doublenickelchevy.com) to name a couple out of the several who participated.




This camera photo doesn't do this piece any justice, but this all watercolor. Amazing work!

The artist is Dan McCrary, who was among the several unique vendors during the 26th Annual Charlotte in January event. Click on www.dmccraryart.com for complete watercolor technique on a wide selection of classic cars and themes.



Thank you to Tom Mack Classics for host an excellent event! The 10th Annual Spring Fling Auction is April 8th and 9th. Click on http://www.tommackclassics.com/auction/index.html for additional information.

See you at the April event!

2nd Annual New Years Day Ramblin Road Cruise

On January 1st, 2010, the 2nd annual New Year's Day Ramblin Road Cruise was underway! The cruise was presented by Cruisin Carolina Magazine (www.cruisincarolinamagazine.com).


Classic car enthusiast packed together at Puncky's Diner located in Concord, NC and cruised to Al's 50's Diner in Southern Pines, NC. There was approximately 130 classic car's making 80 mile cruise on the 40 degree day.


The cool temperatures didn't sway the spirits of the "car guy!" It was an exciting and scenic drive through the hillside to Southern Pines.

The Sandhills Classic Street Rod Association was gathered to greet the crowd of cruisers. The day started early and ended late, but it was great to gather together with fellow enthusiast to kick tires and talk classic cars! The 2010 classic car season start out with a bang!

Thank you to Punchy's Diner, Al's 50's Diner and Cruisin Carolina Magazine for making this event a success!

Looking forward to 2011!



See you on the road!

RM Auctions presents Icons of Speed and Style

RM Auctions was tasked with finding new homes for an amazing assembly of customs, hot rods and race cars. The Petersen Museum was the perfect venue to auction this diverse collection of motoring history. I was amazed at how many father son duo's arrive to reminisce about the historic cars that were before. I overheard a lot of stories and was able to share a few myself.

1965 Dodge A100 Pickup Truck "Little Red Wagon" greeted everyone as they entered the auction pavilion. It found a new home after the gavel fell at $550,000!

David Kinney, from Hagerty's Cars that Matter, and I swapped some stories about the Deora. Raise your hand if you still have the Deora Hot Wheel! The Deora later sold for $324,000

I loved this '35 Ford Rat Rod Pickup. Sold for $55,000.

1932 Ford Khougaz Lakes Roadster

Sold for $214,500

A great early example of the pioneering spirit to build the fastest car we could. This special roadster topped over 140 mph at the dry lakes in El Mirage

1964 Ed Roth Road Agent

Sold for $187,000

This was another car that gathered gaggles of onlookers who told wicked stories of when they first saw this car arrive onto the show scene...mind blowing they say!

SoCal Speed Shop with Billy Gibbons updated T-Bird

SoCal Speed Shop and the Petersen Automotive Museum teamed up to create a new retail outlet for SoCal Speed apparel. Stop by the Petersen museum to pick up your new favorite t-shirt! It wouldn't be a SoCal event if it didn't include a hotrod. Noted car collector and hot rod enthusiast, Billy F Gibbons, from ZZ Top commissioned his T-Bird for a face lift by SoCal. I was fortunate enough to be on site for the unveiling however, Billy was not, he was in Japan playing a few gigs. All was not lost, I was surrounded by several enthusiasts who were there to see the car anyways!

Both Alex Xydias from SoCal and Dick Messer from the Petersen Museum said a few words about the importance of SoCal Speed Shop to the southern California hot rod scene.

The anticipation is mounting!

Whoa! that silk parachute practically slipped right off the mirror paint finish!

In all its glory, another hot rod puts smiles on the faces of those that are around. The fit and finish on this hot rod are true to SoCal's legendary builds. My favorite was the custom two-tone interior. I am sure Billy is going to love cruizen his new bird!

Evan's Antique Auto Garage

Evans Antique Auto Garage's nondescript location just north of downtown San Diego. Inside it's less than elegant exterior are picture perfect vehicles from the collection of Bill Evans, many of them one of a kind. Attendees can dine or mingle and enjoy Evans' impressive collection, which also includes antique clothing and furniture. Certainly not your everyday garage.

Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs

While the Bengals may have lost last weekend, downtown Cincinnati was still going strong for the annual Cavalcade of Customs at Duke Energy Convention Center! It was great to see younger generations getting involved in the hobby. With Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, that kid from Hanna Montana, and BMX riders in attendance, how could the kids NOT attend?!? To get a list of future Cavalcade of Custom (aka Autorama, aka World of Wheels) events, check out their website at http://www.autorama.com/casi/ . You certainly won't be dissapointed with the amazing machines in attendance. Check out some photos from the event:

Hagerty's Cars That Matter

If you're looking for a price guide that reports the most current and up-to-date prices, look no further! Hagerty's Cars That Matter price guide is published quarterly, so you never have to wonder if the price you're looking at is outdated. With the economy moving up and down like a rollercoaster, it's nice to have current prices to review. Check out their website to read more: http://www.carsthatmatter.com/ What's nice about this price guide, is you get the paper copy, online access, and even mobile access! Yes, those people over at Cars That Matter are pretty tech savvy! Below is an intro of their newsletter sent out via e-mail (if I were tech savvy, there would be some sweet pictures on here, but you're out of luck!):

Hagerty lists top "threatened, endangered and extinct" cars
Rob Sass - 2009-12-04

The passenger pigeon was once the most common bird in North America. Flocks were said to have blackened the skies. Yet history records that the last passenger pigeon-a bird named "Martha"- died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.

Scant attention, however, was paid to the last chirp of the Plymouth Cricket. Thousands of these British-made captive imports were sold by Chrysler-Plymouth dealers in the early 1970s, yet evidence of it in the automotive fossil record is nearly non-existent. The Chevrolet Monza did an even bigger disappearing act. More than 300,000 Monzas were produced between 1975 and 1980, yet recent sightings have been so infrequent that the Chevy Monza must surely be considered "threatened."

Other once popular cars have likely disappeared to the extent that they're "endangered" or even "extinct." Honestly, when's the last time anyone saw a Chrysler Cordoba (with or without the "rich Corinthian leather?")


Continue reading on the Hagerty Insurance Website: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102895830540&s=3498&e=001amIGiigWOBX8juFEcWwj5trEOhhlNqZJkS6Xt87w6GRL2n8I8O05S2UPu8LACFtOE-NQOBtbvmBa8f0FJbreG9xv_d2UYwG4ynyLlBZfSkFRkvg8IvAyND4ccCOOnhj4lhKRUETqE_1f0MxP8U_Ss2ItOO1KyA1-_O7SVS7c4Kg=.
___________________________________________________________________________________