Grand and Great

For the first time in its 55-year history, the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) was held in Southern California at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, California. Certainly the oldest, and regarded by many as the most famous indoor rod and custom show, the GNRS started at the Oakland Coliseum as the Oakland Roadster Show 5-1/2 decades ago.

In recent years, a greater effort has been made to find a more suitable venue during January. The show's former producer, Donald Tognotti of Show Promotions, moved the GNRS to South San Francisco, and current owners Dan and Charlene Cyr, of Dan Cyr Enterprises, eventually relocated to the Fairplex in San Mateo, California.

Competition from the Sacramento show has reduced the number of attendees to the GNRS in recent years. Since Southern California is the mecca for all things automotive, moving the show to Southern California was a logical business decision. However, with more than a half-century tradition, moving the event around hasn't been without a fair amount of controversy. But, if you were one of the many fortunate participants, vendors, or attendees, you experienced the overwhelming fact that the 2004 show was a huge success on several points.

Walking the aisles in one of the three buildings was like visiting your favorite mall at Christmas. Being more accustomed to covering outdoor shows, we were struck by the crowds of lusting gearheads who flocked to see the shimmering hot-rod haulers, roadsters, dragsters, various vendors, motorcycles, street rods, hot rods, and the artful dioramas that housed the rolling and rumbling running works of industrial art. With so many attendees craning to view the latest hot-rod creations, we had to escape outdoors at times, where vendors such as Moon Eyes and American Racing Wheels had more throngs of potential paying customers.

The 55th Annual Grand National Roadster Show wrapped up on Sunday, January 25, 2004, setting a new attendance record for the first time the show was located in the Pomona Fairplex. Dan Cyr told CCT that the West Coast's Premiere hot rod and custom car show would return to Pomona in 2005 and perhaps extend its stay even longer. Dan Cyr stated, "Southern California is the birthplace of the hot rod and has the highest concentration of automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts, as well as professional builders in the country.

The 2004 Grand National Roadster Show drew the highest quality of vehicles ever on display, and only time will tell if the tradition for excellence will continue. We have confidence that the rolling works of art will do as the show has done -- they will evolve as necessary to continue to draw the crowds who come to see the finest hot rods and customs on the planet."

CCT was pleased to find a large number of the outstanding vehicles were trucks and commercial vehicles. Here are some of those we found most outstanding, as well as a list of the show's Special Awards recipients for 2004.