As a rule, when it comes to writing a magazine article, it's always considered a good practice to write it in second person rather than an "i did this, and I did that" story in first person. That said, I'm writing this story in first person because I believe there must be a least a million people out there who will identify directly with my experience as a lifelong fan of the Grand national roadster Show and with all the nostalgic elements associated with it.
When I was a kid we just simply called it "Oakland." Anyone who was cool knew exactly what you were talking about. One of the coolest full-custom trucks ever built debuted in 1958 in Oakland, California: George Barris' "ala kart." The pretty little Pearl White, hemi-powered roadster pickup reappeared in '59 to take home the monstrous ambr (america's Most Beautiful roadster) trophy for a second year in a row. This was only the beginning for the "ala kart." More was to come, including an appearance on the October '58 cover of hot rod. Then in 1961 it was shrunken to 1.25-scale and immortalized in white polystyrene plastic by AMT.
One half century later, for the 59th annual gnrs, the "ala kart" was on hand in all of its restored glory-complete with a show display that echoed the original. Even the jackstands were wrapped up in aluminum foil-and the public-restroom-style mirror displaying the fully chromed undercarriage was in place.
Today there are still a lot of us who continue to call the Grand national roadster Show "Oakland," even though it has moved to the Pomona Fairgrounds, in Pomona, California. Producer John Buck has taken the event from its first-year debut in two buildings, on to a second year with five buildings, and then ultimately to a whopping seven buildings for 2008. Next year the gnrs will be celebrating its 60th birthday, and there is no doubt the granddaddy of them all will be a must-do for anyone, anywhere on this planet, to attend. For you european residents, we suggest that you sell all of your personal belongings and fly trans love airlines to Pomona, California ... it will be worth it.
Not to mention our april '08...
Not to mention our april '08 cover, featuring Daroll Frewing's '08 gnrs winner a '53 Chevy, the show as swarming with former cct cover trucks. One good way to get your truck into show coverage is a sign with a cct cover on it.
What ever happened to eddie?...
What ever happened to eddie? Butch Patrick, known to most as eddie Munster, was at the gnrs, and he was digging it.
Unfortunately, the Munster...
Unfortunately, the Munster Coach couldn't be driven in the rain, so eddie rolled up in this coffin rail known as the "Drag-U-la."
What a little sweety. We probably...
What a little sweety. We probably should have written down the owner's name, but the chances are good it would have just ended up lost with all of our expense Receipts.
Those kooky pinstripers were...
Those kooky pinstripers were stripping everything in sight at the Pinstriper's reunion held in the main hall. Here's just one of the really nice cans we spotted at the reunion.
Got a 223-inch Ford six, but...
Got a 223-inch Ford six, but nowhere to put it? Jim rizzo, of Street rodder, is building a hot-rod pickup around an old 223 that came out of a '56 F-100. Jim is a member of the Deadliners, a car club that sprouted from the offices of Street rodder magazine.