There was low & slow and plenty of go at the WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025. CGC’s Jim Palam went along for the fun ride!
It was hard to pick just one car that embodied the spirit and essence of the WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025, now in its 44th year. But when the ‘South of Heaven Fifties’ car club dropped their audacious Hemi-powered ’27 Chrysler ‘H-Bomb’ hot rod right in the center of the Santa Maria Fairpark, a smile-inducing shockwave spread throughout the park’s 33 acres. This in-turn released dopamine in showgoers’ brains!
West Coast Kustoms was founded by Rich and Penny Pichette. After Rich passed away in 2010, Penny took the helm and has continued to steer the Cruisin’ Nationals into the hearts of enthusiasts throughout the United States – and beyond. This magnetic show attracts car clubs, lone wolves, exhibitors, and thousands of loyal fans. Many of these Kool Kats n’ Kittens arrived before this Memorial Day weekend, gathering to enjoy Santa Maria, CA and swap car stories and car culture.
Cruisin’ Nationals is a family-friendly community event that shifted into gear on Friday night, May 24th with the popular City Cruise on Broadway in the heart of Santa Maria. The fun rolled-on into a rockin’ car show on Saturday and an awards ceremonies wrap-up on Sunday. Winners included Bob Gomes’ ’49 Mercury in the Top 5 Wild Kustoms category, Rudy Hernandez’s ’56 Chevy in the Top 5 Mild Kustoms category and Mark Garza’s ’40 Chrysler in the Top 3 Early Kustoms category.
The H-Bomb is Brandon Garrison’s stealthy-low, Hemi-powered RHD ’27 Chrysler. He was one of a number of the Sonoma County based South of Heaven Fifties car club who participated in the WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025. H-Bomb’s shiny Hemi is mated to a GM TH400 automatic transmission and rises above the Nardo Gray cowl of this slammed Chrysler. The roof is chopped 10 inches, and the wire wheels are 18-inch up front; 20-inch out back. The Chrysler’s beautifully executed body sits on a custom frame with a ShockWave air spring & shock absorber suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Oh yeah, Brandon sits low on the right side when he’s piloting his radical hot rod!
Girls Just Want to Have Fun! I met Carly Brogren early Saturday morning as show participants were pulling in and parking their unique rides. As we chatted, I found out that in 2016 she satisfied a years-long craving to own a one-of-a-kind custom Lincoln Zephyr. Over the following years of ownership, she hooked-up with the legendary Picasso of Auto Paint, Gene Winfield. He not only created this chopped and stretched ’39 Zephyr’s stunning ‘Fade’ paint job, but soon became a close friend. Carly ultimately became his caretaker until his death in March of 2025. Gene was 97 years young when he passed away. Like his unmatched artistry, Gene’s shimmering spirit shined brightly on the WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025, adding to the event’s undeniable allure.
Steve Bowron’s radically customized ’64 International Metro Mite is one kool machine. Known around California’s Central Coast as the 805 Kustoms Ice Kream Truck, this fast and flashy cruiser has an international following. Its top is chopped 12 inches, and it features custom bumper, grille, headlights, taillights and fender lip. An almost endless list of mods includes custom paint with gold leaf, Mustang II front & rear suspensions, air ride, 600 horsepower 350 Chevy motor, TH400 transmission, and Ford 8.8-inch rear.
Victor Cacho is a well-known Southern California businessman. His Oak Springs landscape business specializes in high-quality construction, maintenance and hydroseeding. Car guys are more likely to know Victor as the customizer who brings numerous car parts and ideas to Ian Roussel at Full Custom Garage. Joint ventures between Cacho Customs and Full Custom Garage – like this radically altered ’48 Packard named Eater EATER – went from concept to reality in front of a TV audience. Full Custom Garage is now streaming on YouTube TV. Can you guess who did the ‘Fade’ paint job? Yep – Gene Winfield.
Brad Mikkelsen of Arroyo Grande, CA is a nuclear energy professional. He loves the technology of power – and he loves the process of building powerful hot rods. This is his black-on-black, Hemi-powered ’34 3-Window Ford coupe. I’ve decided to call it an Extra-Hot-Hot-Rod. Sitting atop the 354 Chrysler Hemi is a Mooneyham 6-71 blower with an Edelbrock dual 600-cfm carb setup. The way things stack-up, Brad’s coupe can not only turn heads, but also snap necks if you’re not careful. BTW, this car is for sale.
This sexy, turquoise blue ‘62 Ford is a modified third generation Thunderbird. The owner was missing in action and there wasn’t a show card for the car. So, here’s what I’m guessing are some specs, based on how it came from the factory in 1962. Original two-door unibody coupe styling by Bill Boyer. This custom cruiser is chopped and lowered. Power is from a 390-inch FE-series V8 mated to a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The Holley four-barrel-fed V8 delivers 300 horsepower/427 foot-pounds of torque, propelling the T-Bird from 0-60 in 8.6 seconds and covering the ¼-mile in 16.3 seconds.
Low & Slow. It’s the Lowrider mantra, placing a priority on style and flair over speed and performance. This jewel is a ’39 Chevrolet sedan, displaying a Dukes Car Club die-cast gold plaque on the package tray below the rear window. Dukes is a Long Beach, CA club whose history dates back over 60 years, with members scattered around the country and around the globe. Regarding the Lowrider style, a senior member of Dukes once stated, “A Lowrider is nothing if not crisply clean, polished, and lit up with shiny paint and chrome.”
The Automitron is a vintage ’49 Studebaker custom pickup that was 25 years in the making. A bevy of giants from Kustom Kulture, helped owner John Saltsman transform the pickup from parts-hauler to show-stopper. When John started formulating his plan for the truck in the 1980s, buddies George Barris, “Merc John”, Gene Winfield, Larry Watson, Keith Dean, Bill Hines and Brad Masterson joined his build team to bring about the artsy and futuristic transformation. A peek inside the radically customized interior reveals a shiny-metal Edsel dash, chopped Olds steering wheel, and an under-dash mounted, rabbit ears antenna mini-TV.
I move pretty fast through car shows when I’m on assignment so I can capture as much of the action as possible. Usually, the showgoers surrounding the show cars are laughing and having a good time. But the spirit of the conversation and tentative activity surrounding this sleek and creamy ’36 Buick Lowrider was noticeably serious, if not somber. As I moved from the rear of the car, along its side and up to the front snappin’ pix, I noticed a rusty metal nameplate rising up from the bumper. It read The Ghost. “OK, cue the creepy organ music.”
Ahh, memories. I was maybe 14, living in Queens, NY, and already obsessed with cars. My parents had a ’53 Chevy sedan, with basically the same specs as the custom ’53 Chevy Sedan Delivery featured here – minus the words Delivery and Custom! My folks’ car was always parked on the street, and during the winter my mom would allow me to go outside and start the car so it would be warm when she got in. I had never driven before but I had practiced all the moves, sitting parked with the clutch in. One morning I got in, pulled the three-speed column shifter down to first, released the brake and took off! I drove a perfect loop around the block and parked just as mom was coming out the front door. And thus, another Car Guy was ready to roll!
Some might say that this flawless, custom ’32 Ford pickup is showy and loud, or maybe they might simply say, it’s brassy. And they’d be right. Everywhere we’d expect to see chrome or stainless parts and trim, this pickup sports brassy bits – from the front grille, to hood ornament, interior gauge bezels, rear view mirrors, valve covers and rear end. The more-reddish brass tones probably come from a higher copper content in the metal’s composition. Complimenting the brass bits are orange-toned gold scallops accenting the fenders and center body line.
Attention to Detail. Even if you’re not a fan of Lowrider style, you’ll probably agree that the artistry and craftsmanship embodying some of these custom cars is extraordinary. For example, the barely-visible body panel behind the front bumper of this ’48 Chevy Fleetline is a work of art – as is every inch of this impeccably-crafted custom. From the factory, the Fleetline had a three-speed manual Syncro-Mesh transmission mated to an inline Six with a one-barrel Carter carb. Top speed was wishfully about 75 mph!
OK, I’ll admit it. I have two black velvet paintings featuring partially clothed ladies. No, they are not hanging on the walls of my home, but they are part of my “Kitch Art” inventory that I sell on my Etsy store, WellPicked. So of course, I had to take a few minutes away from the hot rods and customs to enjoy this wonderful collection of kitch and coolers on display in the vendor area at the WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025. There were also vendors selling kar kulture clothing, jewelry, signs and swag, plus exhibits of model cars and pin-striping techniques – and of course live music and fabulous hot dogs, tacos, churros and kettle corn.
Many of the WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025 participants brought more than cars; they also brought multiple generations of their car-loving families. It was not unusual to see the little kids being pulled around the Fairpark in custom and vintage kiddie-car wagons. When I spotted this Art Deco era, pressed-steel Zephyr wagon by Steelcraft, I wondered how many of us got our first addictive taste of car culture riding low and wide-eyed in a little rusty wagon?
Story & Photos © Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/
For more information on WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025 and club events, please visit https://www.westcoastkustoms.com/
I grabbed this shot of Gordon McCall as he was studying his show notes on the awards presentation stage. Gordon oversees The Quail MotoFest and is the Director of Motorsports at Quail Lodge & Golf Club. In addition to 11 traditional classes, The Quail MotoFest 2025 featured three special classes: Italian Innovation by Bimota, Tribute to Yoshimura, and Celebrating 45 Years of the BMW GS. Organizers had hoped for a strong turnout this year, and while there was plenty of fun and activity within the designated show areas, and hundreds of bikes lined up on the entry road, my unofficial tally is a guesstimate of less than 300 bikes on the show field.
Texan Clyde Crouch’s infamous ‘37 Indian Arrow Bonneville Racer took The MotoFest’s Best of Show award. This fabled V-Twin was originally owned by Indian dealer and bike builder, Hap Alzina. For the 1938 competition season, Hap and his team built a lima-bean-shaped shell around the modified Indian – the back half partially visible in this photo – and, with rider Freddie Ludlow inside, went after Harley-Davidson’s standing American speed record at Bonneville. Things were looking good until aerodynamics severely wobbled the streamliner, Freddie lost control, and the Arrow slid on its side to an unsuccessful finish. Hap did not want to risk anyone else’s life just to set a record, so the ‘Liner was never used again to pursue speed records.
Changes at the Bimota motorcycle company have come as fast as some of its iconic race bikes. The company was founded in Rimini, Italy, in 1973 by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri, and Massimo Tamburini. Their methodology was to build state-of-the-art frames around existing engines and components from manufacturers like Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Ducati. This black beauty is a modified DB8 Carbon Fiber Oronero. It’s powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 1198-cc, 90-degree Desmodromic V-Twin engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Bimota’s ownership and mission statements have changed over the years, with a 49% stake currently being held by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
One of the Bimota bikes in its circular display of Italian Innovation at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 was this double-take, ‘08 Bimota Tesi 3-D. I met proud owner Ross Mullins setting up the bike on a chilly Friday night before Saturday’s show. Bimota’s wide-eyed engineers love solving problems and pushing technical boundaries, as they did when they developed their innovative hub-center steering system – a unique design that eliminates traditional forks – and commands a lot of “What the…” comments from observers. Other Tesi 3-D features include radial-mounted brakes and a trellis-style swingarm. The bike is powered by a 1078-cc, 4-stroke V-2 engine, and yes, you are looking at the front of the bike!
This worn and weathered Honda CB72 may look unassuming, but it is the original 250cc “Hawk” that legendary motorcycle tuner Hideo “Pop” Yoshimura modified and brought to the Suzuka Circuit in 1964 for an 18-hour endurance race. Along with a couple of his racing buddies and their other entry, a 305cc CB77 “Super Hawk”, they bested the Honda factory team and helped launch serious motorcycle racing in Japan – and ultimately the Yoshimura RD global powerhouse. Pictured second from right is Pop’s son, Fujio. No. 18 was one of the legendary race bikes brought to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 for the Yoshimura Tribute.
If you own an R7 Yamaha and want to lap the competition on Track Days, you can look to Yoshimura RD to provide many of the competition parts you’ll need to be in P1 at the flag. One of the other bikes on display for the Yoshimura Tribute was this YZF-R7 Race Bike. It was developed by Yoshimura RD, piloted by Ari Henning at the 2022 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship, and tested by Blake Davis. Among the Yoshimura parts available in the R7 race kit are an AT2 race series titanium exhaust, steel alloy billet camshafts, a racing airbox, suspension linkage, and an aluminum subframe. You will, however, have to provide your own neon Supergraphics!
One of the many aspects I like about this event is that you are going to be standing right next to some of the best examples of different style motorcycles – from cruisers and touring bikes to sport and adventure bikes. And then there are the racing bikes – classes that include Superbikes, Grand Prix, Motocross, Enduro, Speedway, and Flat Track – to name a few. This drool-worthy, blue-striped Harley-Davidson is a fast and fabulous Flat Tracker.
You know that wide-eyed look American Pickers’ star Mike Wolfe gets when he discovers a vintage American motorcycle in a barn? Yeah, that was my look when I discovered Phil and Wendy Schmidt’s all original, rusty and still running ‘12 Thor 5 on the manicured lawn. This sensational survivor is a single-cylinder, five-horsepower Model W that was sold by Brooklyn, NY, Thor dealer Ben Ruderman on July 27, 1912, for $225. Ben received $155 cash from the buyer, plus a ‘light motorcycle’ trade-in valued at $70!
While the jury is still out on whether an unrestored vintage motorcycle has more value and more appeal than a restored classic, there is no denying that this pampered and polished ‘30 Indian Four Cylinder 402 is a repeat offender head-turner! We can blame owner Mike Lynch of California for entering this beauty in the Antique – 1935 & Earlier Class at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025. Haggerty has tracked the value of good condition 1927-1942 Indian Fours from approximately $45,000 to $220,000.
There’s a French expression that comes to mind whenever I’ve interacted with motorcycling celebrity, Paul d’Orléans: “Je ne sais quoi.” Translated, it means “I don’t know what.” It’s not that I don’t understand him; it’s more about a fascination with his undefinable charm and his vast knowledge of all things two-wheeled and motorized. Or, maybe it’s just the hypnotic appeal of his leopard skin jacket? I don’t know, I just can’t put my finger on it. But I do know he’s always upbeat, always at Quail motorcycle events, and always an ambassador for motorcycles and the people who build ’em, ride ’em, and love ’em. To explore Paul’s je ne sais quoi, check out – 
Quail Golf Club member Martin Beaulieu lives in Carmel, CA, and didn’t have to travel far to bring his custom bike to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025. Special Delivery is a one-off ‘62 Panhead Harley-Davidson that was built in 2005 by Hank Young of Young Choppers and Hot Rods of Marietta, GA. Over the years, Young is known for incorporating vintage Ford design elements into his motorcycle designs. Special Delivery incorporates a hand-bent I-beam axle as the frame’s downtube, and a Model T’s front headlight and taillight.
My first bike was a Honda CB500 Four, so it’s just about impossible for me to ignore Honda’s early-1970s ‘Inline Fours’. This perfect ’73 Honda CB750 K3’s restoration was completed just days before The MotoFest by Doug Ventura of Crossroads Cycle in Crows Landing, CA. Delivery of the completed Candy Bacchus Olive Honda to its owner, Steve Benjamin, was made at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025. I think Steve is still smiling from ear to ear!
The Art of the Motorcycle was an immensely popular exhibition held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1998. One of the 95 motorcycles featured in its catalog was a burgundy ‘40 Indian Sport Scout. A poster from that exhibition still hangs on my office wall. This museum-quality ‘40 Indian Sport Scout at The Quail MotoFest sports a three-speed side shifter, a 45 cubic-inch Flathead Twin, girder fork, two-into-one exhaust, two-piece rigid frame, and Rider floor boards. If you like it, you are no doubt an Art Lover!
The Salsbury Motor Glide Aero Scooter was brought to market in 1937. It was an immediate hit and became a nationwide fad. For $119.50, you could scoot along on your very own Johnson motor-powered Aero, riding in comfort on a large spring-cushion seat and balloon tires to speeds up to 30 mph! Print ads of the day promised comfort, thrills, and economy, stating that you could “Ride five miles a day with a weekly fuel cost of about ten cents.” This Jade Green Aero was on display in front of the Bonhams tent.
As I wrapped things up at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 and turned onto Valley Greens Drive – the entrance and exit road for the event – I quickly realized I missed the “The Other Bike Show”. There were easily another 200-plus cool machines lining this scenic Carmel Valley drive. I asked my ‘digital assistant’ how many registered motorcycles there are in the United States and quickly got this response: “In 2025, there are roughly 8.8 million.” I smiled and replied, “Well, Ride On!”
Since 1912 the small seaside city of Carpinteria on California’s Central Coast has promoted its designation as the location of the “World’s Safest Beach” – and since 1997 the city has also been touting its Car Guy credentials as the home of the rad Rods & Roses car show. This popular community event has never been the biggest or baddest California car show, but it has always delivered a soothing blend of chilled vibes and head-turning stock and modified show cars.
This was one of the sweetest hot rods I saw at Rods & Roses. It’s Jerry Friedrich’s Flathead-powered ’30 Ford Roadster and it’s sitting poised for action on Linden Avenue. You might have to be a bit of a fabrication geek to truly appreciate all the masterfully built components and details – like the rare ELCO finned aluminum Twin-Plug Heads, and numerous examples of engineering perfection. But even the average show-goer in Carpinteria appreciated its esthetic appeal. Well done, Jerry!
La Bestioni No. 8 is Gary Wales’ reimagined 1920 American LaFrance fire truck. This magnificent machine is Gary’s 8th Beast – and like No. 1, it’s a tribute to the famous 1910 Fiat S76 Beast of Turin racecar. No. 8 features a fully restored chassis and a 14-liter, water-cooled 6-cylinder motor. One of Gary’s biggest joys is watching his creations bring smiles to those lucky to encounter his Beasts. Sitting up high on La Bestioni is Gary’s constant companion and spokesperson, Kyra. Nice shirt Gary!
BREAKING NEWS!: Surf shop employees spot powerful Cyclone near Carpinteria State Beach! Larry Schuss’ 427-powered ’65 Mercury Comet Cyclone charged the atmosphere out in front of Rincon Designs Surf Shop during RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! This meticulously crafted, hi-performance Merc took the Crown Classics Choice Award!
This pristine ’67 Porsche 911 may look like a nice stock survivor, but owners Mark & Brett Lyons were kind enough to send me a few of their recently completed 911’s specs. Its original 2.0 engine case is fitted with higher compression 2.2 pistons and heads are ported and polished. Plus, high-lift “E” cams, 123 electronic distributor and MSD box, PMO carbs and intakes, and an M&K Stainless steel muffler. Other upgrades include a 901 five-speed trans with J West short shifter, Tarett adjustable front and rear sway bars, MOMO steering wheel, and Scheel-Mann seats.
I wasn’t surprised to discover a Woody within walking distance of the World’s Safest Beach, but I was very impressed with the quality restoration of this stately ’48 Oldsmobile Deluxe Series 68 Station Wagon. Owner Greg Metzgus personally restored his Woody, using his master sheet metal and wood crafter skills to take the pile of weathered original wood parts crammed into the cargo bay of the unrestored wagon and turn it back into the shiny driver that it is today. Olds manufactured only 1,314 of the Deluxe Series 68, eight-cylinder, metal and wood wagons in 1948.
This Sassy Grass Green (1970 Barracuda FJ6 color) Plymouth Barracuda underwent a rotisserie restoration with the apparent goal of capturing the sex appeal and “street brute” swagger of a legendary 426 Hemi Cuda. This car is a 1973 model with a high-performance, dual quad 472 cubic-inch motor producing 550 horsepower. Matte black fender and door graphics and a Shaker hood provide “Look at Me” contrast to the electric paint scheme. Wheels are noticeably not stock. The car is currently offered for sale in Ventura, CA with an asking price of $179,999.
Bill Pitruzzelli’s low and racy ’56 Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster got a lot of love from showgoers at RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! – as well as the Classic Award from the judges. Bill’s Outlaw 356 features an aftermarket hard tonneau with an integrated, sweptback headrest fairing.
I had to do a double-take and then a triple-take when I spotted this classic ’55 Corvette adorned with a rare Bubble Top. As the story goes, GM styling chief Harley Earl commissioned approximately 20 plastic bubble canopy tops for the ‘54 Corvette, most of which went to special customers and dealers. A handful of aftermarket companies produced Bubble Tops and, while pretty cool looking, almost all had fitment problems – allowing water and wind to enter the cockpit. Another “small problem” was that the bubble top raised interior temperatures. Not cool!
This Satellite is not from the gang at Space X but rather it’s a mid-size model from our friends at Plymouth. Finished in Snakeskin Green this ’69 Plymouth Satellite gets its propulsion from a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 crate engine mated to a Tremec TKO 600 5-Speed transmission. This car and the ’73 Hemi Cuda were brought to RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! by the same seller. $119,995 is the Take It Home number.
By today’s standards, Ronald Root’s ’58 Corvette looks somewhat tame and reserved. No carbon fiber chassis, no rear wing, no 800 horsepower motor, and mercifully, no $1,000,000 price tag. Still, 66 years since its appearance on the showroom floors, this C1 Corvette still quickens my pulse, still makes me wonder “Is it for sale?” So, thanks Ronald, and thanks to all of you Car Guys for being the custodians and proponents for these automotive gems!
I want to close this Car Guy Chronicles West Coast report with a little challenge. Now I’m sure many of our readers will get the answer right away – but I’m willing to bet some of us will have to take a minute or two to decode our memorization process and retrieve our stored enthusiast minutiae from behind those massive memory banks of passwords, cousin’s names and mixology formulas. OK, so the question is, “What car’s interior is this a photo of?” Bonus brainiac points if you get the year, make and model correct!