WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025

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!WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025It 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.WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025Victor 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.”WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025The 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/

THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025

Popular motorcycle gathering changes name, cranks up magic and allure. Jim Palam welcomes you to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025!

THE QUAIL MotoFest

For its 15th birthday, The Quail Motorcycle Gathering changed its name to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 to attract more people, including those who aren’t die-hard motorcycle fans. Early on show day, I took a quick preview zip over the manicured lawns of the Quail Golf Club in Carmel, CA, where the bikes, vendor tents, food courts, stages, and displays were getting their final prep before the show opened to the public.

While exploring, a thought popped into my head that this MotoFest is somewhat like a Jazz Fest, in that its style and vibe are improvisational. There are subgenres of the form represented by the variety of classes, and, like jazz chords, there’s a complexity to many of the highly engineered sports, race, and show bikes. An obvious example of innovation and detail could be found in the Chopper Class, and the lead bike featured in our report photo, above.

It’s The Medusa, and it was hand-built by Corey Mauck and the artisans at Aero Precision Metal Works in Arizona. Its entire frame, handlebars, and front fork were meticulously crafted by twisting and finishing square metal bars. Every detail, like the split tank on The Medusa, is perfected fabrication, and the judges at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 took notice, presenting this one-of-a-kind chopper with the Arlen Ness Award.

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.

THE QUAIL MotoFest 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.

THE QUAIL MotoFest 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 – https://thevintagent.com/– his online resource for motorcycle history and culture.

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!”

Words & Photos ©Jim Palam, Solvang, CA  https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

For more information on The Quail MotoFest 2025, please visit https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorcycle/2025/event-overview

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWS

CGC’s Jim Palam hits four Fall CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWS, resulting in this colorful Car Guy sampler!CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWSCar Guys love zipping along in their cool rides, and metaphorically, on the road of life. We abhor road blocks, detours and obstacles that impede our progress. When my sister and her husband who live up a narrow holler road in the mountains of North Carolina couldn’t be reached for over a week during Hurricane Helene, I felt like the gods had ripped the wheels off all of my fun machines. Nothing mattered – including this car shows report – until I found out what their situation was. The good news is that a neighbor rescued them and they were ultimately able to return to their little mountain home.

Ah, but there was yet another hitch to my free-wheeling car show times in California and that was Hurricane Milton – which was heading directly to CarGuyChronicles publisher Martyn Schorr’s home in Sarasota, FL. WTF! First my sister and now my long-time friend Martyn and his wife in harm’s way – and all I could do was pray.

Which bring us to the beautiful 1956 Porsche 356 A 1600, above. Note that it is heading into a beautiful sunrise over the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara, CA. I chose this image not just because it truly represents the magnificence of the Porsche 356 Registry’s 2024 West Coast Holiday gathering on the manicured lawns of Santa Barbara City College – but also because it is a reminder that no matter how dark the night, there is always the promise of light and a chance for transformation. My sister and her husband, and Martyn and his wife are all OK and doing well! So, what do you say we fire things up and take a look at a sampling of some of the cool cars I discovered covering four Fall CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWS.I have to thank Porsche 356 owner John Lawrence for sending me a heads-up about the Porsche 356 Registry’s 2024 West Coast Holiday gathering which took place October 19th on the coastal campus of Santa Barbara City College. Over 200 sorted 356s drove from points near and far to celebrate the history and legacy of Porsche’s first production car. I grabbed this photo of early arrivals lining up in designated show field areas for specific models. What a beautiful sight!World-famous Emory Motorsports brought four of its 356 Porsche restoration projects to 2024 West Coast Holiday. First and foremost was the silver ‘51 Le Mans 24 car #46 356/2-063 “Gmund SL.” This historic 356 won its class at Le Mans and is considered by many to be the most significant car in Porsche’s racing history. The Emory 356s occupied the highest, ocean view hilltop at the gathering.CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWSA mustard yellow Emory Motorsports “Outlaw” 356 Porsche added some spice to an idyllic Santa Barbara sunrise. Members of the Porsche 356 Registry started arriving just after 6 AM. Rod and Amy Emory started Emory Motorsports in 1996 and have restored and customized over 180 356s. Their approach is to preserve as much of a car’s original DNA as possible while individualizing the “Outlaws” to meet their client’s dreams.This pristine ‘47 MG TC was one of the many head-turning show cars on display at the 2024 Automotive Classic at Trilogy Monarch Dunes car show in Nipomo, CA on September 22nd. Over $20 million of vintage automobiles were on display at this “Invitation Only” automotive event. Proceeds from the event benefited the Nipomo Food Basket.This history-rich ‘49 Kurtis sports car was brought to the Trilogy show by family heir Carol Kurtis of Bakersfield, CA. The Kurtis was literally the “Cover Car” for automotive creativity that occurred in California after World War II – having been featured on the cover of Motor Trend in 1949. Originally conceived by master racecar builder Frank Kurtis, this car is powered by a Flathead Ford V-8 on suspension parts sourced from Studebaker. The Kurtis featured engineering and styling that far exceeded 1949 standards. Only 16 were ever made. This yellow car was a 1950 graduation gift to Frank’s son Arlen, Carol’s husband.The 2024 Automotive Classic at Trilogy Monarch Dunes car show was a pleasure to attend. Held on September 22nd in Nipomo, CA, it was carefully spread out on the spotless streets and parking areas of the 31,000 square foot Resort Club – which features a golf course, spa, pool, wellness & fitness center, bar & restaurant, market place and art studio. Right at home at Trilogy was this concours level ‘51 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe. Hornets were manufactured by the Hudson Motor Company of Detroit, MI from 1951 until 1954. Its stepped-down floor pan gave it a low center of gravity and, with its streamlined body, a racing advantage.This is John Lawrence’s beautiful ‘64 Porsche 356 C Sunroof Coupe on the show field at Trilogy. John was the buddy who let me know about the 356 Registry’s Santa Barbara gathering. John is the third owner of this California 356. The second owner’s wife requested that it be painted her favorite color Alpine White, which is actually a 911 color. The premium red leather interior was crafted by 356 and 900 series Porsche specialists, Autos International Inc. of Escondido, CA. John sourced and added the vintage wood skis and leather luggage. CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWSI couldn’t walk by this pristine British Racing Green 1974 Triumph TR6 Roadster without grabbing some photos and chatting with the owner who lives in San Luis Obispo (SLO). For 15 years I owned and drove a white ’74 with the same drivetrain: 2.5 liter, in-line Six with dual Stromberg carbs, mated to a 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive. I had to laugh when I saw the car’s license plate: SLOLEAK. Vintage British sports car owners will get it!I met Ken and Twila Arritt of Arroyo Grande about five years ago when they were participating in a Pierce-Arrow owners gathering in Buellton, CA. It was fun to run into them again at the Trilogy show and get another look at their wonderful “Gatsby” ‘25 Pierce-Arrow Series 80, Five Passenger Sedan Deluxe. This historic vehicle was a crowd pleaser and took the Stephan James Painting Sponsor Award.  Eric Widmar brought two very unique musclecars to the Trilogy show in Nipomo. His orange ‘69 440 Magnum powered Dodge Charger Daytona is a Goodguys 2024 Muscle Car of the Year finalist. Sitting mean and long right next to it is Eric’s equally audacious blue ‘70 Plymouth Superbird. Both of these rare competition cars were developed for NASCAR racing. They featured aerodynamic, wind tunnel designed noses and tails. To meet NASCAR homologation requirements, both cars were made available to the public and sold through dealerships. Eric’s Daytona won the Steering Committee’s 2nd Place Award at the Trilogy show.Almost every Car Guy would love to own and drive a Shelby Cobra, and that’s why there are over a dozen companies making Shelby Cobra kit cars. This tire-shredder SC is an authorized ’65 “Continuation” car, not a kit car. It features an aluminum body and a 427 side-oiler engine. Details of this brutish SC are impeccable.­ It was another ‘Invitation Only’ classic that wowed the spectators and participants at the Trilogy Show.By car show standards, the Cars & Cowboys Car Show and fund- raiser in Los Olivos, CA is a small show. But what it lacks in size it more than makes up in quality and uniqueness. I was invited to cover the Third Annual C&C Show for Car Guy Chronicles. Organizers were very pleased with the boost our coverage gave them in 2023, so there were lots of back slaps when I arrived at the Red River Ranch which was hosting the event on September 28th. This ‘31 Ringling & Henning “Wonder Bread Special” immediately caught my eye. It’s a two-seater that was an Indianapolis-built, sponsored and raced car. It competed in the Indy 500 through 1937!One of the cool things about local car shows is that you get a chance to see some of the surprises that your neighbors have tucked away here on the Central Coast of California. This Bonneville Salt Flats racer is a modified ‘71 Datsun LSR 1200 Coupe that has clocked speeds over 225 mph on the salt. Thanks go out to Team McLeish Bros. for bringing this swift and stealth JDM racer to the Cars & Cowboys fund raiser in Los Olivos.The “Superior Special” is a 1920s-era street speedster that was built with Ford Model A parts. Its OHV Ford-Frontenac racing motor was built by the Chevrolet Brothers. It utilizes a Model A block and features a Frontenac OHV head and deep-finned aluminum oil pan. The torpedo-shaped speedster body is essentially a 1920s mail order kit from PACO (Peoria Accessory Company of Illinois) that sits on a Model A frame. This historic racecar was beautifully restored in Orcutt, CA, and on display at Cars & Cowboys 2024.I caught a fleeting glimpse of this extremely rare Cadillac in Monterey during Car Week back in August. So, what a BIG surprise to see it again, up-close at the Cars & Cowboys show in Los Olivos on September 28th! Presented as one of only two examples ever built, this ‘53 Series 62 2-Door Coupe is essentially a Cadillac chassis that was shipped to coachbuilder Ghia in Turin, Italy for its unique and modern body. While the owner didn’t pop the hood at C&C, my research shows that power comes from a 210 horsepower, 331 cubic-inch Caddy V-8.We leave the small show in Los Olivos for a look at this small ‘49 Fordson van at the Viking Classic Car Show in Solvang, CA on October 19th. The Fordson was manufactured by Ford of Britain at its Dagenham assembly plant. This 1/4-ton light-duty van has a 90-inch wheelbase, powered by a 933-cc engine and weighs approximately 1,200 pounds. Top speed was barely 40 mph. It offered a whopping 55 cubic feet of cargo space.Rats invade Solvang, CA! OK, there were only 5 of them and they were SoCal 5150 Rat Rods participating in the Viking Classic Car Show in Solvang on October 19th. Car and Body Builder Mark Goodacre brought his chopped/slammed/fuel-injected 1920s Chevy Sedan to nibble-away at Solvang’s tranquility. The Rat Rod style incorporates elements of art, engineering, 1940s – 1950s Hot Rod culture, music and wry humor. Fast & Fun, why not?

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWS: Words & Photos ©Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

A surprise Best of Show winner at the 2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE knocks some of the polish off Pebble’s shiny traditions!

2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCEFor 73 glorious years, the world’s finest automobiles have been assembled on show lawns and fairways in Pebble Beach, a sophisticated seaside town in Monterey County, CA. These flawless machines of impeccable provenance and engineering excellence – like the 1932 Röhr 8 Type F Streamliner, above – are painstakingly prepared, polished and pampered, sometimes for years, with the goal and aspiration of winning Best of Show at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

On August 18, 2024, 214 cars from 16 countries and 29 states lined up for the traditional sunrise procession between rows of passionate fans and international media professionals. They were carefully escorted onto the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links and once carefully parked and feather-dusted, the celebration and judging began.

I had no idea that this rock-chipped and weathered 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports Grand Pix car driving quickly by me during Dawn Patrol, would go on to win Best of Show honors at the 2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE! The car was driven and presented by Fritz Burkard of the Pearl Collection in Zug, Switzerland who was as surprised as the competitors and audience was when this Preservation Class entry took top honors at the show. In that this Bugatti is considered by many to be the most successful racing Bugatti in history, and that it has extraordinary provenance dating to King Leopold III of Belgium, those in-the-know probably knew that it had a very good chance of outshining the competition this year.

That’s not Ted Turner escorting a sleek 1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight Waterhouse Convertible Victoria and a long row of historic, classic and collector cars onto the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. This sunrise procession is just one of the many honored traditions that make the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance the worldwide attraction that it is. The first Pebble Beach Concours was held in 1950, making this year’s show the 73rd Celebration.

I had the pleasure of not only photographing this perfect 1967 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strata Series 1 Coupe, but also meeting Andy Hilton, General Manager of Paul Russell and Company and members of his restoration team who brought this 2nd Place Postwar Sports class winner to Pebble Beach. Paul Russell and Company offers restoration, preservation, maintenance, sales and brokerage services on pre-war through 1960s Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, and other fine automobiles. That’s Andy, second from right. You can learn more about this exceptional company by visiting, https://paulrussell.com./

2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE Upon its release in 1998, the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR “Strassenversion” was the most expensive production car ever built, and the first true Supercar produced by Mercedes-Benz. This V12 powered “Street Version” was every bit a racecar. The 26 that were produced were built to satisfy homologation rules that required 25 road legal cars to be built, in order for the CLK GTR racecar to be eligible in the FIA GT1 class. If you were flush enough to buy one in 1998 you paid at least $1,547,620.00. The CLK-GTR is powered by a 612 horsepower 6.9 Liter V12, weighs 3,404 pounds, and has a top speed of 213 mph!

What goes around, comes around.”  is a fitting “Racing Circles” proverb for this beautifully restored 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage. Thomas Mittler of Santa Fe, NM brought this historic Maserati to Pebble Beach where it finished 2nd in the P-2: Maserati Race Cars category. Legend has it that it was the last car Carroll Shelby raced. As I circled around the show field, I was introduced to Randall Shelby, one of Carroll’s grandsons. That’s Randall by the Tipo 61.

My unofficial, visual tally of ‘Owners vs. Designated Drivers’ piloting cars onto the show field at Pebble Beach is, Owners 35%; Designated Drivers 65%. This adds up as many of the cars are brought to the show by handlers, custodians, restoration shop owners, and younger family members. This one-off 1937 Chrysler Imperial Town Car was the only classic I saw that was chauffeur-driven! Again, this makes perfect sense since this aristocratic C-15 limousine by LeBaron was originally commissioned by Walter P. Chrysler for his wife Della, and is now owned by Long Island, NY-based automotive historian and collector, Howard Kroplick.

One of the surprising contenders for Best of Show honors at Pebble was this radically low, tapered-wedge-shaped 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone Coupe. At just 33 inches high, it could have been easily overlooked in the Wedge Concepts and Prototypes section. But it was in fact one of the crowd favorites, with handlers offering limber showgoers a chance to bend-in behind the Zero’s articulating steering column. Phillip Sarofim of Beverly Hills, CA brought the Zero to Pebble where it was awarded the Gran Tourismo Trophy.

The magnificent Maserati 8CTF open-wheel, single-seat racecar was the first non-American production car to be awarded a permanent place in the annals of the US Library of Congress. With driver Wilbur Shaw behind the wheel, the Boyle Special won the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940! One of the three 8CTFs built by Maserati, chassis number 3032, is currently on display at the Indianapolis Speedway Museum.

2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE Shannine Yngvason is a talented artist who for years wowed audiences with her avant-garde music. Since 2018 she has been wowing the high-value collector car market with her custom House of Wolves leather car interiors and luxury leather goods. I met her early Sunday morning near Casa Ferrari at the Concours. She is posing next to one of her favorite cars – the iconic 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, the sports roadster that helped build Ferrari’s international reputation as THE builder of Victory Lane racecars.

If you’re a Speed Freak then you’re going to find the Aspark Owl Electric Supercar something of a hoot! Its electric powertrain generates 1,985 horsepower and 2,000 pound-feet of torque, capable of propelling the Owl from 0 to 60 mph in 1.69 seconds. Its aerodynamically-sculpted carbon fiber bodywork enhances downforce, minimizes drag, and it flies an Owl to a top speed exceeding 249 mph. Only 50 units were produced in a limited series. Warning: The $4,253,147.00 price tag just might keep you up all night!

Madylon and Dean Meiling’s racy red 1954 Maserati A6GCS Fiandri & Malagoli Spyder seems appropriately parked by the blue waters of Carmel Bay. Maserati’s trident logo was designed by Mario Maserati in 1914 and was inspired by a statue of Neptune in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore. It symbolizes the fiery power of the Maserati and the driving force of the sea. The trident was of course also a weapon and no doubt, Maserati considered its racecars the ultimate weapons on the world’s racing circuits.

In the early 1950’s, Mercedes-Benz had developed two body styles for their W 196 R racecars – a streamlined, covered wheels version that offered superior handling and speed on the high-speed circuits, and a variant W 196 R open-wheel car that was better suited for the twisting race circuits. What a thrill it was to see this World Champion 1955 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach. As I walked away from taking this photo, I glanced back and had a fleeting image of Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel!

One of the many highlights of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the opportunity to see rare and historic cars perhaps for the first time – as was the case when the unmistakable high-performance, racecar rev of this impossibly long and low 1957 Maserati 450S Zagato Berlinetta caught my attention as it rolled by me early Sunday morning. This is a one-off 450S fitted with a Coupe body. It was developed for Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio for Le Mans. Owner Rob Walton of Scottsdale, AZ took home the coveted Phil Hill Cup.

This rainbow-striped 1986 Porsche bb Targa Hybrid is a reimagined classic that was displayed on the Concept Lawn. It’s another vintage Porsche project from the creative team at Galpin Motors in Southern California. Galpin has resurrected the iconic bb-Auto restoration company to produce unique high-performance Porsches. Hybrid power comes from a 400 horsepower Ed Pink Racing 4.0 Flat Six engine plus a 110-kilowatt Vonnen electric motor, delivering 550 total horsepower. The subtle “bb” badging is an homage to the bb-Auto Rainbow Turbo Targa originally crafted in collaboration with Polaroid for the 1976 Photokina photography show in Germany.

This 73rd Celebration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance featured a carefully curated display of Land Rovers and Range Rovers that were used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – either in an official capacity or as part of her personal fleet. They were delivered to Pebble courtesy of the Royal Household, Land Rover Classic, the British Motor Museum, and private collections. Pictured is the rugged and spartan 1958 Land Rover Series II State Review vehicle.

It was the 1950s and automotive designers and manufacturers were heavily influenced by the Space Age. Aerodynamic and streamlined design was the focus, as well as advances in propulsion technology. The 1955 Ghia Streamline X Coupe made its debut at the 1955 Turin Auto Show. With coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia, the X Coupe featured a streamlined and finned aluminum body atop a square tube chassis. Power was from a lightweight, compact single-stage 70 horsepower AiResearch turbine engine, and could (on paper) propel the X-Coupe to 160 mph!

When I got back home from Pebble Beach late Sunday night one of my automotive news feeds reported that Ford’s 1979 Probe I Ghia Concept Car, which was one of the Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars I had photographed as it drove into the show field early Sunday morning, had caught fire in its trailer as it was being towed back to Scott Grundfor Company. This California restoration shop bought the Probe 1 from Ford in 2002, and owns several other Ford concept cars. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the fire did not spread to the thick foliage lining the roads in and out of Pebble Beach. The Probe 1 was valued at approximately $1,000.000. (Fire photo courtesy of MotorTrend)

2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Words & Photos ©Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

For more information on the 2024 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE, please visit https://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!

Showcasing classic American hot rods, sports cars and Musclecars, and supporting local charities and non-profit support groups, RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!

RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!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 year’s show is the 27th iteration! It was held on July 6, 2024 and drew in over 200 cars plus thousands of show-goers from points near and far. There were hot rods, customs, classics, Musclecars, sports cars, imports, barn-finds, low-riders, and one beastly big machine! Since the show’s inception, one of its goals is to raise money in support of local non-profits like Carpinteria Cares for Youth, The Food Pantry, and Hospice of Santa Barbara.

As Saturday’s show wound down, the fun stayed ratcheted up for the annual Carpinteria Independence Day Parade that featured many of the award-winning show cars cruising slowly down Linden Avenue towards the World’s Safest Beach. One of the Old School hot rods that got my attention and serves as our report’s lead photo, above, is this radically customized ’27 Ford Model T High Roof Coupe. Model Ts were the first automobiles mass-produced on moving assembly lines, using interchangeable parts.

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!

RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!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.

RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!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.

RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!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!

Words & Photos © Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

 For more information on the RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! show, please visit https://www.rodsnroses.com/