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Map your course for a Concours d’Elegance then head 180° in the opposite direction. That’s how you get to a car show like 35^th Annual West Coast Kustoms’ Cruisin’ Nationals, blogs Jim Palam.

It’s the multifariousness of Car Culture that makes it so appealing to so many people. And it’s the people as much as the cars that make the 2018 Cruisin Nationals such a fun three-day event. There’s the Santa Maria City Cruise on Friday night, the Show-n-Shine on Saturday and Sunday – plus a swap meet, vendors, live music, model car show and appearances by many “Legends of Kustomizing”.

With close to 800 pre-1961 American make cars on the Fairpark grounds it wasn’t easy picking a Car Guy Chronicles’ selection to showcase – but here are a choice few that grabbed my attention.

John Saltsman’s radically customized ’49 Studebaker pickup, top & above, is not only a driver; it’s an emergency cargo hauler as well. John, an avid inline speed skater, drove his famous big-tailed ’49 up from his home in Joshua Tree, CA.

When Hoodoo Paintworks’ owner George Tantardini isn’t polishing his metalflake GMC pickup, I’m guessing he’s refining the verticality of his Rockabilly haircut!

This sculpted ’58 Chevy was just one of the outstanding, low-slung Kustoms on display in the King Max show area. As if the exterior wasn’t kool enough, the organic gauge clusters are more outer space than interior space vehicle control components.

Has your Hybrid or ePower vehicle taken the fun out of driving? Maybe it’s time for some blasts to the Drive-in or down the quarter-mile in this thumpin’ ’28 Ford Hemi roadster?

Pickups and SUVs continue to be sales leaders in today’s automotive/truck markets, but good luck trying to find a ’62 Ford Econoline pickup as sleek, sexy and creamy-good as this one at your local dealership!

Art Serna of Linsay, CA sought to build a true-to-period, pre-war hot rod. He wanted to put a performance-modified Model B Four in a ’31 Ford roadster and he wanted everything about the build to be perfect. He succeeded.

Inside the show’s arena building actress Candy Clark from the movie American Graffiti was signing autographs. I was outside drooling over this fiery ’34 Ford three-window coupe. Catch you next time, Candy!

Stan Fuller’s ’52 Willys wagon is a sleeper. I’m not talking about camping here. Nestled neatly into its reinforced frame is a high-performance Chevy 427 big-block. Don’t forget the extra gas cans, Stan!

One of the kool vendor cars was this custom-painted ’35 Ford five-window coupe. Now this is the way to drive to work – in a shiny, rollin’ work of art.

Just as I was beginning to fade, I encountered this “Lean Machine” – a ’60 Jeep Step Van in need of some serious TLC. “Hang in there, Old Guy” I thought as I snapped some pix and then headed to my truck.

Words & Photos: Jim Palam, http://www.jimpalam.com/

For more information, please visit https://www.westcoastkustoms.com/showinfo.html

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The ‘19 Corvette ZR1 set a production-car lap record on the 4.1-mile Grand Course West at Virginia International Raceway with a time of 2:37.25.

Along with a harness bar and track seats with five-point harnesses, the record-setting stock ZR1 coupe was equipped with the available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic and ZTK Performance Package. The ZTK package includes an adjustable carbon-fiber High Wing, a front splitter with carbon-fiber end caps, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires, and specific chassis and Magnetic Ride Control tuning.

“The Corvette ZR1’s lap record at VIR, arguably America’s most challenging road course, is a testament to its supercar status,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “On the racetrack, the ZR1 can compete with any supercar – at any price.”

On sale this spring, the ZR1 coupe will carry a suggested retail price of $119,995 (price includes destination charge, but excludes tax, title and other dealer fees). The ZTK Performance Package will cost $2,995.

The ZR1’s record lap at VIR was set during routine validation testing earlier this month; with vehicle dynamics engineer Jim Mero at the wheel. The car was set up per the owner’s manual’s recommended track alignment and aerodynamic settings. As part of the validation, the ZR1 was finalizing its total of 24 hours of at-limit track testing, with multiple GM Performance engineers logging laps.

“The track had been empty since mid-December, so it was a bit slow when we started, but the conditions turned pretty quick at the end,” said Alex MacDonald, manager, Vehicle Performance. “On the heels of announcing our Z06 time of 2:39.77, the ZR1 lap time is the icing on the cake. It’s not too often you set a lap record during validation testing.”

The ZR1’s exclusive LT5 6.2L supercharged engine is rated at an SAE-certified 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. It features a new, more-efficient intercooled supercharger system, along with GM’s first dual fuel-injection system, which employs primary direct injection and supplemental port injection. Compared to the supercharger system on the Corvette Z06 LT4 engine, the LT5 employs a larger, 2.65-liter supercharger that generates more boost while spinning at a slightly slower speed. That reduces heat to help maintain a lower air intake temperature for optimal performance. Four new radiators also help manage cooling in the ZR1, which features 13 radiators in all, including circuits for engine oil, transmission and differential cooling.

Watch the 2019 Corvette ZR1 set lap record at VIR,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j1gCM6-5M

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