RODS & ROSES: CARP CARES FOR YOUTH!

17th Annual hot rod & custom show in Carpinteria, CA benefits a great youth support charity. Our Jim Palam captures the highlights.

This year’s show drew approximately 125 classics, hot rods, customs, motorcycles and even vintage tractors! One of the big drawing cards this year was the ’32 DSR Ford roadster, powered by a supercharged Ford Coyote 5.0-liter engine and built by Rob Smith, shown here with his wife, for collector-restorer Richard Varner, founder of Champions Moto. The Coyote Roadster represents a joint venture between Detroit Street Rods and So-Cal Speed Shop.

First shown in the Ford racing display at the 2012 SEMA Show, it won the show’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Design award. Rob Smith and his wife flew in from North Carolina to drive the highboy roadster up from the Los Angeles area.

Ernie Lopez’s long, low and loud ’61 Caddy sedan maintained a menacing stance.

Former Canned Heat guitarist and motorcycle builder Jimmy Shane rode in on his beautiful hand fabricated, S&S powered vintage Harley.

Bill & Belinda Batelaan’s radically low, very red ’48 Studebaker Starlight Coupe was a shining star of the 17th annual show.

Fermie & Susi Gonzalez enjoy California sunsets in their Sunset Coral ’57 T-Bird

It’s a ’32. It’s a Ford. It’s a Tudor. It’s John Shamel’s deep burgundy Pride & Joy.

If you were a hot-rodding fruit-grower back in 1948, you would’ve wanted this streamlined McCormick-Deering “0-6” Orchard tractor.

Words & photos: Jim Palam, http://jimpalam.com/

For more information about Carp Cares For Youth, please visit http://carpcares.org/