CRUISIN’ NATIONALS

Posted on June 4, 2024June 4, 2024 by MartynL

The 43rd Annual West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals rolls cool rides and party vibes into Santa Maria for a moto-fun Memorial Day weekend! For its first 25 years the West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals was held in Paso Robles, CA. But then an elixir of politics and pride forced a move of the popular car show from "Paso" down the coast to the city of Santa Maria’s Fairpark event center. With West Coast Kustoms founders Rich and Penny Pichette's indefatigable energy and dedication, the show h...

HIROHATA: MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MERCILLAC

Posted on February 10, 2022 by MartynL

Truly iconic, Bob Hirohata’s Barris-customized ’51 Mercury sells for $2,145,000 at Mecum’s Kissimmee, Florida auction. Rod & Custom historian Pat Ganahl documents the history of the poster car of the 1950s, HIROHATA: MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MERCILLAC There’s no question the hot topic among rod and custom car enthusiasts this week–this year…ever…–is the sale at auction in Florida of the Hirohata Merc for 1.95 million dollars. I’m not here to analyze, debate, or even discuss the ramifica...

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: CENTRAL COAST WHEELING WEEKEND

Posted on October 27, 2021October 28, 2021 by MartynL

Who doesn't love a special deal? Perhaps it's CGC’s Jim Palam's years in advertising that was behind his idea to give our readers two-reports-in-one, combining two of the Central Coast's popular car shows – The Solvang Fall Classic & The Montecito Motor Classic – into one feature. It’s a great idea, so here's CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: CENTRAL COAST WHEELING WEEKEND. Covid changed the 2020 Car Show scene significantly – pretty much eliminating many if not all of the popular gatherings not only in...

WEST COAST KUSTOMS: CRUISIN’ NATIONALS!

Posted on May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 by MartynL

It’s all about fins and flames at the Fairpark, blogs CGC’s Jim Palam! Let’s call it a mash-up of pinstripes, cuffed-denim, fins and flames – tucked and rolled into a colorful celebration of Kustom Kulture at the Fairpark in Santa Maria, CA. Now in its 38th year, the family-friendly 2019 WEST COAST KUSTOMS: CRUISIN’ NATIONALS! proved once again that interest in and passion for customized American cars continues to sizzle. Thousands of show-goers participated in WCKCN events, including the popul...

MARTIN SPECIAL: AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADSTER!

Posted on January 29, 2018 by MartynL

Dave Martin’s show-stopping ’31 Ford, built by Signal Hill, CA-based Hot Rods & Hobbies, earned the coveted “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” title at the 69th annual Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) at the Fairplex in Pomona. The event also included the presentation of the Al Slonaker Memorial Award to Mark and Dennis Mariani’s Rad Rides ‘29 Ford Model A, while Fred and Diane Bowden’s ‘37 Lincoln LeBaron won the Blackie Gejeian Award. Mike Garner’s ‘50 Mercury was named as the recipie...