WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS 2025

Posted on June 7, 2025June 7, 2025 by MartynL

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 Filthies 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 ...

THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025

Posted on May 27, 2025May 27, 2025 by MartynL

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

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWS

Posted on November 2, 2024 by MartynL

CGC’s Jim Palam hits four Fall CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CAR SHOWS, resulting in this colorful Car Guy sampler!Car 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....

RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!

Posted on July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 by MartynL

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! 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 t...

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...

2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING

Posted on May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 by MartynL

Umbrellas and spirits were up and the ‘Rain Gods’ failed to dampen the fun and excitement at the 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING. It's not surprising that folks with a passion for motorcycles are a pretty rugged and optimistic breed. Sure, rain was predicted to start falling at around 10 AM on May 4th, the Saturday that the 14th annual 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING would kick-start in beautiful Carmel, CA – on the manicured lawns of The Quail Golf Club. And rain it did, throughout mos...

PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION 7

Posted on October 12, 2023October 13, 2023 by MartynL

Pizazz, performance & provenance at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION 7. How do you know if a niche motorsports event is successful? Well for one, it's 6 AM and you're seeing cars parked all over the hills that surround the event location – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County, California. And then you begin to see signs along the entry roads stating "General Admission and Paddock SOLD OUT." After reading that I stared down at the media pass and...

MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023

Posted on August 31, 2023 by MartynL

CGC’s Jim Palam presents highlights from events that fill the most exciting week on the concours and historic racing calendar, MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023. "Suddenly, as if by magic, the cars appeared!" I have to admit that I was like a kid at a magic show when I took in the sights, sounds, pomp and pizazz of MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023. How the organizers, presenters, participants and attendees managed to all come together to revel, rejoice, race and reward i...

2023 CLASSICS WITH THE CARDINALS SHOW

Posted on July 5, 2023 by MartynL

Inaugural 2023 CLASSICS WITH THE CARDINALS SHOW in Santa Barbara, CA met and beat all expectations. CGC’s Jim Palam showcases the highlights. Local car shows sure took a hit when Covid kicked-in back in 2020. Already a challenge to organize and produce with limited resources, the future for these Car Guy celebrations was looking somewhat bleak – even for shows in famous destination cities like Santa Barbara, CA. When I got an invitation to attend a new car show there, I almost took a pass – and...

WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS!

Posted on June 7, 2023 by MartynL

42nd Annual WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN' NATIONALS! slams another ‘homerun’ at the Fairpark in Santa Maria, CA. Over the decades that I've been traveling the highways and byways of America to participate in or report on motorsports events and gatherings, it's become more and more obvious that us Car Guys are all on a seemingly endless and sometimes unpredictable journey. Whether it's setting the clock for 4 AM so you can beat the show traffic to an event, or building a Best of Show cust...