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...

35TH ANNUAL SOLVANG DATSUN ROADSTER CLASSIC

Posted on May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 by MartynL

Vintage Japanese vehicles shine at the 35TH ANNUAL SOLVANG DATSUN ROADSTER CLASSIC, held in the Danish capital of America! You could say that the 35TH ANNUAL SOLVANG DATSUN ROADSTER CLASSIC organizers and participants have a cozy relationship with their host city, Solvang, CA. Allocated just one street in the heart of The Danish Capital of America, 75 vintage Datsun roadsters, sedans, coupes, trucks and Zs performed an early morning ballet of parking precision as they snugged-into their assi...

THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023

Posted on May 15, 2023May 15, 2023 by MartynL

Once again, a great show – with some special surprises - at THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023! Sometimes you just have to trust that the Motorcycle Gods will smile upon you and that the predicted rain showers wouldn't materialize over the emerald green show field for THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023 on May 6th at The Quail Lodge & Golf Club in beautiful Carmel Valley, CA. I arrived extra early and had to wear my motorcycle jacket to keep warm for the first 2 hours. By the 10 AM sho...

NOJOQUI FALLS FUN RUN 2022

Posted on November 12, 2022November 13, 2022 by MartynL

50-Year car club tradition brings hot rods, classics, customs and cruisers to scenic Nojoqui Falls County Park in California for the NOJOQUI FALLS FUN RUN 2022. Our man Jim Palam captures the fun for Car Guy Chronicles' viewers. Nojoqui Falls was originally named for a Chumash village named Naxuwi, which means meadow. It is a Santa Barbara County Park located on Alisal Road, 2.6 miles southwest from Solvang, CA. An old legend has it that a Chumash Indian chief held an all-night prayer...

VELOCITY INVITATIONAL MOTORSPORTS FESTIVAL

Posted on October 21, 2022October 21, 2022 by MartynL

Jim Palam headed to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the VELOCITY INVITATIONAL MOTORSPORTS FESTIVAL with a craving. Discovers he's just one among 15,000 with a 'Need for Speed.' It is like your favorite piece of pie. You will make sacrifices just so you can enjoy it again and again. I had my first Velocity slice a year ago and what a treat to be back to enjoy the VELOCITY INVITATIONAL MOTORSPORTS FESTIVAL again in 2022! For those of you still waiting to take a bite of Velocity I'...

CARS & COWBOYS’ BENEFIT FOR MEALS ON WHEELS.

Posted on October 7, 2022October 7, 2022 by MartynL

Jim Palam moseys over to the Red River Ranch in Los Olivos, CA, and rustles up some tasty images from the CARS & COWBOYS’ BENEFIT FOR MEALS ON WHEELS. There are over 31,000 residents in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, which includes the communities of Solvang, Buellton, Ballard, Santa Ynez and Los Olivos. It is also home to the Santa Ynez Chumash Indians' reservation and casino. If you're out and about in the Valley you will inevitably encounter winemakers, farmers, equestrians, gambler...

MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2022 – THE AUCTIONS

Posted on September 21, 2022September 21, 2022 by MartynL

We asked our man Jim Palam to paddle his way through MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2022 – THE AUCTIONS in a bid to hammer-down a Car Guy Chronicles' Special Report. It is estimated that over 85,000 car enthusiasts made their way to California's beautiful Monterey Peninsula from destinations near and far to enjoy the pomp, pageantry and pizazz of Monterey Car Week. While Car Week events, rallies, races, lectures and auctions put a strain on the Peninsula's infrastructure and residents’ nerves, Monterey ...

12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING

Posted on May 23, 2022May 23, 2022 by MartynL

We asked CGC West Coast contributor Jim Palam to scoot up to the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, CA and bring back a special two-wheel report for the 12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING, the return of two-wheel splendor to the grass of Carmel Valley. Mission accomplished! It was Friday-the-13th when I drove past Valhalla Drive in Solvang. I was on my way North to cover the 12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING in Carmel, after the show was put on-hold for a two-year hiatus th...

VW BEETLES, BUSSES, VARIANTS & THINGS

Posted on March 10, 2022March 11, 2022 by MartynL

Ventura Vintage Volkswagens’ Beach Day showcases BEETLES, BUSSES, VARIANTS & THINGS at the Ventura (CA) Pier. Our own Jim Palam rarely passes up a great day with cool cars at the beach! Its mission is clear and simple: Create VW Fun! Ventura Vintage Volkswagens (VVV) is a charter club of the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America. They meet wherever and whenever they can to not only show off the diverse collection of unique VWs in the member ranks, but to also go camping, help each othe...

WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN’ NATIONALS

Posted on January 11, 2022January 11, 2022 by MartynL

Classics and customs flaunt fins and flames at Santa Maria Fairpark for 40th annual WEST COAST KUSTOMS CRUISIN' NATIONALS, one of the premier California carguy shows. Despite a 2021 Covid-19 rescheduling of its popular Cruisin' Nationals from May to October – and then a pending storm moving in on the Santa Maria Fairpark location – the resilient folks at West Coast Kustoms still managed to rev-up West Coast car enthusiasts and host their 40th Annual show with a flamboyant flash of fins, flames...