Grand National Roadster Show Explained

The Grand National Roadster Show (otherwise known as GNRS, or unofficially as the Oakland Roadster Show),[1] is a showcase of custom cars and hot rods held each year at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, in either late January or early February.

Established in 1950 by Al Slonaker, the GNRS is one of the oldest and longest continuously operating exhibitions of custom vehicles in the United States, featuring an estimated 1,500 vehicles annually.[2]

The GNRS is best known as home to the America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award. The AMBR is presented to the best pre-1937 vehicle in show, and has been won by many well-known car designers and builders, such as Blackie Gejeian, Carl Casper, Boyd Coddington, and Chip Foose.[3]

Together, the Grand National Roadster Show and AMBR Award are considered among the two "Crown Jewel" competitions and awards for professional show car builders in North America, alongside the Detroit Autorama and its Don Ridler Memorial Award.[4]

In addition to the AMBR, the GNRS created the Al Slonaker Memorial Award in 1974 to recognize the best "Non-Roadster" in show.[5] The Slonaker Award has too been won by well-known car builders and owners, including rockers Eric Clapton[6] and James Hetfield.[7]

History

In 1949, while Al Slonaker was preparing for his first automobile show at the Oakland Exposition, an Oakland area hot rod club convinced him to exhibit ten of their cars .[8] The Inaugural show was a massive success, attracting over 100 cars and 27,674 attendees.[9] The next year, Slonaker decided to focus solely on hot rods, but concerned for potential bad press, he promoted it as the "National Roadster Show."[8] In 1962, "Grand" was added to the title, contributing to the show's long-time moniker as "The Grand-Daddy of them All".

In 1967, the show moved to the Oakland Coliseum[10] Between 1998 and 2003, the show was held at a variety of other San Francisco-Bay Area venues[11] before relocating to Southern California's Fairplex in 2004.[12] [13]

According to the show promoter, Rod Shows Inc., the GNRS features more than 600 vehicles over seven indoor pavilions, with somewhere between 800 and 1,200 additional vehicles filling the remaining 487-acre Fairplex property.[14]

Over seven decades, the GNRS has been covered extensively in national automotive publications, including Hot Rod, Street Rodder, and Rod & Custom, with several AMBR Award winners gracing their covers.[15]

Awards

See main article: America's Most Beautiful Roadster. Since the show's inception in 1950, the grand prize has been the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" or AMBR award.[1] [16] It is a 9-foot "megatrophy" with the names of past winners engraved on its base.[17] [18]

From 1957 until 1971, there was also a separate "America's Best Competition Car Award" presented at the show.[19]

In 1974, the GNRS created an additional award to recognize the best non-roadster entry: the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. The award is open to all types of vehicles, Rods, Customs, Street Machines, Lowriders, VW's, and Trucks.

In addition to the AMBR and Slonaker Award finalist, the show gives out place awards for more than 100 classes, plus 50 "Special" awards for clubs and outstanding displays.[20]

List of AMBR Award Winners

See "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" (AMBR) Award

List of Al Slonaker Memorial Award Winners

Year Vehicle Owner Builder
1974 1909 Ford C-Cab (Country Butcher) Bob Reed
1975 1926 Ford T Sedan John Buttera
1976 1963 Corvette (The Condor) Jack Walker
1977 1956 Harley Davidson Syd DeSota
1978 1977 Jeep Dusty Santos
1979 1926 Ford Ken Nannenhorn
1980 1964 VW Bug (Spellbound) Ed Papac
1981 1933 Ford Roadster Vern Luce
1982 1932 Ford Roadster (Pinocchio)Jay Ohrberg
1983 1957 Chevy (Gold Nugget) Bob Checchini
1984 1971 Corvette Ed Gonsalves
1985 1932 Ford Sedan Delivery Steve Lykens
1986 1966 Corvette (High Plains Drifter)James Winfrey
1987 1951 MercuryFrank DeRosa
1988 1969 VW Karman Ghia (Rod Buster) Chris Addington
1989 1988 Ford Thunderbird (Pegasus) Jim Thayer
1990 1955 VW Bug (Pink Lady) Bernt Karlsson
1991 1956 Lincoln (Royal Empress) Bill Abate
1992 1992 Harley Davidson Bob Dron
1993 1984 Jeep CJ-7 David Sellers
1994 1932 Ford Woody (Speed Wagon) Dan Fink
1995 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery Richard Mattioli
1996 1940 Ford Coupe (Dominator) Leonard Lopez
1997 1937 Ford Coupe (Aero Coupe) Fred Warren
1998 1954 Corvette Nomad Tom Armstrong
1999 1947 Ford Convertible (Job-One) Dave Crook
2000 1932 Ford Larry Anderson
2001 1933 Ford Bud Meyer
2002 1949 Chevy Coupe (M-80) Chris Williams
2003 1961 Corvette Rich Stadelhofer
2004 1936 Chrysler Jack WhiteExtreme Customs and Tim's Hot Rods.[21]
2005 1936 Ford Coupe Jorge Zaragoza
2006 1932 Ford Track Roadster Zane Cullen
2007 1935 Ford Woody Wagon Jim Noteboom
2008 2006 Caresto V8 Roadster Leif Tufvesson
2009 1939 Ford Woody Wagon Brian Hill
2010 2009 VSR Concept Sports Rod Wayne Cherry[22]
2011 1936 Ford Tudor Sedan Andy BarcheckKR Customs
2012 1932 Ford 4 Door Vicky Eric ClaptonRoy Brizio Street Rods[23]
2013 1939 Ford 2 Door Hard Top Jerry KjensrudA&M Deluxe Customs[24]
2014 1948 Jaguar Coachbuilt James HetfieldRick Dore Kustoms
2015 1950 Chevy Fleetside PU Craig MoyesKindig-It Designs[25]
2016 1933 Ford Coupe Wayne HalaburaCreative Concepts and Restorations[26]
2017 1957 Chevy Nomad (ShoMad) Ron MaierA&M Deluxe Customs[27]
2018 1929 Ford Tudoor Sedan Mark MarianinRad Rides By Troy[28]
2019 1957 Chevy (Imagine) Johnny Martin
2020 1936 Willys Pick Up Ron ErnsbergerThe Tin Man's Garage[29]
2021*[30]
20221932 Ford Coupe Pat GaunttDevlin Rod and Custom[31]
20231960 Buick Invicta George EliacostasCAL Auto Creations[32]
2024 1959 Chevy Impala (Bespoke) David and Robin Rush Steve Cook Creations[33]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Doeden, Matt . Custom Cars . LernerClassroom . 2007 . 978-0822590125 . 28.
  2. Web site: About Rod Shows . 2023-12-29 . Rod Shows . en-US.
  3. Web site: America's Most Beautiful Roadster . 2023-12-29 . Rod Shows . en-US.
  4. Detroit: The City of Hot Rods and Muscle Cars". Directed by Keith Famie, Visionalist Media, 2023.
  5. Web site: Al Slonaker Memorial Award . 2023-12-29 . Rod Shows . en-US.
  6. Web site: Brizio . Roy . January 26, 2016 . Eric Clapton's 1932 Ford coupe from Roy Brizio Street Rods debuts at the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show . Hot Rod Network.
  7. Web site: Blabbermouth . 2014-11-06 . METALLICA Frontman JAMES HETFIELD's 'Black Pearl' To Appear At 2014 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW . 2023-12-29 . BLABBERMOUTH.NET . en.
  8. Book: Bertilsson, Bo. Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. 1999. 95. 978-1-61060-882-4 .
  9. Web site: Grand National Roadster Show Recap . 2023-12-29 . TorqTalk . en-US.
  10. Book: Bertilsson, Bo. Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. 1999. 97. 978-1-61060-882-4 .
  11. Web site: Writer . Staff . May 23, 2003 . Cream Of The Crop at 2003 Grand National Roadster Show . Hot Rod Network.
  12. Book: Breitenstein, Jeff . Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies . MotorBooks International . 2004 . 145. 978-1-61059-235-2 .
  13. Web site: Geiser . Eric . May 4, 2004 . Grand National Roadster Show 2004-Granddad turns 55 and moves south . Hot Rod Network.
  14. Web site: Specific Plan - Fairplex in Pomona . 2023-12-29 . Fairplex . en-US.
  15. Web site: Handy . James . January 24, 2018 . History of the (Grand) National Roadster Show . Hot Rod Network.
  16. Web site: Who's going to win the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show?. AutoWeek. January 29, 2016. Mark. Vaughn.
  17. Book: Bertilsson, Bo. Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. 1999. 95–96. 978-1-61060-882-4 .
  18. Book: Breitenstein, Jeff. Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. 24. MotorBooks International. 2004. 978-1-61059-235-2 .
  19. Web site: The History of the Grand National Roadster Show . 2016-04-23 . Grand National Roadster Show . 2018-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181025032406/https://www.rodshows.com/gnrs/show-history.html . dead .
  20. Web site: SciortinoDesign . 2023-02-07 . 2023 Grand National Roadster Show Results . 2023-12-29 . Rod Shows . en-US.
  21. Web site: Jack & Sue White - 1936 Chrysler Airflow - 2005 CA&E . 2023-12-31 . www.caraudiojunkies.com.
  22. Web site: 61st Grand National Roadster Show . 2023-12-31 . www.hotrodhotline.com.
  23. Web site: Clapton Victoria Sedan . 2023-12-31 . Petersen Automotive Museum . en-US.
  24. Web site: 2013-02-23 . 1939 Chevrolet 2-Door Hardtop . 2023-12-31 . NorCal Car Culture . en-US.
  25. Web site: Hamilton . Chris . 2022-06-03 . 1950 Chevy, Kindig-It Design Created a One-of-a-kind Pickup! . 2023-12-31 . Street Trucks . en-US.
  26. Web site: p-themes . 1933 Ford Three Window . 2023-12-31 . Mothers® Polish . en.
  27. Web site: 1957 Chevy Nomad: One for the Sho and Plenty of Go . 2023-12-31 . Fuel Curve . en-US.
  28. Web site: Thomas . Dave . 2018-06-11 . Rad Ride Revisited: The Mariani Model A . 2023-12-31 . Street Muscle . en-US.
  29. Web site: The Winners! AMBR & Slonaker Awards Highlight 71st Grand National Roadster Show . 2023-12-31 . Fuel Curve . en-US.
  30. Web site: SciortinoDesign . 2021-01-12 . Rod Shows Cancellation Release . 2023-12-31 . Rod Shows . en-US.
  31. Web site: Cruikshank . Dave . 2022-02-01 . GNRS 2022 - Meet Your AMBR And Al Slonaker Award Winners . 2023-12-31 . Street Muscle . en-US.
  32. Web site: Gillogly . Brandan . 2023-02-06 . 1960 Buick bubbletop earns high honors at Grand National Roadster Show . 2023-12-31 . Hagerty Media . en-US.
  33. Web site: McGann . James . February 5, 2024 . 1959 Chevy Impala Wins the Slonaker Award at the Grand National Roadster Show 2024 . Hot Rod Network.