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 a 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".[2]

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,[2] with somewhere between 800 and 1,200 additional vehicles filling the remaining 487-acre Fairplex property.[9][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]

The 2014 AMBR Award Winner: Wes Rydell's 1935 Chevy Phaeton.

Awards

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.[5]

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[5]VehicleOwnerBuilder
19741909 Ford C-Cab (Country Butcher)Bob Reed[5]
19751926 Ford T SedanJohn Buttera[5]
19761963 Corvette (The Condor)Jack Walker[5]
19771956 Harley DavidsonSyd DeSota[5]
19781977 JeepDusty Santos[5]
19791926 FordKen Nannenhorn[5]
19801964 VW Bug (Spellbound)Ed Papac[5]
19811933 Ford RoadsterVern Luce[5]
19821932 Ford Roadster (Pinocchio)Jay Ohrberg[5]
19831957 Chevy (Gold Nugget)Bob Checchini[5]
19841971 CorvetteEd Gonsalves[5]
19851932 Ford Sedan DeliverySteve Lykens[5]
19861966 Corvette (High Plains Drifter)James Winfrey[5]
19871951 MercuryFrank DeRosa[5]
19881969 VW Karman Ghia (Rod Buster)Chris Addington[5]
19891988 Ford Thunderbird (Pegasus)Jim Thayer[5]
19901955 VW Bug (Pink Lady)Bernt Karlsson[5]
19911956 Lincoln (Royal Empress)Bill Abate[5]
19921992 Harley DavidsonBob Dron[5]
19931984 Jeep CJ-7David Sellers[5]
19941932 Ford Woody (Speed Wagon)Dan Fink[5]
19951940 Ford Sedan DeliveryRichard Mattioli[5]
19961940 Ford Coupe (Dominator)Leonard Lopez[5]
19971937 Ford Coupe (Aero Coupe)Fred Warren[5]
19981954 Corvette NomadTom Armstrong[5]
19991947 Ford Convertible (Job-One)Dave Crook[5]
20001932 FordLarry Anderson[5]
20011933 FordBud Meyer[5]
20021949 Chevy Coupe (M-80)Chris Williams[5]
20031961 CorvetteRich Stadelhofer[5]
20041936 ChryslerJack White[5] Extreme Customs and Tim's Hot Rods.[21]
20051936 Ford CoupeJorge Zaragoza[5]
20061932 Ford Track RoadsterZane Cullen[5]
20071935 Ford Woody WagonJim Noteboom[5]
20082006 Caresto V8 RoadsterLeif Tufvesson[5]
20091939 Ford Woody WagonBrian Hill[5]
20102009 VSR Concept Sports RodWayne Cherry[5][22]
20111936 Ford Tudor SedanAndy Barcheck[5] KR Customs[23]
20121932 Ford 4 Door VickyEric Clapton[5][6] Roy Brizio Street Rods[24]
20131939 Ford 2 Door Hard TopJerry Kjensrud[5] A&M Deluxe Customs[25]
20141948 Jaguar CoachbuiltJames Hetfield[5][7]Rick Dore Kustoms[7]
20151950 Chevy Fleetside PUCraig Moyes[5] Kindig-It Designs[26]
20161933 Ford CoupeWayne Halabura[5] Creative Concepts and Restorations[27]
20171957 Chevy Nomad (ShoMad)Ron Maier[5]A&M Deluxe Customs[28]
20181929 Ford Tudoor SedanMark Marianin[5]Rad Rides By Troy[29]
20191957 Chevy (Imagine)Johnny Martin[5]
20201936 Willys Pick UpRon Ernsberger[5]The Tin Man's Garage[30]
2021*[31]
20221932 Ford CoupePat Gauntt[5]Devlin Rod and Custom[32]
20231960 Buick InvictaGeorge Eliacostas[5]CAL Auto Creations[33]

*2021 show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[31]

See also

Further reading

  • Larivee, Bob. (2010). Show Car Dreams. Oxford, Michigan: DP Publishing. ISBN 9780615387345
  • Gingerelli, Dain; Southard, Jr., Andy. The Oakland Roadster Show:50 Years of Hot Rods And Customs. MBI Publishing.

References

  1. 1 2 Doeden, Matt (2007). Custom Cars. LernerClassroom. p. 28. ISBN 0822590123.
  2. 1 2 3 "About Rod Shows". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  3. ↑ "America's Most Beautiful Roadster". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  4. ↑ Detroit: The City of Hot Rods and Muscle Cars". Directed by Keith Famie, Visionalist Media, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 "Al Slonaker Memorial Award". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  6. 1 2 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. 1 2 3 Blabbermouth (2014-11-06). "METALLICA Frontman JAMES HETFIELD's 'Black Pearl' To Appear At 2014 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  8. 1 2 Bertilsson, Bo (1999). Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. p. 95.
  9. 1 2 "Grand National Roadster Show Recap". TorqTalk. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  10. ↑ Bertilsson, Bo (1999). Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. p. 97.
  11. ↑ Writer, Staff (May 23, 2003). "Cream Of The Crop at 2003 Grand National Roadster Show". Hot Rod Network.
  12. ↑ Breitenstein, Jeff (2004). Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. MotorBooks International. p. 145.
  13. ↑ Geiser, Eric (May 4, 2004). "Grand National Roadster Show 2004-Granddad turns 55 and moves south". Hot Rod Network.
  14. ↑ "Specific Plan - Fairplex in Pomona". Fairplex. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  15. ↑ Handy, James (January 24, 2018). "History of the (Grand) National Roadster Show". Hot Rod Network.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ Vaughn, Mark (January 29, 2016). "Who's going to win the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show?". AutoWeek.
  17. ↑ Bertilsson, Bo (1999). Classic Hot Rods. MotorBooks International. pp. 95–96.
  18. ↑ Breitenstein, Jeff (2004). Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. MotorBooks International. p. 24.
  19. ↑ "The History of the Grand National Roadster Show". Grand National Roadster Show. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  20. ↑ SciortinoDesign (2023-02-07). "2023 Grand National Roadster Show Results". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  21. ↑ "Jack & Sue White - 1936 Chrysler Airflow - 2005 CA&E". www.caraudiojunkies.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  22. ↑ "61st Grand National Roadster Show". www.hotrodhotline.com. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  23. ↑ Lyons QC, Timothy (2018-12-07), "Customs Entry and Declaration", EU Customs Law, Oxford University Press, retrieved 2023-12-31
  24. ↑ "Clapton Victoria Sedan". Petersen Automotive Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  25. ↑ "1939 Chevrolet 2-Door Hardtop". NorCal Car Culture. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  26. ↑ Hamilton, Chris (2022-06-03). "1950 Chevy, Kindig-It Design Created a One-of-a-kind Pickup!". Street Trucks. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  27. ↑ p-themes. "1933 Ford Three Window". Mothers® Polish. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  28. ↑ "1957 Chevy Nomad: One for the Sho and Plenty of Go". Fuel Curve. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  29. ↑ Thomas, Dave (2018-06-11). "Rad Ride Revisited: The Mariani Model A". Street Muscle. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  30. ↑ "The Winners! AMBR & Slonaker Awards Highlight 71st Grand National Roadster Show". Fuel Curve. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  31. 1 2 SciortinoDesign (2021-01-12). "Rod Shows Cancellation Release". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  32. ↑ Cruikshank, Dave (2022-02-01). "GNRS 2022 - Meet Your AMBR And Al Slonaker Award Winners". Street Muscle. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  33. ↑ Gillogly, Brandan (2023-02-06). "1960 Buick bubbletop earns high honors at Grand National Roadster Show". Hagerty Media. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
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