THE GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW

POMONA, CA- JANUARY 27-29, 2012

The winners of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (“AMBR”) and America’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle (“AMBM”) were announced at the awards ceremony held Sunday evening.       

AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADSTER  is the silver-nosed Indy Speedster No. 3 owned by Bill Lindig from Houston, Texas.  The car was built by SoCal Speed Shop.

Below are photos of the contenders for AMBR.

 The trophy for AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTORCYCLE went to Dawndra Baldi of Cherry Valley, CA.  Last year the trophy was taken home by Sam Baldi, Dawndra’s husband.

Below are photos of the contenders for AMBM:

When the first National Roadster Show was held in 1950, Ford was putting flatheads in it’s cars and trucks, Chevy was five years away from installing the first of it’s legendary small block engines, and the U.S. was recovering from World War II, which ended only four years earlier.  The ensuing history has added up to a 63-year legacy of remarkable hot rodding shows.

What was called the National Roadster Show, founded by Al Slonaker, was first held in 1950 in Oakland, CA.  The first AMBR trophy went to William Niekamp for his 1929 Ford Model A.  Many recognizable names have been AMBR winners, including in 1955 when Blackie Gejeian with his 1926 Ford T tied for the honor with Raymond Anderegg and his 1927 Ford T.  The National Roadster Show, often called the Oakland Roadster Show was renamed the Grand National Roadster Show in the early to mid-sixties.  The last Northern California Show was held in 2003 and in 2004 the Grand National Roadster Show moved to Pomona.

The Grand National Roadster Show is the longest running indoor car show in the world and showcases, not only the most beautiful roadsters, but the most beautiful cars and motorcycles in America.  The 63^rd annual Grand National Roadster Show follows a rich history; but it only takes one look at the cars and motorcycles in attendance to know that the heritage and tradition of the Grand National Roadster Show has been carried forward.

This year more than 600 show cars and motorcycles filled eight buildings at the Pomona Fairplex.  On Saturday another 700 drive-in cars were parked in every available spot in and around the buildings with another 500 drive-in cars filling those spaces on Sunday. Add in all the vendors and displays, including a Lions Drag Strip and Gasser display, and it takes three days to see it all.  Each building was themed: i.e. the race car showcase, custom cars, motorcycles, show cars, hot rods and customs, the suede palace and 80 driven deuces (not coincidentally this is the 80^th anniversary of the deuce).

Here are some of the nice cars brought to the GNRS drive-in on Saturday.

This year the show theme was Futurama, and participants were encouraged to decorate their spaces with a futuristic theme.   However, decoration beyond the vehicle itself was unnecessary.  Each vehicle displayed was a marvel of engineering and artistic accomplishment, setting the bar for the future.

To see more photos from the Grand National Roadster Show, click on the Smugmug link in the right-hand sidebar or at the top of the page.