For the 43rd year, the L.A . Roadster Club's Father's Day show was spectacular!
Nearly 1,000 "cherry" roadsters were registered, plus several thousand classics and specialty cars. A huge swap meet, craft show and 170 automotive accessory vendors crowded the Pomona Fairplex over the two-day weekend. And 30,000 spectators came to dream and drool over the "eye candy" on wheels.
Bart Caliaro fulfilled a dream to drive 3,500 miles, coast to coast. A sign on his roadster trunk read "L.A. Roadster Show or Bust, Vermont to California."
Close runners-up were two brothers,
Harry and
Bill Hennis, who drove from Chesapeake, Va., and clocked in at 3,262 miles in 3.5 days.
Others drove from Florida, Michigan, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. But most came from Southern California - the hot rod capital of the world. There were also 18 members of a New Zealand street rod club who made the 16-hour flight to attend the show.
The club's founder and first president,
Dick Scritchfield, flew from Hawaii to celebrate the the club's 50th anniversary. "It's really something," said the man who dreamed the club into existence.
Candy Clark, who starred as Debbie in the original
American Graffiti movie, was there to autograph photos and posters. K-earth D.J.,
Tom "Shotgun" Kelly also gave autographs and interviews. Broadcast "oldies" music added to the nostalgia.
Fathers, sons and grandsons flocked to the show, especially on Sunday. One young man, who began attending in 1979 as a toddler with his brother and father hasn't missed a show since.
"It's as addictive as heroin," he said with a wink.
Dale "Wild Turkey" Grau, from Minnesota, repeated the often-heard word, "awesome" and praised the L.A. Roadster club.
"They are the friendliest and most appreciative of all the National Car shows and events I've been to," Grau said.
At the end of the day, the L.A. Roadster club collected $12,529 for its sponsored charity - City of Hope.
Many kudos go to show chairmen,
Jim Gacchina and
Jeff Tann, as well as to
Lynn Houchin, Doyle Gammell, Don Wilson, Jerry Olds and the many other men and wives of the club for putting on one fantastic show.
The prestigious L.A. Roadster Club is based in Burbank and meets twice monthly at the Elks' Club on Hollywood Way. Its first meeting was held in 1957 at the Weiand Equipment Co. on San Fernando Road in Glendale, where members elected Scritchfield as president and set down goals for the club, including the signature "clean-cut" dress code.
All the cars in today's L.A. Roadsters must be 1936 or older and in "premium condition" - finished, painted, upholstered, insured, and drivable. They must be able to maintain freeway speeds and stop on a dime. Annual club safety inspections are required.
For information about the history of the club and its members, contact
Jack Stewart at
sara1931@aol.com.
For information about the club, its member cars and/or the annual Roadster exhibition, contact the current president,
Rich Boyd,at
boydrsls@aol.com
For more information, go to
www.laroadsters.com.