Grand National Roadster Show ... Jan 20-22/06

Well, here I am. I’m at the Oakland Roadster Show ... ahmmm ... I mean the 57th Grand National Roadster Show ... now held annually in Pomona, CA. This is the big hall, building #4. This is where the AMBR (America’s Most Beautiful Roadster) trophy will be on display and where they will hold the awards ceremony on Sunday. But more than that, this is where the AMBR contenders will be on display and be judged, and each one cost a million dollars minimum ... and one cost over 3 million.

This begs the question, Can a back yard builder ever be a contender like in years gone by? My neighbor, Jim Molino, won the AMBR in 1977 with "The Candyman." Sure, he got the help of Andy Brizio, Art Himsl and others but none were high-dollar services and all were local boys. Today, a car is developed by committee and built by a famous and very high-end dollar designer with unlimited resources. I’m not talking this down but just raising the question. Can an AMBR winner be built in someone’s back yard?

After checking in, I was assigned my space. I drove in, laid down my black felt, drove forward and parked and set up my display. The whole process, as predicted, took about ten minutes. Others at this show will take the whole day to set up. While they work, I have the time to relax and look around.

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