2011 Sacramento Autorama – 61 Years of Kustoms

Custom Cars and Hot Rods in Sacramento

Story Contributed by MyRideisMe.com member: Nick Koljian “Hellcity316″

The Sacramento Autorama is “The Kustom Capital of the World”. Believe it.

After 61 years the Sacramento Autorama is one of the longest running indoor shows and with 450 custom cars, hot rods and specialty rides of all kinds covering Cal Expo’s buildings and fairgrounds.

The Sacramento Autorama started back in 1950,  when Sacramento businessman Harold “Baggy” Bagdasarian and his car club, the Capitol City Auto Club Thunderbolts, Baggy convinced club members to, “Settle friendly arguments over the outstanding merits of their personal customized cars.” This according to the show’s current host, Rodshows.com, the same folks who bring you the Grand National Roadster Show. The original show attracted 22 entries and 500 spectators with the first “Best Custom Car” trophy going to Leroy Semas for his 1937 Chevrolet coupe. (photo courtesy of Kustomrama.com)

Once again, the 2011 NorCal car show season is under way! Kicking off the car show season is the 2011 Sacramento Autorama. Bay Area car clubs and car clubs from far and wide come to open the car show season at this mega custom car free for all. This weekend-long affair is filled with music, drink and great hot rod fare.

Of course the Sacramento Autorama is going to have pinstriping from some of the best that northern cali has to offer. With the likes of Mr.Wim, T-Bonez graffix, Rich Luna and others laying in the lines. Other pinstripers at the show were pinstriping for charity by donating panels for the charity auction being held later Saturday night.

Now getting back to the “Kustom Capitol of the World” statement, this show had cars built by customizing icons such as Gene Winfield and John D’Agostino. Not to mention some local masters of fabrication as well like Skoty Chops and Alex Gambino being challenged by Idaho builder Russ Freund whose “Takeout T” shocked the 2011 GNRS.

Look for a feature on Russ’ T soon!

If eye popping custom jobs where not your thing, the Sacramento Autorama has a little bit of everything for everyone. If you like custom they had 6 buildings full of pre and post 1965 custom winners. Not only do they have that if you are looking for more of a classic without all the frill or maybe just your simple rod. You could just step outside and grab yourself one of those foot long corn dogs and walk the parking lot.

If you liked muscle cars, they had that. Motor-cycles, custom and classic… yep that too. The weather was perfect, the crowd was big and the day was a success. Like it has been for the past 61 years. I couldn’t think of any other way to kick off the 2011 car show season than with the 2011 Sacramento Autorama. Look for more kustoms and hot rods from NorCal soon…

If I don’t see ya at the show, I’ll see ya in the streets. -N/K!

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Hot Rods ain’t Strange at the 2010 Strangers Car Show

Hot Rods and Custom Car Show Pictures

As the Doors front man Jim Morrison once put it ” People are strange when you’re a stranger.” Hmmm, lets take a good look at that. “People are strange when you’re a stranger.” Does that mean you are strange if you like insane pinstriping and you’re passionate about hot rods? Is that really a bad thing?

Well I know a couple of strangers that would disagree with “people are strange when you’re a stranger.”  That would be the guys from Strangers Car Club that put on one of the biggest and most anticipated shows in the South Bay every year.  The Strangers CC Car Show & BBQ at History Park in San Jose, Ca.

This being the 11th annual show there was some rumors going around that this might be the last one. But no worries that little diddy was squashed quick. This years show seemed to be double in size of last years and always brings out the who’s who in the hot rod scene as well as the big names around the bay. Names like builders Alex Gambino and Scotty Chops, pin-up photographer Mitzi Valenzuela, and Old school photographer Jay “Catfish” Mason just to name a few.

As usual the setting was perfect. Family friendly, the smell of meats on the ‘Que and a ton of shade to hide from the mid-day heat. Today like any other Strangers show was a visual hodgepodge for eye to see. Customs, bombs, roadsters, classics, rats, trucks and even some old classic Schwinn bikes. Good lord, that alone brought back some memories!

Also when you hit up a Strangers show you better be ready to see some of the baddest pinstriping this side of Southern California. Not only was Rich Luna, Vito Castillo and Mr. Wim boothing it up, but Luna and Wim were tag teaming a Buick Riviera’s trunk that just left me speechless.

Then there was the vendors ranging from builders to fashion including an array of vintage clothing booths as well as the Strangers CC booth with some killer show shirts, past and present. Of course at the closing of the show the awards are past out to the best of show and the Strangers famous raffle. The awards were par for the course… amazing.

As another Strangers show comes to a end it leaves me satisfied and wanting more just like when you are eating something so amazing and you know you’re full and about to burst but yet you still want to take another bite. Huh… that’s strange. -N/K

All of Nick’s 2010 Strangers Car Show Pictures in the picture gallery.

Check out coverage from the 2009 Strangers Car Show too for more great pictures.

NorCal’s First Round Knockout

Words and Pictures by Nick K

Welcome to the 2010 NorCal Knockout

Korena Goldstien and Henrik Forss aka “Hollywood Hank” are no new comers to the hot and custom car scene by any stretch of the imagination.

Henrik grew up in Sweden and moved to the US some 10 years ago. Since the early 90′s Hank’s promoted both music and car events in Sweden as well as here in the US. Hank also contributes at Gasoline Magazine out of Sweden. Here’s the link (good luck reading it!) http://www.gasolinemagazine.se/ (looks very well done though, excellent photography!) Hank does a little of everything… here’s Hank’s Homepage

Korena, a local Vallejoan is the founder of MissyLu handbags and accessories and has promoted music events and clubs around the Bay Area in the past. But with that said, Nor Cal Knock Out is Hollywoods & Korena’s 1st major Northern California show.

The title Nor Cal Knock Out could not have been any more fitting.

The show was at the Solano County Fairgrounds. I know, I know, when you hear “fairgrounds” you think the smell of livestock lingering in a dust bowl. This was far from it. It was more like the perfect setting for a hot day in Vallejo,Ca. Lawn, lush shade trees, the smell of ribs and hot links firing away on the BBQ and yes the beer stand. Picnic benches provided ample seating for the tuckered out rod fan.

Speaking of rods, the array of customs, classics, rats and roadsters was impressive. The list of car clubs looked like Santa’s address book the night before Christmas. Not to mention Rob and Ginger Struvens 40 Merc and Kirk Jones ” Legion Special”. Also on the bill was the “Vagabond” legendary 60′s top fuel dragster. The first on of it’s kind to go 200mph at Sacramento Raceway back in 1965.

The list of vendors was no different. strategically placed under some cool shade netting on the 14400 sq ft Starlite patio area there was tattoo booths, tiki carvers, vintage clothing and pinstippers. Among some of the vendors where Gearhead mag, Lucky 13 and the amazing pics by KatAttack photography. Of course we can not forget about the music.

Every car show has to have tunes. If Texas Steve or Dusty Chance and the Allnighters were not playing on the main stage, DJ Jett was pumping out some serious rockabilly and surf throughout the day. If DJ Jett got tired or needed an ice cold refreshment, the surf sounds of the Deadbeats filled in just dandy. I mean come on, this show pretty much nailed it. In my opinion I would rate this among the big shows of the year. For Northern California shows you have are the Sac Autorama, Strangers BBQ show, the Goodguys summer bash, Midnight Mass and Billetproof.

Well show junkies, I think we have a new sheriff in town and it’s a knock out! The organization of the show was flawless. I applaud the effort and hard work that Hank and Korena put into their first ever NorCal show. I raise my cold can high in salute to you two and say but one word… encore.

For more info on next years show go to http://www.norcalknockout.com/

See all the pictures from NorCal Knockout Car Show here.

If I don’t see ya at the show, I’ll see ya in the streets. -N/K