Fisheyed Look at the Grand National Roadster Show

Well if I could paint like Tom Fritz, I would. If I could draw like my friends Brian and Dwayne, I’d probably do that too.  Since my creativity’s pretty much limited to taking pictures, I’m doing my best to catch up to the great shots taken by Swanee, my main man shooting for MyRideisMe.com. Swanee’s yet to lay down his shots from GNRS, so here’s mine, FISHEYE style.

A fisheye lens is an ultra wide-angle lens that takes in an extremely wide, hemispherical image. A side effect of this super wide shot is the distortion.  I’m shooting with a 10.5mm fisheye lens. Sometimes that distortion looks kinda cool with the swoopy angles of a custom or in tight on the details of an engine like the Stromberg powered flathead in Blackie Gejeian’s “Blackie” Roadster.

Sometimes, the look is just sinister!  This is the grille from “Camel Toe Racing” 1932 Ford.  The closer you get, the more distortion. I’m just a couple inches off this grill and I probably cropped the shot some. Too bad I have to give the lens back to my boss!

Shooting in the Suede Palace at the Grand National Roadster Show, you can either love or hate the florescent lights that line the exhibit hall.  With this lens, the lights seem to stream on forever and have a distinct curve. Don’t worry, it’s not your mind playing tricks on you!

The fish suits the wacky hemi powered and bubble topped “Atomic Punk”.

This is just a couple of the goofy, love-it-or-hate-it  fisheye shots I took at the show. Take a look at the picture gallery called:

Grand National Roadster Show – Fisheye

I’m curious. Does the fisheye work for you? Yea? Sometimes? Let me know…

-Pikesan

2010 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster?

Here it is! America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, or the AMBR award as it’s known.  The AMBR is easily one of the top awards in the country and this year drew 10 roadsters to competition.

2010’s AMBR winner is a 1933 Ford, or loosely based on that design, and is owned by Mike and Dianne Dingman.  The car was called, “Possessed” and was built by Scott’s Hot Rods, a shop that built another America’s Most Beautiful Roadster winner back in 2008. (2008 AMBR Story)

Beyond that, you know what?  Not much to say.  This is one of only a couple pictures we took of the car for a couple reasons:

First off, it was tough getting decent pictures.

On Friday, during our media happy hour and right into the time when the public crowds started rolling in, the Scott’s guys were busy setting up the car and the display.  Sure, there were chances to get shots of dudes busily wiping stuff down and placing the display panels, but there’s only so much you can photoshop. (We did get one “interesting” video, but that’s being saved for the, “how to ruin a video at a car show” tirade.)

On Saturday, thankfully, the GNRS crew let us in early to take pics without the cars mobbed with onlookers. Saturday was PACKED with people and great “outdoor” show cars. Too bad Saturday’s breakfast was more of the same… Scott’s guys doing the cleaning that’s part of the show, but also tightening up the leaking rear axle and wiping up the lube we saw dripping out before we left Friday.  Some carefully placed Mardi Gras beads below where the drip was looked like cheap insurance just in case the drip returned.  This Autoweek Story reports all the last minute troubles they overcame to make it to the show.

Then second, the car just didn’t do it for me. Didn’t turn my crank, wind my clock, whatever.

Before I sound like a hater, let’s say what the car was:

• Amazingly detailed! The polished-to-perfection chrome was near blinding
• Displayed best.  They had the only rotating display which helped the wide-mouthed onlookers see every point adding modification. The Mardi Gras dolls looked messy, but were spot on the theme.
• Built by guys who could build anything. The Scott’s crew could have put in a full kitchen (with sink) if they wanted to and it would have fit perfectly
• Finally, it’s the AMBR winner, so what do I know?

I’m a hot rod guy, so a few other cars (tomorrow’s post) fit me alot better. And if I had to say one thing I didn’t like about Possessed, I’ll always dislike chrome rotors! I’m stupid, but that just bugs me. I guess it’d score points in the show, great, but for me it just shows complete disdain for hot rods and driven cars of all kinds.

Enough of my whining, I’d love your feedback!  For or against this car as America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, leave a comment below.

2010 Grand National Roadster Show – Kickoff

Links to 2008 to 2010 Show coverage at the end of this story…

I couldn’t resist the first collection of historic hot rods I found at the Grand National Roadster Show. Especially since I’m experimenting with a fisheye lens.
What do you think?

These ride were all cover cars for Rod & Custom or Street Rodder. This collection includes the first cover car from the 1953 issue of Rods &
Custom, plus 32 others!

Many more pics to come, wait til I turn Swanee loose! Stay tuned!

2010 GNRS Coveage… more coming soon!

2010 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster?

2010 GNRS AMBR Contenders – 4 Winners at Any Show

Different Ways to Win at GNRS

The World’s Fastest Hippie – Go ahead and Inhale

Nostalgia Drag Race History from 2010 GNRS

2009 GNRS Coverage (Click on any title to read the story):

2009 Grand National Roadster Show – The Aftermath

GNRS Suede Palace – more than flat pain

Show & Go Hot Rod is Double Trouble (America’s Most Bitch’n Roadster!)

AMBR Hot Rod Special in Pictures and Video

March Pinup of the Month – Angela Ryan (from the GNRS)

Japanese Hot Rod Culture Pinstriped & Flaked! (pinstriper’s Jam at GNRS)

Pinstriper’s Reunion – Pulling lines for Charity

50th to 60th Grand National Roadster Show

GNRS Hall of Fame Lunch – Heros and Legends

The Picture gallery: Hot Rods and Customs from GNRS

2008 GNRS Coverage:

2008 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster

GNRS 2008: If You Missed This One…

GNRS Suede Palace – more than flat paint

GNRS Show Cars, The Under-over

The Picture Gallery: 2008 Hot Rods and Customs at GNRS

AMBR Hot Rod Special in Pictures and Video

It’s official, at least it was at about 7:30 Pacific Coast time, 1/25/2009. The “Hot Rod Special” built by Willet Specials in Chicago is the winner of the 2009 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster title. Except for being able to roll forwards and back under their own power, the judging for the AMBR title is like “Riding a unicycle on wallpaper”. (I don’t know what that means either.)

Let’s hope the judges do cause they’re looking for “excellence”. That part couldn’t be a simpler task, really, given that the level of competition for the AMBR is ridiculous. Pretty much every car in the main hall (not just the AMBR contenders) is a “Best of Show” winner at a regular show, but this is the “Granddaddy of them all” the Grand National Roadster show.

When excellence abounds, the judges are forced to find something, “wrong” with the cars. Now there’s a task! Every year, however, a winner is chosen and regardless of any complaining, “AMBR winner” is something that can never be taken away. (even if the car later appears topless in Playboy… in fact, that’s encouraged!)

So here’s the video and pictures I took of the “Hot Rod Special”. The broad details are:

1932 Ford, all steel Roadster done in a 50’s period style with a 460 pony Viper V10 backed by a Tremec T-56 / 6speed. The Costco-like list of subtle body mods also features the more obvious custom fabricated belly pans and head rest. It’s all covered in double-black-back (wanna kiss myself, HEY!) period style paint. Everything rolls on kidney bean style 16 and 17 knock off wheels. Any other details are available at the builder, Harry Willett’s website, Willett Specials.com.

Now the debate begins, was this American’s Most Beautiful Roadster? You can be damn sure it’s one of them!

GNRS Suede Palace – more than flat paint

Damn slacker! Oh well, better late then never.

I did take quite a few shots at in the Suede Palace at the 2008 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA. For those of you who missed it, the Suede Palace is a show within a show featuring vintage hot rods and customs that pushes back against the modern looking 20+ inch-wheeled billet monsters of the main hall. Some might say that’s where all the “rat” rods are, but look closely, there’s more to the Suede Palace than just flat paint. With help from his wife Celeste, Axle from the Shifters Car club puts the best of live music and vintage hot rod movies together with DJ’s playing doo-wop, rockabilly, rhythm and blues and surf. The vendors inside sell the unique items Suede-folk are looking for. Also, 2008 marked the first year that Bombshell-n-Ink will host a vintage style pin-up contest sponsored by PinUpGirlClothing.com. Somehow I missed the pinup contest… don’t miss Pinupgirlclothing.com… it might be better than the Victoria Secrets catalog!

You can learn more about the Suede Palace at their Myspace page: Suede Palace or check out the sister show at the Sacramento Autorama (we already missed it) called the Suede Pavilion. It’s the same idea, just up in Norcal.

So here are a few of the shots I like… the rest are over in the events picture page. Click HERE to go.

If you have any good shots, be sure to let us know, especially if you have pics from Sacramento. Feel free to comment too. Did you know you don’t have to be a member to comment?

(Click on the pic to see it full size…)

---

---

GNRS Show Cars, The Under-over

If you’ve never had the chance to visit a premier classic/hot rod show, then you might be wondering, what’s it take to hit that level? It’s trivial to say, “You need alot of money.” While that’s true, it’s like they say, “Money can’t buy love” and you can see and feel the sometimes years of effort it takes to put a top quality car together. A new friend from over at icwires.com would also like everyone to know that alot of the big builders farm out work too. Not everyone’s an expert at everything! From the concept illustrations to the wiring to the paint and body, these cars must be done right. Alot of times, they define right and set the trends for the next super show cars.

So take a look at the ultimate Under-over. These pics show the detail you could put into your rod or muscle car if you wanted to. Before the “You gotta drive it” crew chimes in, I agree. But if these cars sit on blinged-out rotating displays with their rotors chromed and headers polished and nary the tiniest oil stain on their white engine blocks for a year before being driven, that’s cool with me. It’s your ride. It’s your choice. My Ride is Me, not you.

Start with this 32 from Squeeg’s Kutsoms in Mesa, AZ. I met these guys preparing this car for the microscope of the Grand National Roadster show. They were re-polishing the exhaust because this car had been driven (and enjoyed) by Doug before the November 2007 Goodguys Show in Scottsdale. Dig the scallops with pinstripes, all cut and polished UNDER the car. (Click on any of these pics to see them full size.)

Then, I’m pretty sure this is a 1949 Mercury. If you’re gonna shoot a big show like this, I recommend shooting the show card too! I love the contrast of the paint and chrome. Who’s the tired cat who polished all this?

Then I shot this one to show that you don’t have to be all chrome. The big striping works and is a perfect compliment. Dig the spotless, armor- alled tire tread too!

There were several non-rods on display in the main hall at the GNRS too. This corvette is as nice as they come. This shot through the wheel opening show the details (properly lit for the full effect) under the car even though it was sitting on the ground. (this is one of my favorite shots!)

Then, there’s the mirrors under the cars that help us see the details. I found them pretty much impossible to capture in a decent photo, but they were cool in person. I’ll show a couple so you get the idea. I’m waiting for someone to do a display where folks can walk under and over the car. That’d rock!

Last but not least. Tube frames are cool, look racey and all, but how’d you like to be the guy who painted and buffed it for the bottom of the car?

What do you think? Too much? Great? Let us know. Next time I go into the tailpipe of an actual show winner to see what they had to eat.

---

---

GNRS 2008: If You Missed This One…

So I’m hanging with my new buddy Brian from Problem Child Kustoms and we run into Chip (the louver guy) and his friend Craig in the Suede Palace of the Grand National Roadster Show. We’d all been taking in the cool as hell customs and old school hot rods. I heard Craig say, “This one was my favorite until we saw that modified. You’ve got that black modified, right?” He was talking about this bitch’n 31 Ford Coupe with Caddy power and my 27 Roadster back in AZ. (click to make it bigger)

I hadn’t seen the trick pearl, metallic white with purple panels modified yet. Where’s that?! So I rushed over to the building right next door, the only building I hadn’t seen yet. Amidst the nostalgia dragsters and some of the coolest rides I hadn’t photographed yet was this killer little roadster.

I was stunned. The detail and finish on this car rivaled anything in the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster hall, plus it screamed old school hot rod and custom show car from the way back machine! Channeled, paneled and white-walled, this car was quickly becoming one of my favorites as well. It’s hard to see from the pics but the white metallic paint actually had a light blue-green pearl to it and it was laid on smooth. It was the perfect compliment to the heavier flaked purple-pink in the panels. The engine kept the cool flowing with finned valve covers and a three deuce intake. I’d love to hear what those headers sound like!

The last detail shot is of the interior. A simple 3 gauge layout below the nifty 3 piece window followed by the twisted shifter and swirled glass knob. The upholstery was done up in a pearly white vinyl that finished things off perfectly. Top to bottom, this thing was too right.

After meeting back up with the AZ crew, we decided this car was on the short list of, “blew my mind” cars. People will be talking about this one. (click to make these pics bigger)

I have a couple more blogs I want to write about this show. There were too many cool cars not to write about them. Please check back or subscribe to the blog feed. RSS 2.0 blog feed

Let me hear your comments! Any new information and discussion are welcome. If you don’t speak up, I’ll assume you were hot for Eddie Munster’s wife seen at the show. And, while you’re here, please JOIN MyRideisMe.com

By the way, all of these pictures are available. If you want one, (Full-size too beacoup for the web) get in touch…

---

---

2008 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster

Make sure to check out the 2009 Pictures of the Grand National Roadster Show!

The votes are in for the 2008 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award from the “Grand-daddy of them all” the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California held last weekend, 1/26-27. Thanks to the show’s promoter at Hotrodshows.com, I found the basic description for the AMBR:

“The judges at this show are looking for excellence in: Display, Engineering, Paint, Engine, Interior, and Detail. All AMBR entries must be able to start under their own power and move forwards and backwards. All AMBR entries will be displayed in 20 X 20’s in Building 4. Winner is determined by a point system from the judging staff, and producer.”

Good luck guys! ALL of the cars looking to win the AMBR are nearly perfect. What am I saying? They are perfect! But let’s break this down a little. Before we do, here’s the winner:

The 32 Roadster owned by Rudy Necoechea called, “Undisputed”

As I’ve mentioned before, writing about another contending car, (previous blog, click here) the judges for these polished wonders have the painstaking job of finding things, “wrong” with these cars. Taste judgments are not allowed, so what else are they gonna do?

I’m curious though, is the requirement, “All AMBR entries must be able to start under their own power and move forwards and backwards” enough for you? I’m not sure. Does this rule mean the cars can be driven? Check out this next picture, look at it closely… (you can click on it to make it bigger)

What do you notice? Amazing polish work? Tires sparkling clean? Polished brake rotors…. what? If it rolled forward, how did it stop to roll backwards without scratching? Ah… who cares! Dig that grill! It looked like cut diamonds the way it caught the light. More than one Oscar nominee will consider wearing this grill with their Versace gown. The builder of this car, Scott’s Hot Rods and Customs also from Cali pulled out all stops and left nothing unpolished. Looking at this car from any angle, there wasn’t one piece on this car that didn’t shine. Check out the back.

I should also mention the display this car sat on was far and away the best of show, end of discussion. I wanted the winner to be slowly turning, just up in the air for me to gaze at in classic indoor show style. It did, but the roulette wheel theme went way over the top. Very cool. I’m wondering two things though… what’s roulette got to do with a car named, “Undisputed” (shouldn’t it be a boxing ring? – copyright pending on that one!) and did anyone notice if the roulette ball had landed in #32?

So there you have it, like it or not. I did pick this car to win although I’m not sure it was my favorite, that’s a discussion for another blog. There’s not doubt though, the combo of the never-ending shine and display works for me. What do you think happens to these cars after they’ve finished the show circuit?

I’ll wrap up by saying that this was the best car show I’ve ever attended. The amazing builds with new measures for attention to detail, the historic customs from Barris and the cools cars and people made this show one I’ll never miss again. There are several more stories coming from this show. Good times.

Feel free to comment on the AMBR, the show, this blog, whatever! Did you dig the show? Which cars did you like? (I probably got a picture of it and they’re on the way to the MyRideisMe.com picture gallery. Stay tuned.

Subscribe to this blog: RSS 2.0 and while you’re here, please JOIN MyRideisMe.com