Want To See Who Is Competing For America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Award … Here You Go
By Brian Brennan – Photography By Author
Here we are again in So-Cal at the Pomona Fairplex taking in the 74th O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show … and the rain is clearing out. That’s a good thing. Of course, any time you can attend the Grand National Roadster Show that is a great thing and take in America’s Most Beautiful Roadster competition as well as the Slonaker Award both sponsored by ARP Fasteners, the hardware people, as they provide the great looking perpetual trophies as well as a check for $12,500 for each of the major winners.
Here is what you can expect to see from the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award contenders. There will be nine roadsters will compete for one of the most coveted awards in hot-rodding history, plus a $12,500 prize presented by ARP Fasteners. This year’s contenders include seven ‘32 Fords, one ‘32 Chevy, and a ‘34 Ford.
The Al Slonaker Memorial Award contenders include 13 hot rods, customs, trucks, and street machines that will compete to win the best non-roadster at the show, including three Tri-Five Chevys, five pickups, and two Dodge Chargers.
There is also the specialty appearance in Building 9 that is titled – Street Machines: Then & Now, presented by All Chevy Performance and Modern Rodding magazines. This year’s feature building will host a collection of trendsetting, historic, and unique street machines from 1955 to today. The curated display will include popular Pro Street, Pro Touring, street freaks, and muscle machines ranging from Mustangs, Camaros, ‘Cudas, and Novas … and more.
There is also the SEMA HRIA “Fuel for Thought” Panel. Here you can learn from industry leaders who “move the needle”. The first 50 attendees will receive a custom SEMA-branded beanie. SEMA’s Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) will host a discussion with four panelists, including Jimmy Shine, Roy Brizio, Jason Slover, Brian Brennan (Modern Rodding own), and moderator Rick Love on Friday from 3-4 p.m. in Building 9.
A fun exhibit will be the Three-Day Camaro Build. It will feature a stock ‘69 Camaro that will go from “stock to not” in just three days. Orange County Hot Rods will completely overhaul a low-mileage Camaro that has stayed in the family for over 50 years during this year’s show. By Sunday afternoon, it’ll be transformed into a Pro-Touring street machine designed by Sean Smith.
Sit back and look at the first collection of photos of the AMBR-contending roadsters. MR
