1931 FORD “THE MARTIN SPECIAL” CROWNED “AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADSTER”
Owned by Dave Martin and built by Hot Rods & Hobbies, the customized ’31 Ford was awarded the highest honor in hot rodding, besting 14 other cars in the largest AMBR contender field in Roadster Show history.
Pomona, Calif. (January 28, 2018) – A 1931 Ford Roadster owned by Dave Martin and built by Signal Hill, Calif.-based Hot Rods & Hobbies earned the coveted “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” title in a highly anticipated announcement made Sunday during the closing ceremonies of the 69th annual Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) at the Fairplex in Pomona. The event also included the presentation of the Al Slonaker Memorial Award to Mark and Dennis Mariani’s Rad Rides 1929 Ford Model A, while Fred and Diane Bowden’s 1937 Lincoln LeBaron won the Blackie Gejeian Award and Mike Garner’s 1950 Mercury was named as the recipient of the George Barris Kustom d’Elegance award.
More than 400 individual vehicles were honored during the culmination of GNRS, which lived up to its moniker as “The Grand Daddy of Them All” by presenting more than 1,000 of the world’s hottest custom vehicles and attracting tens of thousands of fans over the course of the weekend. Customs, restorations, muscle cars, trucks, hot rods, Rolling Bones vintage vehicles and street machines exemplified the very finest that the roadster world has to offer.
One of the most sought-after awards in the custom car world, “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” is presented annually to the best “open” hot rod in the country. In winning this year’s nine and a half-foot tall trophy and $10,000 prize, the newly named winner earned a prestigious place alongside such legendary builders as George Barris, Andy Brizio, Boyd Coddington, Barry White, Troy Ladd and Chip Foose.
A crowd favorite throughout the event, The Martin Special was praised for its precision craftsmanship and dazzling aesthetics, as well as its provenance. In a prior form the car competed in the famed Silver State Classic open road race and while the latest, show-stopping iteration of the car has Indy Roadster influences it also has a 500hp Ed Pink Racing Engines built small block power plant harkening back to its prior form.
“Dave Martin’s car is an amazing hot rod that began as a bare metal race car and ultimately earned the highest honor in the rodding world,” said John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and producer of the Grand National Roadster Show. “This Ford Roadster possesses all the qualities that our judges look for, truly blowing us away thanks to its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative styling.”
The 2018 Grand National Roadster Show offered special exhibits like the “American Muscle Car Gathering,” which featured over 100 rare stock and restored muscle cars, each representing the finest of their respective make and model. The shows “Rolling Bones” display included nearly every example of hot rod developed the iconic Greenfield Center, NY builder, which is credited with transforming the street rod scene with a strict adherence to land-speed-inspired aesthetics and traditional build techniques. The Lifestyles Car Club presented a selection of lowriders, honoring the influence of the culture to the Southern California landscape.
GNRS also featured appearances by automotive industry celebrities like Dave Kindig and Kevdog from Kindig-It Design and Velocity’s “Bitchin Rides.” Builders Troy Trepanier, Roy Brizio, Steve Strope, Bobby Alloway were on hand to greet fans, while the Road Kings Car Club brought Tommy Ivo and his “TV” Tommy Ivo dragster. Live striping during a special “Pinstriper’s Gathering” raised more than $40,000 for Camp Conrad Chinnock, a camp for children with Type 1 Diabetes, sponsored by PPG.
For more information about the Grand National Roadster Show and for the full list of 2018 award winners, please visit www.rodshows.com/gnrs/
THE 69TH GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW JANUARY 26-28 POMONA CA
The Grand National Roadster Show – where hundreds of the best hot rods, customs, lowriders and motorcycles from across the country gather – is scheduled for January 26th-28th, 2018. Over 400 awards are up for grabs including the coveted“America’s Most Beautiful Roadster”.
Pomona, Calif. (January, 2018) – The Grand National Roadster Show returns to the Fairplex in Pomona, from January 26th-28th, 2018. Founded in 1949, the longest continually running indoor car show in the world will feature over 1,000 stunning show cars including hot rods, customs, lowriders and motorcycles as well as special exhibitions highlighting muscle cars and traditional hot rods.
The field competing for the coveted “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” (AMBR) award is the biggest in the show’s history, with 16 cars in the running including examples from Dominator Street Rods, Hot Rods and Hobbies, celebrity car builder Rick Dore, designer Jimmy White and many more. The winner will have their name engraved on the massive 9-foot tall perpetual trophy along with receiving a $10,000 prize. Previous AMBR award winners include legendary builders like Boyd Coddington, George Barris, Chip Foose, Blackie Gejeian and 2017 winner Troy Ladd of Hollywood Hot Rods.
Known by many as “The Grand Daddy of Them All,” the show draws a diverse and vast selection of cars to the Fairplex every year. Beyond the usual categories, this year’s special exhibits include unique displays for muscle car and hot rod enthusiasts. First, the “American Muscle Car Gathering” will feature over 100 muscle cars in a single hall, each a rare, stock or restored example – the best of their respective make and model. Next, the “Rolling Bones” display will feature nearly every example of hot rod from iconoclastic builder Rolling Bones, which transformed the street rod scene with a strict adherence to land-speed inspired aesthetics and traditional build techniques. Rolling Bones cars will be showcased in dioramas depicting the Bonneville Salt Flats, The Race of Gentlemen beach race and a speed shop. The Lifestyles Car Club will also showcase an array of lowriders in a year that has focused on the importance of Lowrider culture in Southern California.
Automotive icons will be in attendance throughout the show weekend, including Dave Kindig and Kevdog from Kindig-It Design and Velocity’s “Bitchin Rides”, who will be doing appearances and autograph sessions over the course of the show. Builders including Troy Trepanier, Roy Brizio, Steve Strope, Bobby Alloway and more will be on hand, and the Road Kings Car Club will be bringing the “TV” Tommy Ivo dragster with Tommy himself making an appearance. The GNRS will also feature a vast array of manufacturers displaying their wares throughout the show. Another highlight is the Pinstriper Charity Auction in building four, where some of the most talented pinstripers in the country will be selling their work and striping live with all proceeds going to benefit Camp Conrad Chinnock, a camp for children with Type 1 Diabetes, sponsored by PPG.
The show runs 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. on the 26th, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the 27th and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 29th. General admission tickets (13 years old and up) are $25.00 a day, junior admission tickets (6-12 years old) are $10.00 a day and children under 5 enter free. Parking is $12 and the entrance to the lot is located at Gate 9 off White Avenue. There will also be numerous food vendors on site to accommodate families.
For more information about the Grand National Roadster Show, please visit www.rodshows.com/gnrs/
69th Grand National Roadster Show
Jan 26 – Jan 28, 2018
Fairplex campus and Expo Halls
More than 500 show vehicles will compete for awards inside Fairplex Expo Halls Another 400-800
Fairplex is located in Pomona and is conveniently reached from all points in Southern California. Easily identifiable Fairplex signs are located throughout Pomona and neighboring communities to direct motorists. Directional signs are also prominent along nearby freeways.
Location
1101 W. McKinley Ave.,
Pomona, CA 91768
General Information Phone
(909) 623-3111
http://fairplex.com/
About Rod Shows
Based in the automotive cultural hub of Southern California, Rod Shows produces the West Coast’s premier indoor hot rod and custom shows including the Grand National Roadster Show and the Sacramento Autorama. Its professional show management team sets the highest standards for top quality competition and displays with every show and personally visit the country’s top automotive coachbuilders and events throughout the year, ensuring the Best of the Best participate in its events. For more information, visit www.rodshows.com