Category: Car Shows

Lake Havasu, AZ

March 7 – 9, 2024

Pictures by: Larry Besore

Writeup by: Larry Besore

Our adventure started on Thursday morning bright and early. We (Larry Way and I) were to meet up with some other hot rods in Wickenburg about 730am, 2 more 32 roadsters, one a topless version, a Factory  Five 33, and a very cool 36 roadster, and a 1956 Nomad.

We had our meet up and 6 cars left Mc Donald’s for Havasu. Just out of Wickenburg it started raining, then the Factory Five 33 had a computer problem. Back on the highway it continued to rain, steady but not too hard. The topless roadster pilot didn’t look to comfortable he was soaking up a lot of rain.

Inside my 32 our arms were getting some water but not too bad! So rain most of the way into Parker for our gas stop. At Parker the Sun was out and mostly blue skies.

We thought we were over the rainy weather.

Then between Parker and Havasu the heavens opened up and it “RAINED”, serious rain, couldn’t see the car in front of us, and frogs were looking for shelter. Yeah we got a little wet, the topless pilot was a soggy mess. So it was brief but memorable, then we arrived at the host hotel for registration. All in all, with stops and breakdown, time out to wring out shirts and stuff we were after 1PM by now.

We decided to not go downtown to park as they had been parking cars since before 10AM. We unpacked and went for lunch instead.

Friday morning we started the garage tours about 830AM, GPS gave good directions, but “there are no straight streets in Lake Havasu”! At least not in the areas we visited for the tours.

Uphill, Downhill right Roundy turn, left Roundy turn…Seemed like at times we were circling back on ourselves. All that was forgotten as we visited great, unbelievable garages and car displays. The attached photos do not do justice to the sites. At times I was so engrossed in looking I forgot to take pictures. Every site was filled with great stuff and friendly people. Havasu Deuces set up a super Friday of tours.

Saturday morning early we got inline for entry to the Rotary Park, 32’s go in first then everything else.  No bad parking spots easy entry, easy exit. Again the Havasu Deuces know how to organize stuff. There were an amazing assortment of Deuces from all over the country. As well as a lot of super non-32’s. good food vendor choices and a lot of spectators.

The trip home on Sunday was non eventful, just great cruising time cool but not cold, light traffic.

So my standard tag line… “Ya shoulda been there”

Yuma, AZ

February 29 – March 3, 2024

Pictures by: Art Thomas, Carol Boen, Russ Whitfeldt, Mike Arney and Al Turley

Close to 30 members drove to Yuma to enjoy the weekend put on by the Caballeros de Yuma. The fun started Thursday night with a downtown car show. The main show was held at Caballero Park on Friday and Saturday. There were close to 1000 cars in attendance and everyone had a reserved spot in the various fields. There was plenty of food to be had each day, included with your admission, and concerts in the stadium each night. A great time was had by all!

Pomona, CA

June 15-18, 2023

Photos by: Larry Besore

Writeup by: Larry Besore

My brother Steve and I headed out  scary ole I-10 early thursday morning.

It was scary because we were in a small 32 Roadster vying for spots among the 18 wheelers. That continued off and on all the way into Pomona.

Head winds then cross winds kept Steve busy keeping the Roadster in one lane.

We found our hotel and got settled in.

We got up early to get in line for entry into the show, 3rd in line, maybe we got up too early!

Friday was a respectable turn out and a multitude of cars, we could never get to them all. Wanted to walk the swap meet but….. holy smoke main lane was about 3/4 mile long with dozens of side lanes each a 1/4 mile or more long. Nope my hips would not stand for that, so we didn’t buy any treasures!

We did buy a bunch of T-shirts… because (all together now); “You can never have too many T-shirts”

Saturday morning we up early again, 2nd in line … are we in a different tine zone?

Yesterdays car count was doubled or maybe tripled! I bet there wasn’t a roadster left in California not at the show.

One stunning example after the other!

We discovered they had a tram running to and from the swap  meet so we rode down and walked back. We were just doing main aisle when Steve spotted Gene Winfield’s booth. We went over wished him a happy 96th birthday, and had him autograph a Winfield T-shirt.

Hot tired and sunburnt we headed for the hotel around 4PM where we are as I write this, trying to stay wake…. Too much fun!

We headed home Sunday morning to repeat the battle with 18 wheelers!

Ya shoulda been there!

Larry B

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San Diego, CA

May 11-14, 2023

Pictures by: Larry Besore and Danise Cover

Writup by: Larry Besore

AND THEN THERE WERE 4

7 fun seekers in 4 cars headed out Thursday, May 11 for San Diego and over The Hill Gang’s 50 th Streak. We were expecting a bigger turnout. Ready for fun were; The Ways and the red 40 Ford, the Covers and the Blue/Grey 37 Ford,  Phil Murray (sans his better half) in the many colored 37 Phantom, and the Besore’s in the red 38 Dodge Brothers.

We met up in Gila Bend to minimize the I-10 issues. Freshly fed,  cars gassed, people just out of the comfort station, we headed for the I-8.

Pretty much just chilling and cruising our way to Yuma and a gas lunch break. On into San Diego and the usual traffic.

We checked into our hotel and the guys went to Campland to get registration packets.

Early Friday  morning we got to the show and we’re parked in the back row so we could get out later to return to the hotel. The rest of the cars stayed overnight.

We bought raffle tickets, hung out for awhile then went to back to hotel. We walked the Pacific Beach boardwalk area for dinner.

Sat-morning early, but not early enough as we got parked in the middle of the field.

We would not be leaving anytime soon as we had cars front back and both sides.

Danise has posted a lot of photos featuring the many great cars on our website.

I added some I took, great examples of So Calif hot rods.

Sat was a long day frustrating as nobody in our group won a raffle item.

Sunday we headed home into a headwind.

Larry and Teressa told us about a restaurant in Alpine “Janet’s Montana cafe”. Good food!

The San Diego chapter was very friendly and we received a warm welcome.

Imagine … 50 years they have been doing this show! What an accomplishment…

Pomona, CA

Feb. 3-5, 2023

Write up by Larry Besore. Pictures by Larry Besore and Val Muyers

Early Friday morning Feb 3rd.

Ron Olmstead, Larry way, Val Muyres, Steve Besore and myself headed out for Pomona and the GNRS. This year our rides were Val’s 40 and Ron’s 35, Steve’s 32 all Fords. Nonmember but good buddy Chip and his co-pilot Judy went with us in the Model A P-up.  By the time we got on road out of town I think Val had already burnt a tank of gas. Long way from Sun Lakes to meet with us. Lunch at Cheriako  summit (SP) , Then on in to San Dimas.

We checked in our hotel, and then supper at the Roady House restaurant a few doors down from the Early Ford store.

GNRS never disappoints, whatever your hot rod/custom interest, it’s there! And it’s there in multiples and every color combo possible. Vintage builds and new builds some exotic some  retro and all perfect. AMBR cars to drivers of every flavor it’s just boggling!

Interesting that some former AMBR cars show up being driven to the event! Love that. Each of the building are a different venue, hard to pick a favorite.

Then there’s about 800-1000 cars outside on Saturday the “big daddy drive in’s”.

Just a spectacular event!

We spotted Terry Scotts x-roadster there, took a photo and talked to new owner (sorry Terry doesn’t sound like you could get it back)

Got some rain in sunny California before stopping for breakfast. Steve’s getting the full Roadster road trip experience.

Other than a nagging valve cover oil leak in the 35, and a dead battery in the 32 we had a reasonable trouble free run to and from.

Ya shoulda been there!